AFC Wimbledon
Sky Bet League 2
Saturday 30th August 2014
Cherry Red Records Stadium,
Jack Goodchild Way,
422A Kingston Rd,
Kingston upon Thames
KT1 3PB
Kick-off: 15:00
Referee: Darren Handley
Weather: 18°c, sunny spells and showers
Ticket news:
Stevenage fans can choose between seating or standing at the Cherry Red Records Stadium, but are advised there are just under 100 seats available to visiting supporters. You can buy online at Boro Tickets until midday tomorrow (Friday 29th), however prices will not increase on match day.
Seating:
Adults - £20
Over 65s and Students with valid ID - £13
Under 18s - £9
Terrace:
Adults - £16
Over 65s and Students with valid ID - £10
Under 18s - £4
Disabled fans pay the appropriate price for their age and the carer is free.
Team news:
We’ve got some good news this week in the form of Ronnie Henry and Calvin Zola both having spent time on the training pitch, although it’s very unlikely Zola will be used this weekend. Henry has a much better chance of being selected, having been on the bench the previous weekend.
In other good news; Dean Parrett is also into his second week of light training – we’ll have an interview with him to find out how he’s getting on tomorrow.
View from the dressing room:
Watch our full interview with GW right here with Boro Player.
Betting:
Fresh from Sky Bet HQ, here’s their betting preview for the weekend’s game:
AFC Wimbledon head into this clash as 5/4 favourites to bounce back from last weekend’s defeat at home to Hartlepool by beating a Stevenage side who also lost last time out. The visitors are 9/4 to chalk up their second win of the Sky Bet League 2 campaign while the draw is available at 11/5. Both teams to score is priced at evens (8/11 they don’t) and over 2.5 goals in the match can be backed at 5/4 (under is 4/7). Matt Tubbs is favourite to score the first goal at 7/2 (10/11 anytime) while Boro duo Adam Marriott and Darius Charles are both 7/1 and 12/5 in the respective markets.
Top tip: Both teams to score at evens
Don't forget, you could be in with a chance of winning £5,000, plus £250,000 for Boro to spend on new players in the January transfer window, by taking part in the Sky Bet Transfer Fund. To find out how you can help yourself along with Boro win some money, read > here!
Last season…
AFC Wimbledon stayed in the Football League by the skin of their teeth last season, only achieving safety through goal-difference. The Dons got off to a great start, winning five of their opening eight games but couldn’t last the distance as they slowly gravitated downwards as the season went on. Throughout March and April the club seemed to put enough distance between themselves and the relegation zone but two losses in their final two games meant that the season had an uncomfortable, if ultimately successful finale.
The story so far…
The Dons have made a statement during the off-season with their summer signings, the most notable being the attacking duo of Matt Tubbs and Ade Akinfenwa. Tubbs had already got off to a flyer – four goals in his first four games is the kind of return we come to expect of one of the best goal scorers in the Football League. Seven points from four games appears to show significant progress from last season, including two impressive victories away at Luton and Southend. Their only loss came as something of a surprise – at home to struggling Hartlepool last weekend and with the team still looking for their first three points at home, they’ll be sure to be pumped up for this one.
Last time we met…
Boro have technically never lost to AFC Wimbledon in 5 meetings between the two teams, winning three and drawing two, albeit the Dons did win 4-3 on pens as one of those stalemates was in the JPT. Last time out Stevenage won 3-1 in the league cup, back in 2012. Stevenage went ahead when Dons defender Pim Balkestein turned Luke Freeman's cross into his own net and that wasn’t to be the only Dons gaff of the night. 38 minutes into the game, Wimbledon goalkeeper Seb Brown's air kick from Mat Mitchell-King's looping back pass enabled James Dunne to score into an empty net for 2-0. Brendan Kiernan closed the gap minutes later but Stevenage's two-goal advantage was restored as Mark Roberts followed up Marcus Haber's header.
Not going to the game?
Listen to live match commentary on the Boro Player service where you'll also find full match highlights and full post-match interviews on Sunday. We'll also be providing live minute-by-minute updates on our Twitter account, with the key incidents reported live on our Facebook page, too. Short highlights of the game will be on our YouTube page on Sunday, whilst extended highlights will be available on Boro Player.