AFC WIMBLEDON vs ROTHERHAM - LEAGUE ONE HOME FIXTURE 2021/22 SEASON [8th FEBRUARY]

Tuesday 8th February 2022  KO 7:45pm
AFC Wimbledon will host their latest League One game at Plough Lane for the 2021-22 season against the current league one leaders Rotherham United. With the Dons in the bottom five still this might not go well against a side with the highest number of L1 goals scored this season. It's been difficult year so far, plenty of draws and in need of a win very soon so after the disappointing 3-2 defeat on Saturday against Charlton Athletic. We now remain in 20th position in the League One table having only achieved 30 points after 29 games played. We only stayed out of the drop zone thanks to the very late equaliser by Bolton Wanderers against Morecambe last weekend. 

Mark Robinson rang the changes for Charlton game including Sam Cosgrove coming in for his first start after joining on loan from Birmingham City.  The travelling Dons were certainly making themselves heard during the opening quarter of the second period and there was a sense that the momentum was building again for Wimbledon as George Marsh arrowed a shot just wide. Having gone behind again the response was to see Sam Cosgrove withdrawn after an encouraging display, replaced by Aaron Cosgrave entering the play as he looked to repeat his heroics from last Tuesday night. Chances were few and far between in the closing stages for the Dons as the match ticked into injury time, Nightingale coming closest with a close-range effort that was beaten wide by MacGillivray.

Head Coach Reaction; Mark Robinson was left feeling disappointed by the manner of our South London derby defeat at the hands of Charlton Athletic. However, our Head Coach believes that the recent performances are an indication that the Dons are close to getting back to winning ways. With the ultimate League One test coming up against Rotherham on Tuesday, Robbo said: "We’re competitive and it’s the small margins that we need to turn around. I want to see the boys step up to the challenge now. Fundamentally before this game it was three defeats, seven draws and two wins in our last 12 games. The main issue has been those seven draws, so we’ve been looking at turning those draws into wins. We’ve talked about staying the hunter and not being the hunted.”

Team News - will update as and when further news is available, the January signings are beginning to settle in including Lee Brown who looks like could be a solid addition. Last Monday we also brought in two more signings with Nathan Broome arriving as a back up goalkeeper from Stoke on a two and half year deal, along with striker Sam Cosgrove from Birmingham who ticks the boxes as the target man we were after, has also had experience at Aberdeen and is here on loan till the end of the season. Goalkeeper Zaki Oualah has joined Billericay Town for the remainder of this season on loan. Following the arrival of Nathan Broome on transfer deadline day Mark Robinson said it was important for the 26-year-old keeper to get game-time elsewhere. 

Recent League One Results
Charlton Athletic 3 - 2 AFC Wimbledon
Rotherham United 1 - 0 Accrington Stanley

Looking at today's game itself this Tuesday evening in League One and our opponents today; Rotherham are currently managed by one of their former players Paul Warne who has been in the position since November 2016 making him almost a veteran manager in the modern era. They currently have the top spot in League One, having accrued 62 points in 29 games so far. A win and we could move up a few places which would be welcome. Rotherham beat Accrington on Saturday 1-0 to remain at the summit of the table. They had their captain Richard Wood sent off in that win for a handball but the resulting penalty was saved.

Men to watch for the opposition;
Michael Smith leads the scorers charts with 17 this season and also the assists too for the league leaders, will need to keep a close eye on him, the experienced Freddie Ladapo is also feared. 

Head to Head

Our head to head form against Rotherham since our return to the league as AFC Wimbledon amounts to a rather one sided series of results, nine games played only the one win for the Dons back in Oct 2017, while there have been seven defeats and the other game a 2-2 draw. The reverse meeting this season was a thumping 3-0 win for the leaders and I hope we can improve today.

Starting XI's [Confirmed]

AFC WIMBLEDON 

Win Odds - 9/2 [William Hill]

Tzanev (Gk),  Kalambayi,  Heneghan(c),  Csóka,  Alexander,  Hartigan,  🟨Marsh,  Guinness-Walker,  Rudoni,  Cosgrove,  Assal

SUBS - Broome (Gk),  🟨Nightingale,  Chislett,  Awokoya-Mebude,  Ablade,  McCormick,  Osew

ROTHERHAM UNITED
Win Odds - 6/10 [William Hill]
Vickers (Gk),  Harding,  Ihiekwe,  🟨Mattock,  Barlaser,  Ogbene,  Lindsay,  Wiles,  Ferguson,  Smith,  Grigg

SUBS - Johansson (Gk),  Ladapo,  Kelly,  Bola,  ⚽Kayode,  MacDonald,  Odoffin

Selected Bets On This Match;

• Over 2.5 goals in 1st half @11/2
• Over 3.5 goals in the match @9/4
• Ayoub Assal to score at any time @4/1
• Penalty to be awarded and scored @9/2
• Bookings over 50 points @21/10.

⚽Half Time Score - 0 - 0

First Half Comments;

Kick Off 7:45pm today at the Cherry Red Records, Plough Lane Wimbledon stadium. The visitors get us underway and on the front foot early doors, but we survive the early barrage after 15 mins it's still all square. Made it through the first half without too much drama with just a booking for Joe Mattock to show. Holding firm so far, but Rotherham winning on corners 0-6.

⚽Full Time Score - 0 - 1  [Kayode 60']

Match Summary;

Will Nightingale comes on for the second half and his first action is to get booked! Then the Dons go behind on the hour as substitute Joshua Kayode scores the opener. Which proved to be the winner, they were not that special despite being league leaders, but sadly we did ship a solitary goal and unable to penetrate their defence sufficiently. Fortunately Morecambe also lost so we still just above the drop zone.

My Man of the Match - Ben Heneghan.

Attendance - 6,387.

Today's Referee - Our match referee for this afternoon will be Mr Charles Breakspear from Surrey, a busy official who averages about four bookings a game, also not afraid to show a red too. Still a lot of penalties in his matches as well so will be looking to play in those markets. His assistants tonight are Paul Yates and Ryan Whitaker on the side lines while on fourth official duties we have Joseph Stokes.

Next league one fixture;
  vs Sunderland (Home)
  Saturday 12th February @3pm.