NEAL ARDLEY GETS THE DREADED VOTE OF CONFIDENCE FROM DONS BOARD

The next three games are going to crucial in the future of Dons manager Neal Ardley. Starting with the home game against Shrewsbury on the weekend, then a CheckaTrade tie against Stevenage on Tuesday and finally the FA Cup 1st round tie with Haringey Borough which will be shown live on BBC TV. The Stevenage game I am not that fussed about but we really need to have wins in the other games to give the boss a chance of making it through to January.  

• AFC WIMBLEDON  L 1-2  SHREWSBURY (League 1)
• AFC WIMBLEDON  W 4-0  STEVENAGE (EFL Trophy)
• HARINGEY BOROUGH W 0-1 AFC WIMBLEDON (FA Cup)

Winning cup games against lower opposition doesn't do it for me, it's the league form that MUST improve soon.

Earlier this week AFC Wimbledon CEO Erik Samuelson gave the fans this update.

"I know fans are concerned about the recent run of results, which have clearly been disappointing. You won't be surprised to hear that the Dons Trust Board and Football Club Board are equally concerned.

We are aware also that fans feel there has been a 'radio silence' about the current situation and this note attempts to respond to that in an honest an open way – while avoiding the classic 'vote of confidence' that characterises many such situations. So, I am setting out for you as transparently as possible what discussions we've had about how we turn things around and where our thinking is at the moment.

The DTB and FCB have discussed all options to improve results and we'll take whatever steps we believe will help the club. The FCB is currently focused with Neal on what might be done to remedy the current position. In holding those conversations we have taken the following into account:

• We're very confident Neal continues to carry the dressing room with him.
• The track record of clubs appointing a new manager mid-season is at best mixed and as often as not makes no discernible improvement in performance – all of last season's relegated clubs changed manager at least once during the season.
• We can't add to the squad until January and Neal is best placed to bring out the best from the current squad.
• Football is a matter of fine margins and in many games this season our overall performance has been good and the result could easily have been different. We think these will even out over the season.

The FCB has kept the DTB up to date on its analysis of the current position. The DTB has, in turn, continued to exercise its role diligently on behalf of the Trust's members by challenging the FCB's thinking and analysis. Meanwhile, Neal and his management team are working very hard and exploring all options including, for example, asking Steven Sylvester, our sports psychologist, to spend a substantial amount of time this week, getting the players to challenge one another to bring out the best in their performances.

We are also aware of the financial implications of any decisions. Obviously, if we make a change to the management team there will be a cost to bear, but it's always been the case that if we need to make a change, we will. Also, as we have always done in the past, we have plans in place to provide the manager with funds to use in the January transfer window.

Finally, thank you for your fantastic support so far this season. Please do get behind the team on Saturday and beyond. It really does make a difference."

Let's see how we do today, come on you Dons

KEMPTON PARK RACES 2018 -- WEDNESDAY NIGHTS #21 31st OCTOBER

The evenings continue to draw in and get darker early, but the lights are on here always at Kempton on Wednesday.

Bonfire weekend coming up although the fireworks have been going off around here for the last week ... Jump season in action now too away from the all weather tracks and trips to Ascot and Cheltenham will be on the cards between now and the new year. The football is best forgotten about for the time being as Wimbledon keep losing (six without a win now) yet the manager is still in situ. Fed up watch a lack of passion so glad I can come back to this blog as we continue to follow the progress of handicap races on the Wednesday night races here at Kempton Park racecourse in Surrey. We've not had the greatest year to date sadly and are falling behind now although it's a bit up and down this is now into the last few months as we reach meeting number twenty one. There are usually 4-5 handicap races covered and some Lay bets too with separate totals recorded to SP throughout the year. 

We are ready for week number twenty one, and as we push on into the latter part of the year we need to find that winning habit again as we need to recover and take a dent out of the losses to date since we find ourselves down -51.72 points to SP, would be nice to continue turning this around and there is still a fair way to go we need some more winners soon and alas we record to starting prices.

As we continue to focus on the handicap contests for each Wednesday evening meeting we will also occasionally include a feature listed or conditions event too if one is available. Keeping records of our endeavours to a 1 point level stake at SP, naturally we will personally be looking to get better odds than this but for the purpose of these results here we simply record SP returns only.

We will keep up with our occasional lay opportunities of short priced favourites too. Naturally we will keep these results separately from the handicap figures, having a disappointing time with these of late keep on finding winners, this season though means we are currently 15/26 going forwards with these for 2018 and we at least keep accurate figures win or lose. 

This Wednesday is meeting number twenty one for the 2018 season and we are expecting an eight race card tonight with four handicaps and a 2yo Nursery for us to look through and enjoy the action which will commence at 16:40 with the 6f Nursery event. 

