The Lounge

[Windlesham Don]

Good summaries by all. Just to add that to me it felt like a League 2 game from last season, against a combination of Mansfield and Wycombe! None of the guile or skill that we have been witnessing in League 1, just lots of energy and plenty of head tennis.

Sadly our much lauded triumvirate in central midfield: Bully, Jake and Deano, have one problem – they are all short, and Fleetwood dominated this area by not letting us get the ball down and pass it.

I thought Poleon did OK, but looked much happier when Elliott replaced Barnett. Barnett was woeful and NA has some thinking to do in how to deal with him. Indeed, NA will be very disappointed with the whole display, especially the goals conceded from set pieces.

I expect the same type of match at Curzon Ashton against pumped up opposition, and so we will need to stand up to a physical onslaught much better on Sunday if we want to be in the hat for the 3rd round draw.

[Windlesham Don]

Just listened to the interview with Robbo on the Dons’ Player and I’d forgotten quite how many first team starters we had out yesterday. It isn’t surprising that we struggled without Fuller, Meades, Charles, Barcham and Taylor (and Elliott for the first 45 minutes) and it shows just how far we have come to expect a result without so many key players.

Let’s hope at least 3 of them are back for the FA Cup game…

[Colum]

What should we expect of the Curzon Ashton game?

– They’re 16th in the Conference North.
– They’re in the same League as FC United of Manchester.
– They were knocked out of the FA Trophy on Monday by Worcester losing 2-1 at home.
– The FA Trophy game was postponed from Saturday because of a frozen pitch.
– All home seats are sold, but there are still “plenty of standing tickets available”.
– They’ve only won two of their last five matches.

Not that this tells us much. On paper we should win, but we’re on a hiding to nothing. Win, and we’re expected to win. Lose, and all the headlines will be about Curzon Ashton.

[Windlesham Don]

A friend of mine who knows the northern non-league scene very well is not impressed with Curzon Ashton. His view is that they are a workmanlike side, who were probably lucky to get promoted to Conference North. Their ground is relatively new and should be in decent condition, so no excuses there.

If we are determined and completely focussed then we should win, but the history of the FA Cup is littered with stories of clubs who should have won, but didn’t!

[onyadon]

It’s an FA Cup tie Wimbledon are expected to win on Sunday at non-league Curzon Ashton – and that in itself is dangerous in a one-off game. The Dons are on a hiding to nothing in this one: win as expected or slip on a banana skin, lose and face the ignominy of going out to a side ranked well below you. Neal Ardley is saying all the right things and is careful that the National League North club have been scouted several times to minimise any risk of being caught unawares. Lyle Taylor, Jon Meades and Barry Fuller are back to strengthen the side. A place in Monday’s FA Cup third round draw beckons and we’ll be able to see the Dons a second time on TV this season on ESPN2 (Foxtel 509) at 11pm AEDT on Sunday night. Let’s have no regrets and make sure that the Dons see off Curzon Ashton, who are in the second round following wins over Consett, Bedworth United, York City and Westfields. The Nash are 16th in their league.

[Colum]

Lyle Taylor’s back in contention for a place in the Cup tie. Whoopee! But was he ever injured? The cynical among us may just think he was being rested.

[Author]

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