FA CUP 3RD ROUND -- WIMBLEDON vs TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR SUNDAY 7th JANUARY 2018

Happy New Year and that means that it is time for the FA Cup Third round weekend. The draw made last month has given us an exciting trip away to TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR which this season of course means a trip to Wembley for the Dons. 

Great to play one of the big sides as we remember how well we did to run Liverpool close a few years back, but away games in a big stadium would usually mean a decent pay day for us however with ticket prices set surprisingly very low and Wembley unlikely to be fully open we will have to beat Spurs and take the prize money. Sadly no TV income from this one and with Spurs playing West Ham on the Thursday this match has been moved to Sunday afternoon.

FORM GUIDE 
(Last 6 matches in their respective leagues, starting with most recent)
AFC Wimbledon -- WDLWLL
Tottenham Hotspur -- DWWWLW





LAST TIME OUT
AFC Wimbledon 2 Southend United 0

Tottenham 1 West Ham United 1

A Happy New Year to all Dons fans out there, and traditionally the first full weekend of the year is FA Cup 3rd round day. We got drawn at Spurs, so are Wembley bound, and arrive here after a mixed holiday fixture list that started well with a win against a high flying Bradford side, then a disappointing loss to Portsmouth and a draw against Gillingham before the new years day victory against Southend United 2-0 yet we remain in the bottom four albeit only by a point and with a game in hand. Putting the league to one side and the FA Cup gives us a good day out but realistically an upset is unlikely even if Spurs put out a so called weakened team it'll be full of internationals, we did however beat their Academy U23 side 4-3 earlier in the season as part of the Checkatrade Trophy pool games. 

Updates will be published with team news and more news as and when it comes through, Kane starts up front for Spurs with Alli, Eriksen and Son on the bench. Dons have their captain Barry Fuller back and will rely on the threat of Taylor and Barcham who was on the books at Spurs as a youngster. 

Line Ups (Confirmed);

AFC WIMBLEDON

Odds -- 33/1 (Ladbrokes / Corals) 

Long (GK),  Fuller (c),  Charles,  Deji,  Meades,  Francomb,  Abadou,  Soares,  Trotter,  Barcham,  Taylor.

Subs – McDonnell (Gk),  Nightingale,  McDonald,  Forrester,  Kaja,  Kennedy,  Hartigan

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Odds -- 1/10 (Generally) 

Vorm (Gk),  Trippier,  Foyth,  Vertonghen,  Walker-Peters,  Sissoko,  Wanyama,  Dembélé,  Lamela,  Kane,  Llorente

Subs – Lloris (Gk),  Nkoudou,  Dier,  Alli,  Eriksen,  Davies,  Son Heung-min

H/T Score – 0 - 0

First Half Comment;
AFC Wimbledon kick off and we are underway at Wembley for the 3rd round, it's a strong Spurs line up with only the change in goalkeeper and couple of outfield players rested, Kane starting is a surprise to me but does show the respect that they are giving us and the competition. Harry Kane linking well with Lamela and Trippier early on but yet to trouble Long in the Dons goal in the early exchanges.

Couple of chances for Spurs as the opening fifteen minutes pass by, Long making a couple of comfortable saves and the only rare forays forward by Wimbledon are quickly snuffed out but it's a good start and we'll find our way into the game yet. The commentary on BBC Radio 5 extra is very patronising even to the point of being surprised how many fans we have .... erm we sold out our allocation in about 30 minutes mate if they had opened up the top tier we would have sold that out too as well. Still all square as Harry Kane skies another shot high over the bar.

Dons at last start to make something happen and win a couple of corners which sadly doesn't amount to much, still annoying to see Lyle Taylor take corners when he is meant to be the main forward. A quick break by Dons and Jimmy Abdou hits the crossbar from the edge of the box, possibly a great save by goalkeeper Vorm, only fifteen minutes till half time and still 0-0 a good effort so far, must keep our composure while continuing to frustrate our Premier League opponents.

While the stats show Spurs have about 80% possession they have only had a couple of shots on target for Long to save, so well done Dons this half and of course came closest to score with that earlier effort hitting the bar not long till half time the fans have also been awesome with non stop support. 

F/T Score – 3 - 0

Match Summary;
Spurs kick off the second half here with the Dons fans still in good voice, haven't heard much from the Spurs fans even when they are on the attack, typical Premier League customers I guess. Lyle Taylor sets up Andy Barcham early on but he makes a mess of that cross then Barry Fuller tries his luck but wins a throw. Good start to the second half from the Dons who must be feeling good after their half time pep talk from Neal Ardley. The first booking of the match goes to Spurs Victor Wanyama and following the free kick another chance for Wimbledon saved from Darius Charles, exciting start with Wimbledon creating chances now as well. 

Sadly Harry Kane manages to deflect a couple of goals in succession to put the game away, we held out for an hour though and still proud of the efforts here against a top quality Premier League side. The Jan Vertonghen scores a screamer from 30 yards his first goal for Spurs in just over 4 years.