Here's a link to this Wednesday's race card; RACECARD

The going on the polytrack surface is described as 'standard to slow' and the current weather forecast for this Wednesday is for a dark and cloudy day we a decent chance of rain so might be best to stay in the bars between races (just a suggestion) but we can still have a good night even with the threat of rain a top temperature will be about 10C by the time the meeting gets underway.

Here are our handicap selections for tonight;

16:40 -- 6f Nursery Handicap (2yo).
Our opening event tonight is a nursery handicap for two year olds only, a big field of 12 declared and should be wide open. GLOBAL GODDESS [3rd 8/1] could be dangerous from the Gay Kelleway yard at this time of year and the filly has run well with claiming riders on board before so the 7lb that Faye McManoman takes off her back could be decisive. 

SHESCOMINGHOME [10th 12/1] another with a useful 7lb claiming rider available and this one has been placed around Wolves on the AW at big odds so could put that experience to good use tonight.

18:15 -- 1m Handicap.
The mile handicap has a field of fourteen and Jamie Osborne runs RIPPLING WATERS [11th 14/1] a course and distance winner off a 3lb higher mark than tonight so plenty of interest here. 

SAJANJL [3rd 5/1] is a well bred and lightly raced filly who might appreciate this trip although early days with her wouldn't be a surprise if she stepped up tonight.

19:15 -- 1m 7f 218y Handicap.

Stayers handicap next for us and old favourite GAVLAR [7th 12/1] heads the weights, won here a couple of races ago and usually consistent, together with the bottom weight ENCRYPTION [Non Runner] are our selections against the field the latter a winner last time out over at Yarmouth and if taking to the surface could give these more experienced horses a run for the money.

19:45 -- 1m 3f 219yds Handicap (3yo).

In what appears to be the best race of the night this has only attracted five runners for us to peruse, Welsh Lord looks the likely favourite for Godolphin but will oppose with the pair DRAMATIC QUEEN [WON 3/1] and PERFECT ILLUSION [].

20:15 -- 1m 3f 219yds Handicap.

Our finale over just short of mile and half has attracted a field of 14 where we will side with the pair of I'M RUNNING LATE [8th 10/1] and LILY ASH [6th 10/1] against the field, both have all weather form, and interesting that I'm Running Late has been over in the USA on their dirt tracks so will see what the market makes of that one here on the AW.

Staked -- 10 points.
Returns --  5 points.

Results will appear here later on Wednesday night. We had a big near miss last time but overall the losses are sadly increased to the current level of -51.72 points. Couple of months of the year left to make a dent into that hopefully. Only one winner, a loss of 5 points tonight, making it a -56.72 deficit moving onto the last couple of months. 

LAYS -- 15/26 so far, beginning to get them beat now, and if we have one or two Lays tonight they will be updated here also. Both lays successful now on 17/28.

Tonight's Lays;

UNIVERSAL ORDER [17:15] LOST 2nd 13/8.

WELSH LORD [19:45] LOST 2nd 4/1.

Our next meeting here at Kempton Park will be in a few weeks time on WEDNESDAY 14th NOVEMBER so hope to see you then.

NFL 2018 INTERNATIONAL SERIES GAME 3 -- PHILADELPHIA EAGLES vs JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Sunday 28th October

Philadelphia Eagles  vs Jacksonville Jaguars @ Wembley Stadium


The last of this seasons international games will again take place at Wembley on Sunday and ends this years three scheduled game series in London. Effectively this is a Jacksonville home game as they have been coming here for some time now and I believe also have a 10 year deal with the new Tottenham Hotspur stadium. Another sell out crowd is expected for these popular matches and kick off will be at 1.30pm (Uk Time) and is expected to be broadcast live on BBC2 which is a wonderful show of support for the sport from the Broadcaster on top of their two weekly update shows. To put on a live show in the evening and commit the schedule to potentially 3-4 hours worth of sport is something they have only done once before and that was on the now defunct BBC3 freeview channel. 

Current season record 

  Philadelphia Eagles
    - P7 W3 L4 F154 A138
  Jacksonville Jaguars
    - P7 W3 L4 F116 A146

Head Coach -- Doug Marrone

The current Superbowl champions Philadelphia Eagles come to London to face the regular "home" fixture for Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jags owner Shahid Khan has not been able to purchase Wembley Stadium but his side has been playing here for some years now. It's fair to say that the Eagles are not in the same form as they were on the way to winning SuperBowl LII with returning Quarterback Carson Wentz back in action and recent win against the New York Giants as well as last weekends defeat against Carolina 21-17 so they don't look like challenging this year. His opposite QB is Blake Bortles who is not having the same impact as last term recent losses to Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys before another loss last weekend against Houston Texans [20-7] which saw Bortles benched so a pair of sides out of form something has to give. 

