AFC Wimbledon away - Preview and Predictions

Like a 20 year old Honda, the Reds are ever reliable on the road, and are aiming for a 4th straight league 1 away win (across 2 seasons) when we visit AFC Wimbledon on Saturday. The Wombles were promoted through the play-offs last season after a series of 1-0 wins, and have started the season reasonably positively, sitting 14th with 6 points from 4 games. The bookies have the hosts as clear outsiders for the points at the weekend, priced at 15/8, with the Reds as 15/11 favourites.


Johnnie Jackson begins his 4th season as Wimbledon manager with the side back in the 3rd tier for the first time since shortly before his appointment in 2022. A 21st, 10th and 5th place finish under his tenure has finally see them regain their place in the third tier. They struggled for consistency last season, especially in the early part, putting together consecutive wins just once before Christmas, though they did go on a 12 game unbeaten run from boxing day to March, to cement a place in the top 6. 4 wins from the final 14 games though ensured it would only be a play-off berth for the Wombles. They had comfortably the tightest defence in the division last season, conceding just 35 goals in 46 games, which was 10 fewer than anyone else. As is often the case, their tight defence came at the expense of a modest attack. 56 goals in the league was the 2nd lowest tally in the top half, and worse than teams as low as 16th in the table. It was at the Cherry Red Records stadium though that Wimbledon flourished, having the 2nd best record in the division, and gathering 15 more points in their own back yard compared to their travels. As I mentioned before, they've had a promising start to the season, losing by a late goal to 2 relegated sides, and beating 2 decent sides for the level. In a similar vein to last season, they score high on defensive metrics, but rank largely in the bottom 3rd in the attacking measures; they have the 3rd best defensive record, but have taken the 2nd least shots on target per game for example. It feels like this one could be a case of the unstoppable force vs the immovable object, given our respective qualities.


This is just our 3rd meeting with Wimbledon since they were victims of identity theft. A goalless draw at Oakwell, was followed up by a 4-1 Reds victory at Kingsmeadow, courtesy of goals from Woodrow, Moore, Thiam and McGeehan. Our record at Wimbledon under their original guise is mixed, with 3 wins, 4 draws and 3 defeats; the most recent of those was a 1-0 away victory, courtesy of an early Mike Sheron goal, at a dark period for both clubs from memory.


In terms of current players who have played for both, there's only Tennai Watson. The Reds new right back spent 28 games on loan with the Wombles back in the 18/19 season, including in both meetings against the Reds, which gives him the odd quirk of being the only player who will have featured in every meeting between the 2 sides (permitting he plays on Saturday). As an aside (and to bulk this section out), he later signed for AFC Wimbledon's biggest rivals, MK Dons, where he spent 2 seasons before joining Charlton in 2023.


Johnnie Jackson said he felt sick for his players after Isaak Davies' added-time winner consigned the Dons to defeat against Cardiff City in midweek. He also suggested that, despite wanting a few more players, he expects they'll do little business in the final days of the window unless players leave first. Since then, they have added experienced German centre half, Patrick Bauer, who sounds like an Irish-American FBI agent, upon his release from Preston; as well as over 100 Championship appearances, Special Agent Bauer has also featured in Portugal and his native Germany, so is well travelled. Bauer is their 9th summer signing, though they did have a substantial number of players to replace from last season, including influential midfielder, James Tilley, who now plays for Wycombe, and forward Josh Neufville, now of Bradford. Stopper, Owen Goodman, was largely responsible for the 24 clean sheets they kept in the league and play offs last season; he returned to Palace upon completion of his loan and now keeps goal for Huddersfield. Nathan Asiimwe, on loan from Charlton, has started life well for the Dons; he has a goal and assist to his name already, and veteran striker Mathew Stevens has continued where he left off last season with a couple of goals. Good in the air, Stevens netted 21 times in League 2 last season, making him one to watch for the Dons. Stalwart, Jake Reeves remains in the middle of the park for the Dons; he's on his 3rd spell with the club. He scored his only goal for Swindon in a 3-0 win at Oakwell back in 2014, a game in which Conor Hourihane played in the Reds midfield. Joe Lewis left the field in the first half on Tuesday, so could be injured for this one. Their side from that game (but with Harbottle in for Lewis) was, Nathan Bishop in Goal, Ogundere, Harbottle and Johnson at centre half, Asiimwe and Seddon as wingbacks, Smith, Reeves and Hippolyte in midfield, with Orsi-Dadomo and Stevens up front.


Once again, I don't foresee wholesale changes for the Reds, unless enforced. Yoganathan returns from suspension, however I reckon Kelly did enough on Tuesday to hold his place in the team. I do still think DKD would benefit from being more central, and Cleary could be utilised on the left. Conor has suggested that Mael De Gevigney could be involved at the weekend, though I'd imagine he only takes his place amongst the substitutes if fit again. The only other absentees are longer term, with Roberts, Jalo and Gent all predicted to be about 10 weeks from fitness. In terms of signings, Conor intimated that Dom Ballard is a player who interests him, though he was less enthused by the lad from Man Utd (I've forgotten his name). I still think we are a centre half, centre forward and possibly a left winger short of having a deep enough squad to see us through to the new year, permitting there are no outgoings. Conor did confirm that we won't have any new faces for the weekend, so the side for me will be Cooper in goal, Watson, Earl, Shepherd and Ogbeta across the back, Kelly and Connell in the middle, DKD down one side, Vickers down the other, with Phillips behind McGoldrick.


