Saturday 16th January 2021 1:00pm
AFC Wimbledon will 'host' their next home game back in Wimbledon against Sunderland at the New Plough Lane Stadium. Still no prospect of any fans being allowed in to watch now that the Government have placed us all in another national lockdown. At least the game appears to be on, as further games in the FA Cup last week as well as the Football League were called off due to the rise in Covid-19 cases. The Dons didn't have a game last weekend but did progress midweek in the EFL Trophy beating Bristol Rovers 1-0 and making it into the last eight along with today's opponents. Wimbledon have seen a couple of players leave this January including on loan goalkeeper Connal Trueman who returned to Birmingham though we have since recruited Sam Walker from Reading a 6' 6" replacement. Adam Roscrow has left to join The New Saints in the Welsh League and good luck to him, hopefully we can bring in one or two more ourselves.
Onto today's game itself this Saturday in League One which has been brought forward to an earlier 1pm kick off time. Our illustrious opponents today, Sunderland are currently led by former Bristol City manager Lee Johnson who will looking to take this sleeping giant back up the leagues. Recent form is nothing to shout about with three draws (including against us back in December) though they did put four past Lincoln City away and that is a good standard. ex Dons loanee striker Charlie Wyke heads their scorers list this season with seven, they sit currently in 10th place in the League One table, with 30 points. Sadly the Dons early form has deserted us now, dropped into the bottom four (21st place) on only 21 points and no wins in our last five league games, very reliant on our top scorer Joe Pigott (11 goals) but now Ollie Palmer has broken his duck hopefully can chip in a bit more, although now that the team news is revealed he's not in the squad today so it's Ryan Longman to partner Pigott up front.
Most Recent League Games
AFC Wimbledon 1 - 2 Lincoln City
Sunderland 1 - 1 Hull City
We've only played against Sunderland four times in the last few seasons since August 2018. Lost the first three games before securing a 1-1 draw last December, a win would certainly cheers us up today.
Starting XI's [Confirmed]
AFC WIMBLEDON
Win Odds - 15/4 [William Hill]Walker (Gk), McLoughlin, Nightingale (c), Csoka, Guinness-Walker, Oksanen, Woodyard, 🟨Rudoni, Chislett, Pigott, Longman
SUBS - Tzanev (Gk), Alexander, Hartigan, Robinson, Procter, Kalambayi, Reilly
SUNDERLAND
Win Odds - 4/5 [William Hill]
Burge (Gk), Power (c), Wright, Willis, McFadzean, Scowen, Leadbitter, Embleton, O'Brien, ⚽x3 Wyke, McGeady
Win Odds - 4/5 [William Hill]
Burge (Gk), Power (c), Wright, Willis, McFadzean, Scowen, Leadbitter, Embleton, O'Brien, ⚽x3 Wyke, McGeady
SUBS - Matthews (Gk), Maguire, O'Nien, Sanderson, Diamond, Winchester, Younger
Selected Bets On This Match;
- Over 1.5 goals in 1st half @9/4
- Penalty Taken @11/4
- Over 3.5 goals in match @11/4
First Half Comments;
An earlier start for us this weekend and it's Sunderland who get us underway in the first half. The opening threat comes from the visitors but we cope with that until the 7th minute when Charlie Wyke scores for Sunderland. Dons at least weather the storm and come back into the game creating their own chances and earning the opening corner, midway through the first half now and still in game. Young Jack Rudoni picked up a yellow card for a foul on Charlie Wyke and the rest of the opening half is fairly even with attacking play from both sides. Joe Pigott needs to battle bit more, plenty of free kicks but it's still one nil to Sunderland as half time looms.
⚽Full Time Score - 0 - 3 [Wyke 7' 87' 90']
Match Summary;
Very poor effort, 1 shot on target the whole game and a Charlie Wyke hat trick secured a 0-3 victory and keeps the Dons firmly in the bottom four. Fed up now.
Attendance - None for now, maybe once we exit lockdown and out of Tier 4 maybe sometime in 2021.
Today's Referee - Today's match referee for this weekend will be Mr Antony Coggins from Bicester, Oxfordshire. He took charge of our 2-1 loss against Ipswich last season, has averaged three bookings a game in last few seasons. Will be assisted by Louis Marks and Kevin Howick and our fourth official this afternoon is Stuart Butler.
Dons next league match:
Tuesday 19th January vs Portsmouth (Away)
League One Kick off 7:00pm
Tuesday 19th January vs Portsmouth (Away)
League One Kick off 7:00pm
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