Preview: AFC Wimbledon (H)

9 August 2019

Fleetwood Town welcome AFC Wimbledon to Highbury Stadium on Saturday 10th August, and we have all you need to know ahead of our first home match of the new season.

Fixture: Fleetwood Town v AFC Wimbledon

Competition: Sky Bet League One

Date: Saturday 10^th August 2019

Kick-Off: 15:00 (BST)

Venue: Highbury Stadium, Park Avenue, Fleetwood, FY7 6SP

Match officials: Tom Nield (Referee), Anthony Moore & Daniel Woodward (Assistants), Mark Cunliffe (Fourth Official)

Tom Nield Referee v Wimbledon.jpg

FLEETWOOD TOWN

Fleetwood started off the new season with a comfortable 3-1 victory on the road at pre-season promotion hopefuls, Peterborough United.

With two early goals, both from new signings Harry Souttar and Josh Morris, it was the perfect start for Joey Barton’s side – who silenced the home faithful from the minute go. Another one of Barton’s signing rounded off the day with a stunning free-kick nine minutes from time, after Posh forward Ivan Toney pulled one back for the home side.

Ched Evans arrived at Highbury on a three-year deal early in the week, adding to Town’s attacking options for the 2019/20 campaign. With the Welsh forward scoring 18 goals in all competitions last season for Fleetwood, he will be looking to equal or go better this time round.

FTFC Picture.jpg

AFC WIMBLEDON

The Dons didn’t get off to the best start as they fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat at home to Rotherham United. Former Plymouth forward Freddie Ladapo scored United’s first goal of the season, with dangerman Joe Pigott equalising early in the second half.

With just under ten minutes to go in the match, Clark Robertson stepped up for Rotherham to make it 2-1, meaning the Yorkshire side went back up North with all three points.

AFC Wimbledon Team.jpg

LAST TIME WE MET

The last time Fleetwood and AFC Wimbledon met was on the 22^nd January 2019, where Town came out 3-0 winners at Kingsmeadow.

With Fleetwood’s latest signing, Ched Evans scoring two early goals on the night, it was finished off by Ash Hunter – who headed in the third from close range.

Watch the full highlights below:

ONE TO WATCH: JOE PIGOTT

The one to watch for AFC Wimbledon is Joe Pigott. The forward began his footballing career at Charlton Athletic in 2012, where he spent four years at the club. First team football was tough to come by for the now 25-year-old, so loan spells at Gillingham, Newport and Southend followed.

After time out on loan, League Two side Cambridge United came calling and the youngster scored his first goal for the club in their 1-0 win away at Shrewsbury in the EFL Trophy.

Pigott signed for the Dons in January 2018, and the forward scored four minutes into his debut in their 2-0 home victory over Blackpool, having only entered the match on the 73rd minute.

He has scored 12 goals for AFC Wimbledon in just under 12 months, with his first of this season coming against Fleetwood on the opening day win at Highbury.

The forward scored 18 goals last campaign, and has already got off the mark this season with his goal against Rotherham in their 2-1 defeat on home soil.

Joe Piggot Latest.jpg

WHAT CLINT HILL HAD TO SAY:

Fleetwood’s first team coach Clint Hill was on media duty ahead of the match against the Dons, and you can listen to the full interview live on iFollow.

Clint Hill Preview.jpg

TICKET INFORMATION

Adults - £22

Seniors (60+) - £17

Under 16 - £7

Supporters can buy their tickets on the Fleetwood Town ticketing website, as well as purchasing them in store at Poolfoot Farm or Highbury Stadium, and over the phone on (01253) 775080.

BETTING ODDS

For Fleetwood to make it back to back wins in the league, Town fans can get odds of 4/5 to pick up all three points. A draw between the two sides is currently priced at 23/10.

With Joey Barton’s side coming away from Kingsmeadow with a 3-0 victory over Wally Downes Dons in January, for the same result at Highbury, the odds are at 14/1.

For the Cod Army to win 1-0, 2-0, or 2-1, you can now get the odds of 13/8.

For more odds on SkyBet, click HERE. Please remember to bet and gamble responsibly.

