AFC WIMBLEDON vs SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY - LEAGUE ONE HOME FIXTURE 2021/22 SEASON [16th OCTOBER]

Saturday 16th October 2021 3pm
AFC Wimbledon will host their latest League One game at Plough Lane for the 2021-22 season against Sheffield Wednesday, the first meeting between these sides since our reformation, though there were plenty of battles in the top flight back in the Wimbledon FC days of course. No game for us since the 1-1 draw with Burton Albion, while Wednesday have had a game during the international week against Bolton Wanderers winning 1-0.

The Dons find themselves in 15th position in the league one table on 13 points but one a fairly poor run of results, with only four points gained from the last five games, need a confidence boosting win here today. We anticipate further team news before the weekend with the fall out of that defeat and the news that Ollie Palmer is definitely out of the starting eleven which will mean reliance on Aaron Pressley and Ayoub Assal, hopefully Jack Rudoni is available for selection too. Latest News - Will Nightingale is now a long term injury, our physio Tim Maynard confirmed that Will had suffered a high ankle sprain, plus a sprain to his ACL and his Posterolateral corner (knee), possibly out for four months. Also reported recently that midfielder George Marsh has been ruled out for possibly over a month with a foot injury, while striker Ollie Palmer’s return from a calf strain will take a little longer.  “George Marsh has broken a bone in his foot,” said Head Coach Mark Robinson after Thursday's training session. “Unfortunately, George is going to be out for four to six weeks, it was just in a challenge. Ollie has had a setback, so he could be another three or four weeks.”

Recent League One Results
AFC Wimbledon 1 - 1 Burton Albion.
Sheffield Wednesday 1 - 0 Bolton Wanderers.

Onto today's game itself this Saturday in League One and our opponents today, Sheffield Wednesday who are managed by Darren Moore. After their opening 11 fixtures they sit in 9th place on 18 points. While the Dons had a week off our visitors Sheffield Wednesday played a home game against Bolton Wanderers winning 1-0 last Saturday. Lee Gregory scored the only goal of the game to give Sheffield Wednesday a victory over Bolton. Gregory struck midway through the second half to secure the hosts just a second win in seven League One matches. Captained by Barry Bannan I expect another tense fought battle this Saturday.

Head to Head

Our head to head form against Sheffield Wednesday since our return to the league as AFC Wimbledon is not available since this is our first meeting. Of course we played many times in the past as Wimbledon FC but we not counting that in this era. However our last meeting was back on 5th April 2003 Sheffield Wednesday v Wimbledon where Wednesday won 4-2 in Division One.

Starting XI's [Confirmed]

AFC WIMBLEDON 

Win Odds - 2/1 [William Hill]

Tzanev (Gk),  Alexander,   Kalambayi,  Heneghan,  ⚽Guinness-Walker,  Woodyard (c),  Hartigan,  Assal,  Chislett,  ⚽Rudoni,  Mebude

SUBS - Oualah (Gk),  Lawrence,  Csoka,  Pressley,  McCormick,  Charles,  Osew

Sheffield Wednesday
Win Odds - 29/20 [William Hill]
Wildsmith (Gk),  🟨Dunkley,  Iorfa,  Palmer,  Hunt,  Wing,  Bannan (c),  🟨Brown,  Dele-Bashiru,  Paterson,  ⚽x2 Gregory

SUBS - Peacock-Farrell (Gk),  Shodipo,  Johnson,  Kamberi,  Corbeanu,  Berahino,  Sow

Selected Bets On This Match;

• Over 1.5 goals in 1st half @9/4.
• Anthony Hartigan to score at any time @8/1
• Penalty to be awarded and scored @7/2.
• Bookings 25-45 points @15/8.

⚽Half Time Score - 0 - 1  [Gregory 13']

First Half Comments;

Kick off is underway at 3pm, and it's Sheffield who go on the offensive initially, Lee Gregory seeing plenty of the ball early on. The opening goal comes on thirteen minutes and it's the visitors that take the lead with that man Lee Gregory (Sheffield Wednesday) his left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. Lets see if the Dons can get back into the game before the end of the half, Paul Kalambayi has a header from the right side of the box which just misses the target following a cross from Anthony Hartigan after a corner. Sheffield Wednesday's Cheyenne Dunkley picks up the opening caution of the game on 27 mins. Not many chances during the latter part of this opening half as we go into the break 0-1 behind.

⚽Full Time Score - 2 - 2  [Guinness-Walker 67' Rudoni 85']  [Gregory (pen) 61']

Match Summary;
0-2 early in the second half and we got it back to 2-2 with five minutes remaining. Goals from Nesta Guinness-Walker and Jack Rudoni secured us a point in the second half. 

My Man of the Match - Nik Tzanev, several key says to keep us in it and a spectacular double save in 2nd half.

Attendance - 8,224.  

Today's Referee - Our match referee for this afternoon will be Mr Christopher Sarginson who hails from Staffordshire, a very experienced referee who also has some quite amusing tweets if you want to look him up. The Dons had him for two league games last season that both ended up as 1-1, and not over zealous with his cards averaging 2.5 a game. Will be assisted on the side lines by both Darren Blunden and Aaron Farmer while our Fourth Official will be Sam Purkiss.

Next league one fixture;
  vs Lincoln City (Away)
  Tuesday 19th October @7:45pm.