The Lounge

[onyadon]

Wimbledon’s rise to an all-time high of 6th in L1 has some people getting excited – very excited. While delighted with the Dons unexpected ease of adjusting to life in the higher league, the visit of Bradford City will give us all a truer reflection of the team’s capabilities. A defeat – the first in 10 games – would be no calamity, a hard-fought draw, even a win would signal something different in terms of the season.
There is an interesting stat ahead of Saturday’s game. The last time AFC Wimbledon hosted the Bantams on Feb 16, 2013 the Dons were 24th in League 2 (and they won 2-1 with Gary Alexander getting a late winner), now they’re 6th in League 1. That just shows what massive strides the team and the club have made under Neal Ardley. A couple of pre-match thoughts from the gaffer:

We’ve had two great away games and we’ve responded to them brilliantly. This week we have a home game – a top-six clash – and I don’t think we should be scared to lose the game.
I think we should go in there, pit our wits against them, and have a good go at it. It will give us a guide as to how much we’ve improved over the last couple of months. One thing we did really well last season, which we’ve tried to keep going, is to hand over more responsibility to the players.

The Dons lost to three promotion-chasing sides earlier in the season – Bolton Wanderers, Scunthorpe United and Sheffield United – all at home. Bradford City are in the same company. The Dons have definitely improved since. We’ll get a clearer idea of where the Dons stand after this one.

[martindownunderdon]

This club of ours never ceases to amaze me. Before i moved to oz going to Plough Lane every other week when we were in the old 4th division i never dreamed that we would be playing in the Premier League a few yes later and then winning the FA Cup. THinking that no club in the World could do what we have,then to have our club taken away from us then starting again 9 leagues lower could we do it again could we. I love this club nothing will ever surprise me any more. On wards and upwards you mighty Dons.

[onyadon]

And you know what, Martin? … I think there are a few more chapters in this amazing football tale to come…

[liamwimbo]

Certainly a brilliant time to be a Dons fan at the moment. But then again it has always been amazing following this football club.
Tough task tonight as we have not taken points off a top club yet (I don’t count Bury as a top club). Ardley has built not just a good team but a good squad as last week’s performance at Peterborough showed. Suspect Robinson and Charles will both be back tonight, but good to know young Will Nightingale is ready if required. I was worried about our midfield before the start of the season, but it is proving more than good enough for this league. And great to see Tom Elliott doing so well. Was my stand-out player in the 3 games I saw at the start of the season. With Taylor returning to form and Shea doing well in goal, the signs are good for the Dons.

15 of our 23 points have come away from home. So winning at Kingsmeadow is the obvious area for improvement. If that happens, who knows how high the team can finish this year.

COYDS

[Windlesham Don]

Agree that after our fantastic run another home defeat will not be a disaster. However, the confidence of the team may just be enough to get something from the game, especially if we start well. The sell out crowd should be in good spirits and if the boys continue to demonstrate the desire and work rate of the recent run, then the atmosphere could turn around our recent poor home form against League 1 big boys. The scalp of one of the leading promotion contenders would be another feather in our cap.

However, the Bantams do not concede many away from home and they also know that if they can match our work rate then their superior individual ability should see them through to 3 points.

After the magnificent performance of the squad players drafted in last week, NA will have some selection headaches to cope with. However, I expect him to revert back to his tried and trusted personnel. The absence through injury of Parrett will enable the return of Francomb to midfield and I expect Robbo and Darius both to return.

It wouldn’t surprise me if all these factors result in a stalemate this afternoon and I would not be at all disappointed with a solid 0-0.

COYD!!

[liamwimbo]

I listened into the game last night so obviously disappointed when Bradford got their late winner. Up until then it sounded like a good game before a packed house in which a draw would have been a fair result. We all knew the run had to finish sometime so better it did against a decent team with a good performance despite the result. Tom Elliott continues to be a threat up front and scored another good goal last night.
The silver lining was hearing the U18 score from earlier in the day Franchise U18s 0 Wimbledon U18s 4!
COYFDs

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