My Man of the Match – Harry Kane, always a threat and was bound to score in his current rich vein of form.

Referee -- Our referee for this important third round FA Cup tie has been confirmed as David Coote who hails from Nottinghamshire and has been on the referee's list since 2010.

Attendance – 47,527. (more than 7,000 Dons fans)

Next match:
Saturday 13th January vs Franchise Scum FC (Away)
League One 3:00pm 

CHELTENHAM NH MEETING - NEW YEARS DAY 2018

Welcome to 2018, Happy New Year to you all.

We kick off the new year with the traditional January 1st meeting at Cheltenham, which will be the shown on ITV again so if it's cold out and you cannot get there, stay in the warm, finish off the last of the Xmas booze and chocolates and enjoy the jumpers in action. We have about ten weeks till the Cheltenham festival in March so each meeting should have it's own clues to the future, maybe not so much the big races but the handicaps will attract plenty of interest.

Today it's a 7 race card, the feature events are a pair of Grade 2 contests, the Dipper Novices Chase and the Relkeel Hurdle which are both run over 2m 4f.

Here are our selections for the New Year Day card;

12:15 -- 2m 4f 56y Novice Hurdle (Listed).

Happy New Year and we start the season at Cheltenham with a listed hurdle for novices, a field of 8 declared and headed by AINCHEA [2nd 4/1] trained by Colin Tizzard could be interesting having won on second start at Sandown. 

The Harry Fry stable are very strong and his ONEFORTHEROADTOM [5th 8/1] will also attract plenty of interest so we'll chance those two against the field and enjoy the start of the year.

12:50 -- 3m 2f 70y Handicap Chase.

Just the five declared for the handicap chase now, all could have a chance if they stand up but equally all come with some questions to answer. Top weight SOUTHFIELD THEATRE [Pulled Up 7/1] is useful but hasn't won for three years, this is probably his best chance to put that right. 

RUSSE BLANC [4th 10/3] should like these conditions and though unseated last time out if he can put in a clear round might give these most to think about.

13:25 -- 2m 4f 166y "The Dipper" Novices Chase (Grade 2).

Another small field for the first of our Grade 2 races, the novices go chasing and former Champion Hurdle favourite YANWORTH [WON 15/8F] will be of most interest to see if he'll take to this sphere. The dangers are all around and WILLOUGHBY COURT is unbeaten in his last five outings the last two being decent Novice Chases where he gave Yanworth a 3L beating at Newbury and deserves his chance in this grade.

14:00 -- 2m 4f 166y Handicap Chase (Grade 3).

Tricky chase follows next, of the nine declared not many you can discount although Top Gamble and Shantou Flyer will do well to carry their heavy weights in this ground and still challenge up the hill so preference is for QUITE BY CHANCE [5th 14/1] and THEINVAL [6th 11/1] against the field with both having a little break since being placed last time out the former only a couple of lengths down at Ascot.

14:35 -- 2m 7f 213y Handicap Hurdle.

ARTHUR'S GIFT [4th 7/2] / RED RISING [2nd 11/4] a pair against the field here though it's not a race to be too bothered with in personally is not that inspiring, keep your money for the next race.

15:10 -- 2m 4f 56y Relkeel Hurdle (Grade 2).

Certainly nothing of the quality of Relkeel here but will be interesting enough with another good field lined up. Bryony Frost recently rode a Grade 1 over Christmas and gets on well with OLD GUARD [4th 9/2] and will also look towards COLIN'S SISTER [3rd 9/4] who is in receipt of all the weight concessions.

15:45 -- 1m 5f 209y Open NH Flat Race.

Concluding with a bumper, a decent one for it's level but hardly anything to go on so just reputation and yard I guess, ENA BAIE [4th 7/2] is of plenty of interest owned by JP McManus and trained by Harry Fry also in receipt of 7lb weight allowance. ACEY MILAN [WON 3/1] has some racecourse experience too and could put that to good use.

Results will be updated here later today, then we will be into the swing of things for 2018 with regular features from Kempton Park on Wednesday nights as well as all the cards at Pontefract, and the bigger festivals at Cheltenham, Aintree, Royal Ascot and Galway amongst others.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE 2018

So farewell to 2017 and welcome in 2018. 

May it be a year of fun, excitement, love and happiness for you all whatever you have planned. Last year wasn't the best for me personally, plenty happened work and home, but we still standing and it's time to look forward once again. Not making silly resolutions this year but I do want to carry on and improve my life, so will still be writing regularly on different topics as I find this helps me deal with things. Shall carry on with the horse racing and look forward to going to Ascot and Sandown later in the year, there is still the football and hopeful that AFC Wimbledon can survive a relegation battle this season together with the great news of the return to Plough Lane and a new stadium now moving ever closer to realisation. 

Planning a few trips away this year, ideally to Swanage, possibly Isle of Wight and Isle of Man too, first though I need to see work has settled down once the move into London is complete in the first few months of 2018 and what impact that has for us all. So whatever plans you make this year hope they are exciting and trouble free. Be well, have fun. 

Have a wonderful 2018.