AFC WIMBLEDON v SWINDON TOWN -- 20/21 LEAGUE ONE - PLOUGH LANE 17th APRIL 2021

Saturday 17th April 2021 5:30pm
AFC Wimbledon will 'host' their next home game back in Wimbledon against Swindon Town at the Plough Lane Stadium this weekend. With the funeral service of HRH The Prince Phillip taking place earlier in the afternoon the EFL have opted to allow matches to be moved to either 12:30pm or 5:30pm and we've opted for the latter. While we are not going to be able to see a game at our new stadium this season but hopefully can get down there soon enough after fans are back later in May and some 'test' events to be organised first. A few fans being allowed in for these test events featuring our youth/academy stars towards the end of May, having seen some pictures taken at the recent Charlton game of the new stadium shows a few things to be completed on the perimeter of the stands it does look like the main stand is ready for action. The Dons played away at Accrington Stanley last weekend and secured a morale boosting 5-1 win there, then on Tuesday faced Ipswich Town where they picked up another excellent win 3-0 as a result of these we are currently sitting above the relegation places in 19th with 42 points. I am delighted to see that we do continue with the pairing of Joe Pigott and Ollie Palmer up front with the attacking options from midfield including the likes of Ayoub Assal and Jack Rudoni who got himself on the scoresheet in that midweek win.

Onto today's game itself this Saturday in League One and our opponents today, Swindon Town, find themselves in 23rd place in the league on 37 points so are also desperate for the three points here. Managed by former Republic of Ireland international John Sheridan who took over in November 2020 after a short spell with fellow strugglers Wigan. Swindon also had a midweek game against bottom of the table Rochdale losing 2-1 there so expecting the bottom four to change with every game till the season ends.

A victory for the Dons would go a long way to reaching safety after a difficult season with only a few more games to go.

Most Recent League Games (Tuesday night)
AFC Wimbledon 3 - 0 Ipswich Town 

Rochdale 2 - 1 Swindon Town

Head to Head
Our head to head form against Swindon Town is quite sparse since our return to the football league. However only the one win out of six matches, two defeats and three draws. That sole win did come in the reverse fixture back in October, 1-0 at Swindon's County Ground with the deciding goal coming from Dons striker Joe Pigott.

Starting XI's [Confirmed]

AFC WIMBLEDON 

Win Odds - 17/20 [William Hill]
Tzanev (Gk), O'Neill, Heneghan, ⚽Nightingale, Guinness-Walker, Dobson, Woodyard (c), Rudoni, ⚽Assal, ⚽x2 Pigott, Palmer

SUBS - Cox (Gk), Alexander,  Oksanen,  🟨McLoughlin,  Longman,  Kalambayi,  Osew

Swindon Town

Win Odds - 16/5 [William Hill]
Camp (Gk),  Broadbent,  Grant,  🟨Grounds,  Caddis,  🟨Lyden,  Palmer,  Twine,  Payne,  ⚽Smith,  🟨Pitman (c)

SUBS - Matthews (Gk),  Garrick,  Grant,  Curran,  Thompson,  Omotoye,  Hope

Selected Bets On This Match;

• Over 1.5 goals in 1st half @5/2.
• Joe Pigott to score first @4/1.
• Penalty to be awarded and scored @7/2.
• Bookings over 45 points @12/5.
• Over 3.5 goals in match @3/1.

⚽Half Time Score - 3 - 0    [Pigott 20' (pen) Nightingale 26' Asaal 44']

First Half Comments;

We are underway enjoying the late afternoon sunshine here at Plough Lane, and it's the visitors who are quickly out of the blocks having the opening shot which is blocked for the first corner of the match. Plenty of threat from both sides, who need the points at the bottom of the table, however the opening exchanges fail to fully test either goalkeeper. Dons begin to look a bit more in control as the half progresses, having more opportunities, corners and possession, Ollie Palmer having another shot blocked, hopefully a goal is not far away. Called it, a penalty is awarded to Wimbledon after 20 minutes and up steps Joe Pigott to put it away 1-0 Dons. Swindon's Jonathan Grounds is booked for the challenge that led to the penalty award. Will Nightingale quickly puts Dons 2-0 up with a header from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. The game looks settled now even before half time when Ayoub Assal scores the third just before the break. Swindon's captain Brett Pitman becomes the third player into the referee's book just before the half time whistle sounds.

⚽Full Time Score - 4 - 1    [Pigott 54']    [Smith 79']

Match Summary;
Three wins in a row and plenty of goals, where did this Wimbledon side come from, such an improvement when we needed it most. Created plenty, scored when it mattered, goals being shared around and a five point gap to the bottom four now with only five games left to play, far from safe, but the feelings are much more positive now. 

My Man of the Match - Ayoub Assal improves with every game, good to see goal threat from midfield too.

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 - Our match referee for this afternoon will be Mr John Busby from Oxfordshire, has been on the national list for the last 5+ seasons, only taken one game for us this season out 1-0 win at Bristol Rovers in the EFL Trophy, average number of cards below three a game but regular number of reds too. His assistants will be Paul Graham and Stuart Butler while our fourth official is the one and only Trevor Kettle.

Dons next league match:
Tuesday 20th April vs Oxford United (Home)
League One Kick off 7.00pm