Preview: AFC Wimbledon

18 March 2022

On Saturday Cheltenham Town welcome AFC Wimbledon to the Jonny-Rocks Stadium (kick-off: 3pm).

It is meeting number three for the season between the two clubs having already met twice at Wimbledon's brand new Cherry Red Records Stadium home in the FA Cup second round and in the first League meeting between the two this season.

That League game was the first time the two clubs have faced one another at this level, and Saturday's game is the first home League One fixture for the Robins against the Dons.

Tickets for the match are available to buy online up until midday on the day of the game. Make sure you purchase before midnight on Friday though to save £2 on matchday prices.

Team news

Kion Etete is facing a race to be fit with parent club Tottenham Hotspur set to make a decision on his fitness.

Fellow striker George Lloyd (pictured) returned to the team last weekend at Morecambe, however other strikers Dan Nlundulu and Charlie Brown will be unavailable due to injury.

Conor Thomas has the possibility of being fit on his return from a calf problem.

Media talk

Despite Saturday's visitors current fight to stay in the division, Michael Duff has warned his players that they are very much capable of producing a performance that could see them win the latest outing between the sides this season.

"I think Wimbledon have been better in the two games we've played against them so we know we need to be better," he said.

"The biggest warning shot in the world is we played Crewe who were bottom of the League and had just lost seven on the spin, and got beat, so hopefully for the players that will have been a warning shot for them.

"We're not that big a team where we can rock up and say 'Wimbledon haven't won for a while so we'll be all right'. They went to Plymouth a couple of games ago and for the first half an hour dominated."

Watch the full press conference with Duff previewing the match here on iFollow.

Opposition

Without a win since early December, AFC Wimbledon are just about keeping their heads above the relegation zone on goal difference and with a game in hand on the bottom four.

They are 18 without a win in League fixtures going into Saturday and have slipped to three consecutive defeats as they target the points needed to hoist themselves out of the threat of a place in League Two next season.

Their youthful side is led by skipper Alex Woodyard in the middle of the pitch who will be hoping he can use his experience to drag them to safety. Alongside him in midfield ex-Chelsea youngster Luke McCormick has caught the eye this season, while the lively Ayoub Assal will be one to watch having already caused the Robins problems this season in the FA Cup second round.

They sold key front man Ollie Palmer to Wrexham in January so they are hoping the goals will come from Scotland under-21 international Dapo Mebude and Terry Ablade who is on loan from Fulham.

At the back Ben Heneghan adds experience in the middle of defence, while left-sided defender Lee Brown will be aiming to contribute significantly having signed during the January transfer window.

The manager: Mark Robinson

Now permanently in charge for over a year, Mark Robinson was first appointed interim boss in January 2021 of the Dons, and he helped guide them to League One safety last season.

He'll be looking to repeat the same feat this time around at a club he has worked at since 2004 in various roles having worked in their academy set-up.

It's his first management role in senior football. He played youth football for Fulham but was prevented from furthering his career due to injury.

Previous meeting

Aaron Cosgrave's late equaliser ensured AFC Wimbledon and Cheltenham finished level when they met in the League back at the start of February at the Cherry Red Records Stadium in the capital.

Ayoub Assal had given the Dons the lead after only eight minutes, but a first half double from Alfie May ensured the Robins led for much of the game.

May's first came from excellent work by Kion Etete and his second was from the penalty spot before Cosgrave levelled towards the final stages of the evening.

Tickets

It's possible to buy tickets online up until midday on the day of the game. If you purchase before midnight on Friday you can save £2 on each match ticket.

You can buy tickets from the ticket office on matchday for the Autovillage Stand. For the standing areas from the matchday sales point in the car park and for the Colin Farmer Stand from next to the Parklands turnstiles.

If you are collecting pre-paid tickets then these are available from the matchday sales point in the car park next to the bowls club. For the Colin Farmer Stand they're available from next to the Parklands turnstiles.

Match programme

January arrival Ben Williams is the big interview in Saturday's programme which is available to buy around the stadium for £3.

There are also features with Elliot Bonds, Michael Duff, chairman David Bloxham and some other interesting reads to enjoy.

If you are not at the game you can also buy the programme online.

