EMIRATES FA CUP - SECOND ROUND - AFC WIMBLEDON vs CHELTENHAM TOWN [SATURDAY 4th DECEMBER]

This weekend the Dons will host Cheltenham Town in the second round of this seasons FA Cup. A side we should have played a couple weeks ago in the league but that was called off during the International Break. We also seeing some new regulations and rules coming into effect but the game is on, tickets are selling, but probably not as fast as they will should we progress into the Round 3 draw later with the possibility of a decent pay day there for some. At least the Dons stopped the run losses in the league in the last couple of game but will need to play better than they did against their first round opponents. Manager Mark Robinson confirmed that there are no fresh injury concerns. “We are all good, apart from Will, PK, and Cheye," he said. "Everyone is raring to go, so I’ve got a tough selection choice, which is exactly what I want. The lads have trained brilliantly today and I will have to make my mind up (to select the team)." Last week saw the return of Egli Kaja for a second spell at Wimbledon and Robbo added that he is pushing for a place in the squad. The sun is shining but there's a chill in the air, good luck to all in the FA Cup today.

FORM GUIDE

(Last 6 matches in respective leagues, starting with most recent)
AFC Wimbledon - DWLLLW
Cheltenham Town - DWWDDL

LAST TIME OUT [Saturday 27th November]

AFC Wimbledon 2 - 2 Fleetwood Town

Bolton Wanderers 2 - 2 Cheltenham Town

Updates will be published with team news and more as and when it comes through. Wimbledon's recent form is a bit up and down as mentioned and we are currently in 17th place in League One after last weekend's 2-2 draw at home against Fleetwood Town. Our opponents Cheltenham Town are managed by former Northern Ireland International and Burnley player Michael Duff who also spent eight seasons with Cheltenham making 300 appearances and was appointed as manager in September 2018. They are captained by Will Boyle. After getting past Gillingham following a replay in the first round, the Robins will lock horns with League One opposition once again. Both sides will be targeting a place in the third round when all Premier League and Championship sides enter the competition. Our visitors have an ex Dons presence with Chris Hussey in their squad, hopefully he will receive a warm welcome again. 

Line Ups (Confirmed);

AFC WIMBLEDON

Win Odds - 6/4 [William Hill]

Tzanev (Gk),  Osew,  Heneghan,  Csóka,  Guinness-Walker,  🟨Woodyard (c),  Hartigan,  ⚽x2 Assal,  🟨McCormick,  Rudoni,  ⚽x2 Palmer

SUBS - Oualah (Gk),  Lawrence,  Marsh,  Chislett,  Robinson,  Awokoya-Mebude,  Pressley,  Kaja,  Jenkins

CHELTENHAM TOWN

Odds -- 2/1 [William Hill] 

Flinders (Gk),  Horton,  Long,  Pollock,  🟨Hussey,  Sercombe,  Chapman,  Joseph,  Crowley,  ⚽May,  Wright

Subs –  Evans (Gk),  Raglan,  ⚽Williams,  Blair,  Barkers,  🟨Norton,  Armitage

Selected Bets;

• Over 1.5 goals in first half @9/4.
• AFC Wimbledon to score over 1.5 goals @11/8
• Ayoub Assal to score anytime @2/1

⚽H/T Score – 2 - 1  [Assal 36', Palmer 41']  [May 2']

First Half Comment;

Updates will begin to appear on Saturday once the teams are confirmed and kick off is due at 3pm. And it's the Dons who get us underway this afternoon, and are 0-1 down in under two minutes as Alfie May scores for the visitors, well that will change the strategy and could be a long afternoon here at Plough Lane. The home side do begin to get into the game and create some chances and corners with Ben Heneghan heading over from one of these but still behind as we pass the half way point of the opening half. An equaliser for the Dons as Ayoub Assal scores with a right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner on 36 minutes. Then it gets event better as Ollie Palmer scores his customary FA Cup goal to put Wimbledon 2-1 in front on 41 minutes, good game now, and we got our three bets settled in the first half. Come on you Dons.

⚽F/T Score – 4 - 3  [Assal 55', Palmer 65']  [Williams 73', Heneghan (og) 81']

Match Summary;

Wow what a match, goals galore, a comeback from the visitors just when you think we've wrapped it all up at 4-1 up, and goals from Ayoub Assal and Ollie Palmer put us into the draw for the 3rd round which will be made on Monday night. Arsenal or Spurs away please. I really hope we can replicate this goal scoring form in the league games that follow. A low gate for the cup games, not unexpected, and hopefully some nice additional revenue with a cup run.

My Man of the Match – Ayoub Assal [his goals got us back ahead, with O Palmer also getting a brace too].

Match Officials – Our referee for this afternoon's second round FA Cup tie will be Mr Alan Young who is also chief executive of the Bedfordshire FA and was recently involved in a bit of a time keeping blunder resulting in a reprimand. Hasn't taken charge of a Dons fixture since August 2019 (0-0 draw vs Wycombe). He should have support from both Michael Begley and Louis Marks on the touchlines today while our fourth official is Leigh Crowhurst.

Attendance – 4,322. 

Next league one fixture;
  vs Accrington Stanley (Away)
  Tuesday 7th December @7:45pm