AFC WIMBLEDON vs MORECAMBE - LEAGUE ONE HOME FIXTURE 2021/22 SEASON [15th JANUARY]

Saturday 15th January 2022  KO 3pm
AFC Wimbledon will host their latest League One game at Plough Lane for the 2021-22 season against Morecambe, With both sides in the bottom end of the table it's an important game for survival after the recent disappointment of the FA Cup exit. We haven't made a great start to 2022 so far and are currently in 20th position in the League One table on 25 points after 22 games played. Went out of the FA Cup last weekend to non league opposition and playing 'them' in midweek which ended in a 1-0 defeat and the sending off of Nesta Guinness-Walker didn't help matters in the first half. Yet still have a few games in hand over many of the teams above us and hopefully we can secure some more points to move us up a little further away from the drop zone. 

Team News - Friday the Dons completed the loan signing of Lithuanian Under-21 international Tomas Kalinauskas from Barnsley. Tomas joins us for the rest of the season after impressing Robbo during a recent training spell.
“Tomas came in for a week with us and he did very well,” said Head Coach Mark Robinson. “Technically, he’s very exciting on the ball. The thing that impressed me the most about him was his confidence - he’s got real self-belief. In wide areas he looks like he can be very effective. It helps bolster us and gives us two players in every position.”.

Recent League One Results
Franchise FC 1 - 0 AFC Wimbledon
Morecambe 4 - 3 Doncaster Rovers

Looking at today's game itself this Saturday day in League One and our opponents today; Morecambe are currently managed by Stephen Robinson a former Luton Town and Northern Ireland international has been in control since June 2021. Morecambe played Tottenham last weekend in the FA Cup and performed well leading for much of the game before going down 3-1 once Spurs brought on more of their first team, they did a lot better than us anyway. Prior to that they came back from three goals down at the break to seal a thrilling 4-3 victory over fellow League One strugglers Doncaster at the Mazuma Stadium. Morecambe are currently in 21st place in the League one table on 23 points, so are two points below the Dons having played more games, this is a big winning opportunity for the Dons as we need to begin climbing the table again after the disappointment of the FA Cup loss to Boreham Wood. Men to watch for the opposition; Very simply it's Cole Stockton, the 27 year old forward has 18 goals this season well clear of Adam Phillips (6). 

Head to Head

Our head to head form against Morecambe since our return to the league as AFC Wimbledon amounts to a fairly even record, eleven games played and four wins for the Dons, four wins for Morecambe and three draws so it's all very level and up for grabs.

Starting XI's [Confirmed]

AFC WIMBLEDON 

Win Odds - 17/20 [William Hill]

Tzanev (Gk),  Alexander,  Heneghan,  Nightingale,  Osew,  Woodyard(c),  🟨Marsh,  Assal,  McCormick,  Rudoni, Palmer

SUBS - Oualah (Gk),  Lawrence,  Chislett,  Awokoya-Mebude,  🟨Ablade,  Kaja,  Oualah,  Cosgrave

MORECAMBE
Win Odds - 29/10 [William Hill]
Carson (Gk),  McLaughlin,  O'Connor,  Bedeau, 🟨Leigh,  McLoughlin,  Diagouraga,  🟨Wildig,  Ayunga,  Stockton,  Gnahoua

SUBS - Letheren (Gk),  Jones,  McDonald,  Delaney,  Cooney,  Gibson,  McCalmont

Selected Bets On This Match;

• Over 1.5 goals in 1st half @5/2.
• Ben Heneghan to score at any time @9/1
• Penalty to be awarded and scored @9/2.
• Bookings over 45 points @12/5.

⚽Half Time Score - 0 - 0

First Half Comments;

Kick Off 3pm today at the Cherry Red Records, Plough Lane Wimbledon stadium, the Dons get us underway on a cold afternoon, the mist might have cleared we still need an early goal to warm us up. While the Dons might have the best of the opening 10-15 mins the only clear chances have been wide of the mark, though a single shot from the visitors is easily saved by Nik Tzanev. Sadly there is very little to update in the next part of the half, I would have thought we would have gone for it today, seems like we have to fall behind to wake up, so far it's a boring goal-less draw.

⚽Full Time Score - 0 - 0

Match Summary;

Another dismal performance against a poor side also in the bottom third, I know people bang on about low budget, and lack of squad depth, but please we don't even look like scoring now, other sides have clearly found us out and yet another season on struggle will surely find us drop sooner or later. No surprise the crowd figures are dropping too. Only upside I suppose is that we didn't lose, and onto the Pompey game on Tuesday. 

My Man of the Match - George Marsh.

Attendance - 7,128.

Today's Referee - Our match referee for this afternoon will be Mr Benjamin Speedie, who hails from Merseyside, now in his third season as an EFL referee. Averages around three bookings a game so far, this is our first game with him in charge this season. Assistance on the side lines from both Damith Bandara together with Darren Blunden while our fourth official will be Anthony Da Costa.

Next league one fixture;
  vs Portsmouth (Home)
  Tuesday 18th January @7:45pm.