Coverage

Social media: Follow @CTFCofficial for updates on Twitter. You can also stay up to date on the latest score on the club's Facebook and Instagram

Listen: Head online and purchase an audio match pass for £2.50 for iFollow

Website: Post-game you can read a match report on the club website and see reaction from inside the camp

Highlights: Extended highlights will be available to watch on iFollow. You can also view shorter highlights on YouTube, Quest and Sky Sports

Match Reports

Report & highlights: Robins 3-1 AFC Wimbledon

19 March 2022

Subscribe to watch

Cheltenham Town v AFC Wimbledon - Extended highlights - Sat 19th March 2022

Extended highlights of Cheltenham Town v AFC Wimbledon, Sat 19th March 2022 in the Sky Bet League One

Cheltenham Town came from behind to beat AFC Wimbledon 3-1 with goals from Callum Wright, George Lloyd and Alfie May.

Jack Rudoni put the travelling side in front after Nesta Guinness-Walker cut through the Robins backline with an accurate through ball, and the attacking midfielder passed the ball past Owen Evans to give Wimbledon the lead.

But second half tap ins from Wright and Lloyd saw the home side claim all three points, despite the strong defensive effort by Wimbledon for majority of the match.

On the 90th minute, May joined in with the goal scoring, and netted in his 19th League goal of the season as he rolled the ball past Nik Tzanev in prime May fashion.

“We try and play the right way and that’s what we tried to do. It’s a real sign of progress and shows the togetherness of the squad,” said manager Michael Duff following the second half comeback victory.

May kicked off his sides chances with an attempted lofted effort, but it travelled into the Hazlewood Stand.

Sean Long played a one-two with Elliot Bonds and then launched a teasing ball for Wright to get his head onto it, however the Leicester loanee’s effort glanced wide of the goal.

Ayoub Assal looked set to put the away side in front after being sent through in on goal, but the attacker got his shot totally wrong and placed the ball wide of the near post. A lucky break for the Robins.

From one end of the field, Wimbledon keeper Tzanev made a finger tipping save to prevent Robins captain Will Boyle from netting the opener. Immediately from the save, the visitors played Rudoni through in on goal and he slotted it past Evans to score his eighth in all competitions.

Cheltenham pushed on for the equaliser, with May and Liam Sercombe having good chances on the half hour mark, but still the men in red and white struggled to test the Wimbledon keeper.

Wimbledon captain Alex Woodyard tested his luck with an outside of the box shot from a corner, but luckily for the Robins it swerved up and over the crossbar.

Following the start of the second half, Ben Williams whipped a cross into May’s path, however the in-from forward couldn’t connect with it, letting the visitors off the hook again.

It didn’t look like it would be Cheltenham’s afternoon as May struck another shot wide.

Manager Duff brought three players all on at once and changed to a back four to help maximise his teams chances of finding the illustrious equaliser.

The substitutions paid off as Aaron Ramsey’s close shot was blocked, but with the goalkeeper on the floor, Wright had an open goal to fire the ball into. The Jonny-Rocks erupted, and momentum had certainly changed hands.

Two minutes later, on his first home game of the season, Lloyd headed in the second from two yards out following a Blair cross. A goal and an assist from substitutes showed that the tactical changes played a big part in getting the win.

With six minutes announced for extra time, May was played in through on goal by wing-back Blair to set the forward up with his 22nd goal in all competitions, to cap off a strong comeback and announce Cheltenham hitting 50 points for the season.

ROBINS: Evans, Long, Raglan, Boyle, Blair, Williams, Sercombe (Colkett 62), Bonds (Ramsey 62), Wright, Williams (Lloyd 62), May

Subs not used: Flinders, Freestone, Pollock, Chapman

WIMBLEDON: Tzanev, Guinness-Walker, Lawrence, Nightingale, Heneghan, Assal (Kalambayi 88), Dapo Mebude (Osei Yaw 88), Rudioni, Hartigan, Woodyard, Cosgrove (Robinson 74)

Subs not used: Broome, Osew, Chislett, Marsh

ATTENDANCE: 3,836 (648 away)

REFEREE: Scott Oldham

Ticket News

Buy in advance for AFC Wimbledon

15 March 2022

Make a £2 saving on matchday prices by buying in advance for Saturday's home match against AFC Wimbledon.

The Dons visit the Jonny-Rocks Stadium for a 3pm kick-off as the countdown to the final stages of the League One season begins.

Last Saturday the Robins picked up an excellent three points on the road at Morecambe and this weekend's contest is set to be another tense encounter against a Wimbledon team who are fighting to pull themselves away from relegation trouble.

You can make a £2 saving on your matchday ticket by purchasing in advance for the game.

To do this head online and buy before midnight on Friday or alternatively purchase before the ticket office closing time on Friday afternoon.

Following the win at Morecambe the team would appreciate your support as we look to make it to the 50 point mark in our first season at this level for over a decade.