AFC WIMBLEDON vs BOLTON WANDERERS - 1st HOME LEAGUE ONE FIXTURE 2021/22 SEASON [14th AUGUST]

Saturday 14th August 2021 3pm
AFC Wimbledon will host their first home League One game of the 2021-22 season against Bolton Wanderers, and we've fans back in the stadium for a league match this should be some sort of celebration. After a brilliant 2-1 opening day win at Doncaster Rovers we've a chance of back to back wins for the first time since our final Conference League campaign. We also managed to get past Charlton in the EFL Cup on Tuesday night with a Paul Osew goal giving us a 1-0 win at The Valley. Our new signings will surely only get stronger with more minutes on the pitch together and I'm really impressed by Ayoub Assal who will surely continue his rise with more first team action. Looks like we've sold out the stadium during online sales so I expect this to be as near to capacity as can be with some away allocation probably still to take up. Was hoping for some sort of spectacle as it's the first proper Plough Lane 'home' fixture with fans in the league for more than 30 years, but I hear this is more like another 'test' event so we'll just have to sing loud and plan something for another time. 

Recent League One Results
Doncaster Rovers 1 - 2 AFC Wimbledon.
Bolton Wanderers 3 - 3 Franchise FC.

Onto today's game itself this Saturday in League One and our opponents today, Bolton Wanderers, returned to League One after a season in the bottom flight. Alex Baptiste scored an injury time equaliser against Franchise FC in a 3-3 draw last Saturday, the defenders first goal since Jan 2014. They are managed by Ian Evatt who brought Barrow FC into the league, they have plenty of experience and should not be taken lightly, they went on an impressive run to secure promotion and are likely to be one of the fancied teams this season too.

Head to Head

Our head to head form against Bolton Wanderers since our return to the league as AFC Wimbledon is very brief, only four games prior to today and the Dons still seeking their first win against Bolton. Three draws and a defeat back in 2016 so surely now will be a good opportunity to get that first win on the board against them with a packed Plough Lane crowd to cheer us on.

Starting XI's [Confirmed]

AFC WIMBLEDON 

Win Odds - 7/4 [William Hill]

🟨Tzanev (Gk),  🟨Guinness-Walker,  🟨Heneghan,  ⚽Nightingale,  Hartigan,  Alexander,  Woodyard (c),  Rudoni,  McCormick,  Palmer,  🟨Assal

SUBS - Oualah (Gk),  ⚽Mebude,  Kalambayi,  Lawrence,  Marsh,  Chislett,  ⚽Pressley

Bolton Wanderers
Win Odds - 8/5 [William Hill]
Dixon (Gk),  🟨Jones,  Almeida Santos,  Baptiste,  John,  Williams,  Sarcevic (c),  Bakayoko,  ⚽🟨Sheehan,  ⚽Afolayan,  ⚽Doyle

SUBS - Gilks (Gk),  Johnston,  Lee,  Brockbank,  Isgrove,  Kachunga,  Thomason

Selected Bets On This Match;

• Over 1.5 goals in 1st half @5/2.
• Penalty to be awarded and scored @4/1.
• Bookings over 45 points @13/5.
• Over 3.5 goals in match @3/1.

⚽Half Time Score - 1 - 2    [Nightingale 20']  [Doyle 23' [pen], Sheehan 27']

First Half Comments;

Dons get us underway at Plough Lane to a roar from the packed stands, and doesn't that feel good again. We get on the attack immediately winning the opening corner, one day we'll make these count but not this time. Cheye Alexander has the first effort on goal for the home side but it's blocked, good to see us having a go though. The breakthrough comes for the Dons on the twenty minute mark as Will Nightingale powers home a header to put has ahead, good to see goals coming from other sources, alas that lead was not to last long as Nik Tzanev brings down Oladapo Afolayan to give Bolton a penalty, the Dons keeper is booked for that too, and the penalty is converted from the spot by Eoin Doyle to level things up. The goals keep coming but sadly for us it's Bolton who score again with Josh Sheehan left footed shot two goals in about four minutes it's 1-2 now. .

⚽Full Time Score - 3 - 3  [Pressley 74' [pen], Mebude 75'][Afolayan 48']

Match Summary;
Given we were 1-3 behind early on in the second half I am happy enough to secure a 3-3 home draw and remain unbeaten this season. Penalties for either side, plenty of cards and action and goals shared around the side. The feeling of being 'home' again at Plough Lane is a nice warm glow inside, and we'll continue to do well with this sort of display. Up the Dons. 

My Man of the Match - Ayoub Assal.

Attendance - 9,000+.  

Today's Referee - Our match referee for this afternoon will be Mr Peter Wright from Merseyside and a recent prospect from the Liverpool County FA responsible for match officials - who owes us as his two games that involved us last season both ended in defeats. His assistants will be Leigh Crowhurst and Andrew Aylott for this special day in our history and the fourth official duties are in the care of Scott Williams.

Next league one fixture;
  vs Gillingham (Home)
  Tuesday 17th August @7:45pm.