We will aim to keep a brief summary of each quarter as the game progresses, should be a great start to this series of UK fixtures which will surely grow until we have our own regular season NFL franchise. 

Head Coach -- Doug Pederson

For those of you not coming to Wembley this Sunday afternoon pleased to confirm you can watch the match live on the BBC, it's on their BBC2 channel and sure that Nat Coombs will host with plenty of guests. Also ensure you catch all the build up and highlights of matches played earlier on their regular Saturday night NFL Show with Jason Bell and Osi Umenyiora joining in the fun this season. Have a great day all.

1st Quarter;
The National Anthems are concluded, the coin toss is won by Philadelphia Eagles and they have deferred to allow Jacksonville to kick off and we are underway in London for the final NFL game in the UK for this season. Josh Lambo kicks to the end-zone so Carson Wentz will begin from the 25 yard line with their opening drive. 

Wentz throws a couple of poor passes and is nearly picked off early, however does pass to himself for a first down but is soon sacked and fumbles with the Jaguars recovering back to the 34 yard line after a penalty. Blake Bortles begins his first drive early in the game in good field position and running a few plays himself for the first down. They have to settle for a 51 yard field goal by Josh Lambo to open the scoring here. 

The Eagles begin their second drive of the opening quarter from their own 14 yard line, and they mark a little forward progress including a first down from Wentz who finds a gap and runs to the 37y line. Annoyingly another interception in the end zone this time and they fail to score once more. 

2nd Quarter;
Jacksonville start the 2nd Quarter on their own 10y line after Bortles is sacked and they have to punt away. After a few running plays fail they finally get moving with consecutive passing plays securing first downs by Nelson Agholor and Zach Ertz in the opposing half. Cannot make it count though and fail to find the end zone settling instead for a 31 yard field goal by Jake Elliott and it's all square at 3-3.

Jaguars start again from their own 25y line, passes to Cole and Chark takes them into the Philadelphia half again but another sack for Bortles brings on Josh Lambo for a 57 yard field goal, and he makes it to put them back in the lead. We really need some Touchdowns today as the two minute warning is reached for the opening half with the defences on top. The ball is picked off again on the half way line and the Eagles might have a final chance to score in this half with about a minute and half to play, tries to find Agholor but it's incomplete. Wentz runs himself to get a 1st down and with under a minute left they moving close to the field goal range in a poor first half for the offensive units until he throws to Dallas Goedert who runs into the end zone after a 32y pass and it's our first Touchdown of the afternoon the Eagles take the lead at half time. 

H/T Score;   Philadelphia Eagles  10 - 6 Jacksonville Jaguars.

3rd Quarter;
The Eagles kick off the second half, it's downed in the end zone so the Jaguars start on their 25y line behind by 4. Bortles throws a nice pass to the half way line for a first down and the half is moving a bit quicker but a delay due to injury to the Eagles Jalen Mills who has to go off. Bortles unable to move further forwards so the punt team send it to the 5yd line. 

Adams runs out to the half way line and the Eagles keep moving, do not look the same team that won the Super Bowl though but leading all the same. But an amazing run by Wendell Smallwood all the way to the end zone to extend the Eagles lead out of nothing. The following drive by the Jaguars sees Bortles finds tight end David Grinnage for 24 yards and eventually they find the end zone with Dede Westbrook for the touchdown but fail with the 2pt conversion to remain five points adrift 17-12.

4th Quarter;
The final quarter starts with the Jags on the 30yd line, but concede a penalty for 1st and 20 then move it on close to a first down once more. In good position to make this game interesting after a slow start. Dede Westbrook fails to complete twice while in the red zone, 3rd down and incomplete again so will to let Lambo kick another field goal to reduce the lead to just two. Carson Wentz quickly gets the Eagles moving and a 36 pass reception to Jordan Matthews it's not long till they are in sight of the goal once more on the 7yd line but more injuries for the Jaguars. Zach Ertz catches the pass and the Eagles score another touchdown. 

Jaguars back in the game with TJ Yeldon who receives a pass for a 37 yard gain, there have been a few penalties and an ejection but missed who that was. First and goal with 7 mins to go. They get the ball in the end zone but it's juggled and dropped by DJ Chark so that brings up 4th down and it's another field goal from Lambo to reduce the score to just six. 

We need another score. Doesn't look likely as they get the 1st down needed and successive knees means its all over I needed ONE more point gutted.

F/T Score;    Philadelphia Eagles  24 - 18 Jacksonville Jaguars.