Oliver Yates takes charge of his 6th Barnsley game, and 13th Wimbledon game at the weekend. His record for the Reds is 2 wins, 2 draws and a defeat, with his most recent Reds tie being our 1-0 win at the New York Stadium in February. He has the unique distinction of being a referee who has, in the past, actually awarded us a couple of penalties; in both of our victories with him officiating, he has awarded and we have scored a penalty, the other being in a 3-1 win over Reading the season before last. There were 10 penalties in his first Barnsley encounter, as the Reds lost 5-3 on penalties to Man City U21s, after a 3-3 draw in the Bristol Paint Pizza Trophy. Wimbledon have won 4, drawn 3 and lost 5 with Mr Yates in charge. Most recently, he oversaw the Wombles 2-0 away victory over Tranmere last November. He's actually previously awarded Wimbledon a couple of penalties too; Joe Piggott took both of those, scoring in a 1-0 win over Peterborough, but missing in a goalless draw with Ipswich. He dismissed 2 Wimbledon players in a 2-0 victory over Doncaster the season before last, both for 2 yellow cards. This season so far, he's averaged nearly 5 cards a game, though not given any reds; he averages about the same for yellows last season, and gave a red every 5 and a half games.


This is the hardest game to predict so far for me. I think we've had a favourable start to the season, playing largely sides who have started off poorly. Wimbledon represent a slight step up for me, in the sense that they've carried on their good form from last season to an extent, whereas none of the sides we've faced so far were in good form at the end of last season. I can see the being right at the back, and causing us trouble in the wide areas. I do think our back 4, for the most part, are improving, particularly the full backs, and it will be good to name an unchanged back 4 for the first time this season. Both my bet and prediction for this one are 1-0 to the Reds at 13/2. I think it will be a tight game, but I can see us edging it. I don't think we'll have as many clear cut chances as the other night, but we have the quality to see out the game.


You Reds!

 

I’m looking forward to this. Before Tuesdays game, I thought this would be the trickier of the two, but I have to give Posh credit for their efforts.

If Wimbledon have rekindled the old Crazy Gang spirit since going back to Plough Lane, albeit at a new ground, then we could be in for a battle.

Apart from bogey sides, I fear no one away from home in this league, and 1200 reds fans are going to help our cause, especially if we start well.

Reds not to lose for me.

 

I’m four from four in terms of predicting the result this season. Not the scoreline, obviously.

I think we win a tight one. I’ll go with 2-1. DKD and Phillips.

 

Wombles 1 Barnsley 3

Two for DKD and one for Phillips.

Great Uncle Bulgaria for them.

 

Good interesting informative write up Archey, thanks for that.

In my opinion, it's a case of which Barnsley team turn up, which of course will effect the outcome of the game.

I personally feel there's still far too many balls going astray
especially in midfield which cause un needed pressure and problems at the back, chuck in too many defensive collective and individual mistakes, and
then we ride our luck far too often for my liking at the back.

Teams who normally do well in this league are solid at the back, which we can't say we are, in all honesty, despite our lofty position.
Theres still too many squeaky bum times throughout the games weve played so far, to call us favorites to win anything in my opinion.
Saying all that the lads are, grinding out results, and their hard work on the training ground appears to be showing off at times.
Which is a positive might I add.

The Wobbles for me won't lay down and die or roll over easily for that matter,.

Now we don't want to go all Wednesday do we, but, we are seen as a major scalp to be had, by the so called, smaller teams in this division, and I don't mean any disrespect by that to them,
its because of the way they see us, as one of the big boys,
they raise their game and get stuck in and we see at times, the emergence of the dark arts, coming into play, to try and beat us anyway they can, let's hope the ref isn't on their side either, adding weight to their game plan
If it is the case, then I fear, we will be favorites to end the game with 10 men for a 3rd time this season.
Whilst we don't set up for a share of the points even though over 90 minutes we've drawn 2, Fleetwood we sat back and invited them on to us and a lack of concentration cost us before going to penalties, secondly no matter how you dress it up against Bolton concentration late on and a previous lack of self control cost us the points, with 11 men , I think we'd have gone on to win that game comfortably.
So after all that waffle how do I call it, my head says, score draw 1 each but my heart says all 3 points and top of the league come 17 05, due to our scoring threat in the final third. We win the battle in mid field that I expect will take place, and we take all 3 points 3.1
Then the song
"Conors army is here to stay". Can ring out through out the ground

Failing that a chorus of

Barnsley are organised work as a team
Barnsley are tidy Barnsley are clean
Underground overground wandering free
The team from South Yorkshire Barnsley are we.
Enjoy.