AFC WIMBLEDON v CHARLTON ATHLETIC -- 20/21 LEAGUE ONE - PLOUGH LANE 20th MARCH 2021

Saturday 20th March 2021 3:00pm

AFC Wimbledon will 'host' their next home game back in Wimbledon against Charlton Athletic at the Plough Lane Stadium. I doubt we'll see a game this season with fans not due back till May and some 'test' events to be organised first. The Dons managed a midweek 1-1 draw against Wigan Athletic to at least move us off the bottom rung, while Charlton also had a midweek game at home against Bristol Rovers where they won 3-2. A win this afternoon for the Dons would hopefully get us out of the bottom four relegation places. It's beginning to look like any four from seven with a gap opening up to the teams above. Plus our next fixture against Rochdale has also been moved till 27th April now.

Onto today's game itself this Saturday in League One and our opponents today, Charlton manager Lee Bowyer resigned in the past week which is unusual given they lofty position this season, still in with a shout of the play offs. Clearly plenty still going on behind the scenes at The Valley. Johnnie Jackson had taken caretaker charge in the meantime as Bowyer looks set to take the reins at Birmingham City, until Thursday when Nigel Adkins was given the reins. Charlton came from two goals down to edge a 3-2 League One victory over Bristol Rovers at The Valley, giving caretaker manager Johnnie Jackson three points in his only game moving the Addicks into the play-off places.

Most Recent League Games [Tuesday night]
AFC Wimbledon 1 - 1 Wigan Athletic

Charlton Athletic 3 - 2 Bristol Rovers

Head to Head
Our head to head form against Charlton Athletic is quite even, of our ten fixtures since 2016 we've won four, lost four and the other two have been drawn. Though sadly we got well beat last time 5-2 so improvement in this reverse fixture is essential.

Starting XI's [Confirmed]

AFC WIMBLEDON 

Win Odds - 12/5 [William Hill]

Tzanev (Gk),  O'Neill,  Heneghan,  Nightingale,  🟨Oksanen,  Woodyard (c),  Dobson,  Assal,  Alexander,  ⚽x2 Longman,  Pigott

SUBS - Cox (Gk), Osew,  Rudoni,  Guinness-Walker,  Chislett,  McLoughlin,  Palmer

CHARLTON ATHLETIC

Win Odds - 6/5 [William Hill]

Amos (Gk),  Gunter,  Famewo,  Pearce (c),  Maatsen,  Forster-Caskey,  Morgan,  Millar,  Shinnie,  ⚽Stockley,  Washington  

SUBS - Maynard-Brewer (Gk),  Oshilaja,  ⚽Jaiyesimi,  🟨Aneke,  Pratley,  Watson,  Schwartz

Selected Bets On This Match;

• Over 1.5 goals in 1st half @2/1. YES!
• Joe Pigott to score first @5/1.
• Penalty Awarded @5/2.
• Red Card shown @5/1.
• Over 3.5 goals in match @5/2. YES!

⚽Half Time Score - 1 - 2   [Longman 15']   [Stockley 10' Jaiyesimi 21']

First Half Comments;

The Dons kick off and get us underway at Plough Lane, desperate to turn recent draws into victories I hope we start well on the front foot. We win the first corner, and Joe Pigott has his shot blocked early on so positive signs to begin with. Sadly 10 minutes on the clock and we go behind to a Jason Stockley header and we've a long hard road ahead once more. Thankfully didn't have to wait long and it's 1-1 again, Ryan Longman crashes a shot from centre of the goal. This is now a goal fest with one every five minutes or so as substitute Diallang Jaiyesimi puts the Addicks 1-2 ahead with barely twenty minutes on the clock. Game settles down as we pass the half hour with no more goals, Dons still in the game and even possession we just cannot afford to concede again realistically, so grateful to Nik Tzanev in the Dons goal who makes too good saves in the latter part of the half but we go in at the break 1-2 behind.

⚽Full Time Score - 2 - 2    [Longman 65']

Match Summary;
A point won, having been behind twice, still in the bottom four with other results not helping our position and we really need a win soon. Still think that was a decent performance against a side who are looking at promotion, Nik Tzanev also making some good saves. If only Pigott's free kick had gone in... 

My Man of the Match - Ryan Longman - two goals coming from behind twice, important point and display against a top six side.

Attendance - Sadly still no one for the time being. Maybe sometime later this year would be nice, after all we've a new stadium to celebrate in 2021.

Today's Referee - Today's match officials for this weekend will be referee Mr Charles Breakspear from Surrey, a busy official averages about four bookings a game and not afraid to show a red too, lot of penalties in his matches as well so will be looking to play in those markets. The Assistant Referees will be Joseph Stokes and Michael Chard while our Fourth Official is Stephen Brown.

Dons next league match:
Saturday 27th March vs Northampton Town (Home)
League One Kick off 3:00pm