FOLLOW TOWN ON IFOLLOW

Can’t make the game on Saturday? Well don’t worry as with iFollow Fleetwood, you won’t miss any of the action!

With video season passes available, alongside audio match passes, you can keep up to date with all that happens on a match day in the comfort of your own home.

For more details, head over to our iFollow subscription page.

20190810 - iFollow Matchday Pass (AFC Wimbledon)1.jpg

Match Reports

Report: Madden and Morris goals seal comeback victory

10 August 2019

An inspired second half performance saw Fleetwood Town beat AFC Wimbledon 2-1 to make it back-to-back victories to start the 2019/20 Sky Bet League One season.

The first half didn’t go to plan for Joey Barton’s side, with The Dons taking a 1-0 lead into the break after Kwesi Appiah headed home a brilliant diagonal cross into the box.

However, that wasn’t enough for the visitors as substitute Paddy Madden and Josh Morris both scored in the second half making it two straight wins for the Cod Army at the beginning of this league campaign.

Fleetwood had a great opportunity to get an early lead after Lewie Coyle’s cut back found Conor McAleny but the striker didn’t connect properly and saw his effort cancelled out by Wimbledon’s defence. His follow up effort was blocked by Paul Kalambayi, with the Town frontman appealing for a penalty but it was waved away by the referee.

The visitors were the first to have the ball in the back of the net after a free-kick was whipped into the six-yard box and headed past Alex Cairns, but it was ruled out thanks to a well-positioned Town defence that stood firm to play the attacker offside. Appiah denied for now.

Both teams grew into the game, but the weather conditions were causing problems for both sides. Fleetwood continued to push for an opening goal, with Wes Burns, Morris and McAleny causing issues for AFC Wimbledon.

However, it was The Dons who were able to open the scoring at Highbury after Luke O’Niell’s diagonal ball into the box found Appiah, in space, who was able to head home to out the visitors in front. A quality cross was met by a well-timed header.

Town were now in search of an equaliser and threatened from a free-kick, after McAleny was brought down unfairly. Paul Coutts’ free-kick was delivered towards the back post and went just wide of the post after a Wimbledon player got a touch on it.

Wimbledon went into the break at half-time with a one goal lead, but it was Fleetwood who started quicker. Madden was brought on for Harrison Biggins at half-time and almost made an immediate impact when he connected with Morris’ low cross, but the Irishman was flagged for offside.

The Cod Army continued to push for an equaliser and this time it was McAleny who came so close to finding it. Jordan Rossiter switched the play to Coyle who was allowed the time and space to drive at the defence before picking out McAleny on the edge of the area, with the striker hitting it first time - just wide of the post.

It wasn’t long until Fleetwood found the equaliser, with Madden converting a brilliant passage of play. Coyle picked out McAleny who then played a one touch pass into Burns, with the Welshman finding Madden in the six-yard box, waiting to pass the ball into the net! A real moment of quality.

The visitors were under a lot of pressure at the back due to the high amount of attacks from a confident, fast paced Fleetwood Town and in the 65^th minute the Cod Army found themselves a goal ahead.

After a scramble in the box from a Fleetwood corner the ball ended up with Morris on the right wing who looked to cross it towards the back post, but the wind got underneath it to change its direction and the ball ended up in the back of Nik Tzanev’s goal.

Madden continued to be a threat since being brought on and almost increased the lead to two goals after his shot with the outside of his foot marginally missed the far post.

An inspired second half performance means that Fleetwood start the new season in perfect fashion.

Fleetwood Town XI: Cairns (GK), Coyle, Andrew, Clarke, Souttar, Burns, McAleny (Sowerby 87’), Morris (Hunter 78’), Coutts (C), Rossiter, Biggins (Madden 46’).

Subs not used: Crellin (GK), Eastham, Wallace, Sheron.

AFC Wimbledon XI: Tzanev (GK), O’Niell, McDonald (Connelly 77’), Thomas, Hartigan (McLoughlin 70’), Appiah, Pinnock (Folivi 85’), Guinness-Walker, Kalambayi, Reilly, Pigott (C).

Subs not used: McDonnell (GK), Wagstaff, Roscrow, Rudoni.

Standings