Preview: Wally on the challenge of facing league leaders Pompey

Quotes from both managers and a recap of previous meetings ahead of New Year's Day clash

31 December 2018

Wimbledon will start 2019 with manager Wally Downes aiming to build on the impressive form shown at the end of this year, which has raised hopes of League One survival.

It's the ultimate test on New Year's Day with Kenny Jackett's league leaders seeking to maintain their title charge.

However, Wimbledon triumphed 2-1 in the Carabao Cup at Fratton Park back in August (the picture above shows Tom King punching a cross clear during that victory).

The Dons go into the match having taken seven points from the last nine available and Wally Downes has spoken enthusiastically about revitalising the Dons during 2019.

When asked to give his message to Dons supporters for the New Year, Wally said: "Keep coming back: you support us and we will be trying to give you the sort of football that you want. The short-term objective is to get ourselves out of this bottom four and to start moving up the league."

Below are quotes from both managers, stats, and a recap of previous meetings between the two teams:

Wally Downes

"I watched the home game against Portsmouth on TV when I was in India. I thought that Portsmouth were comfortable: they just sat in and waited, they bided their time, and stayed solid. Since I've watched them again, it's the same thing. They are very direct, Kenny Jackett's teams are very organised, and disciplined. Hopefully, we will be the same. We will certainly be going there looking for the three points, but I'm sure they will be thinking the same way. It's just a case of rest and recovery for the boys and we will probably be going with the same squad that we had on Saturday.

"Blackpool are just outside the play-offs, Wycombe were on a great run at the time when we played them after winning six on the run at home. To get points from those two is a good measure of our form, but it's still a case of moving onto the next game and trying to get more points on the board."

Kenny Jackett

"I'm looking forward to the game and it comes off the back of a very good performance at Fleetwood at the weekend. We have to make sure that we take that into this match and that we don't underestimate, or overestimate, any opposition. A big thing for us is putting on a performance of quality and passion that brings our supporters into play.

"AFC Wimbledon are under new management now and have had some positive results lately – there are no easy games in this division. I'm sure it will be a close and competitive contest on New Year's Day and we have to get the details right to win it. If people look like they need a break to restore their energy levels then that's what you have a squad for."

Team news

Wally Downes will check on the fitness of Deji Oshilaja (ankle) before selecting his squad. The match will come too soon for Joe Pigott's return after injury and James Hanson (hip) is still doubtful. Scott Wagstaff is ruled out with a calf injury. For Portsmouth, Lee Brown and Nathan Thompson are both ruled out due to hamstring injuries, but striker Oli Hawkins has a chance of making the squad after an ankle injury.

Last time out

Fleetwood 2-5 Portsmouth
AFC Wimbledon 0-0 Blackpool

Form guide (last six in all competitions, starting with most recent)

Portsmouth WWWDLW
AFC Wimbledon DWWLDL

Last meeting

AFC Wimbledon 1-2 Portsmouth (13 October 2018)

Tom Naylor and Gareth Evans fired Pompey into a 2-0 half-time lead, but it was a different story after the break following James Hanson's introduction. The substitute got one back after the break in fine style with a superb effort from outside the area and Wimbledon threatened an equaliser for a spell, but Portsmouth defended resiliently to maintain their promotion challenge.

Previous meetings

Wimbledon's last visit to Fratton Park ended in a landmark victory in the Carabao Cup. The Dons came from behind to win 2-1 after a 49th minute opener from Christian Burgess. Joe Pigott equalised in the 76th minute with a superb header from Scott Wagstaff's cross and the winner came in injury-time when Tom Soares crossed from the right and Anton Walkes headed into his own net. It was AFC Wimbledon's first win in the League Cup since promotion to the Football League in 2011.

Portsmouth won both of last season's meetings between the two teams. Following a 2-0 win at the Cherry Red Records Stadium in August 2017, Pompey earned a hard-fought 2-1 victory at Fratton Park on Boxing Day. Lyle Taylor's 50th minute penalty cancelled out a first-half opener from Ben Close, but Brett Pitman's 72nd minute spot-kick proved to be decisive.

Wimbledon's last league win at Portsmouth came on 26 December 2014 with first-half goals from Frankie Sutherland and Matt Tubbs securing a 2-0 victory. Click on the link below to watch the goals from that game.

Tickets

Dons supporters can pay on the day to cheer on the Dons at Fratton Park.

Please note that it's cash only payments on the day with tickets available from the away ticket booth (located between the ticket office and car park behind the North Stand). Dons fans who have purchased tickets in advance can collect from the same place.

Wimbledon fans will be accommodated in the covered and seated Milton End and the prices below are for tickets purchased on the day:

Adults £25
Over-64s £19
Young persons (18–22) £15
Unaccompanied juniors (under 18) £10
Accompanied juniors with a paying adult £5.

iFollow

Wimbledon supporters not attending the game can stay in touch with the action at Fratton Park by tuning into our iFollow channel. There will be a live stream for overseas subscribers with live audio coverage for domestic subscribers.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Dons go down fighting at home of title-chasers

Wimbledon push Pompey all the way

1 January 2019

A battling second-half display from AFC Wimbledon was just not enough to secure a point at Fratton Park today.

The Dons produced an impressive fightback against the League One leaders and equalised through a cracking goal from Kwesi Appiah, but a header from Ronan Curtis earned a 2-1 win for Portsmouth.

Despite that late setback, Wimbledon produced a performance that offered encouragement in pursuit of survival in 2019.

Wally Downes made one change to his starting line-up after the draw against Blackpool and that meant a big moment in the fledgling career of Paul Kalambayi. The 19-year-old Dons academy product was handed his full league debut at the heart of defence, Jake Jervis having to settle for a place on the bench. Kalambayi partnered Terell Thomas with Will Nightingale playing just in front of them to offer extra protection for the defence. It was certainly a baptism of fire for Kalambayi as he lined up against a Portsmouth side on course to win the League One title after a 5-2 win at Fleetwood. However, Kalambayi certainly acquitted himself well on the big stage.

The challenge for Wimbledon was made even harder when Portsmouth made the breakthrough in the eighth minute. Ronan Curtis found space outside the area for a shot at goal and though Tom King saved it, the ball fell nicely for Jamal Lowe, who slotted the ball home from close-range. Wimbledon had offered little as an attacking force by the half hour mark. The only hint of a chance came when a cross was half cleared and it fell for Thomas, who completely missed his kick. At the other end, Tom Naylor forced a save from Tom King, but it was academic as the flag was up for offside.

Since the early goal, Portsmouth had been content to let Wimbledon have the ball for long spells, offering a tough unit to break down. When they did hit Wimbledon on the break, it was incisive and Ben Thompson showed good skills on the right to find space and set-up Lowe, but his shot was held by King. Thompson also headed over the crossbar after good work on the left from Curtis.

Wimbledon had a real chance to create something in the 40th minute after a quick breakaway, but Andy Barcham failed to choose the correct option. Barcham showed good pace to lead the charge through the middle, but he decided to go himself rather than pick out Tennai Watson, who would have been clean through, and the chance was gone. The half-time score of 1-0 meant that Wimbledon were still in the game, but much more was needed in an attacking sense if the Dons were to get anything out of this game.

The second-half started with Wimbledon at least showing a bit more attacking ambition. Barcham swung over a deep cross that Mitch Pinnock attempted to head towards goal, but his effort took a deflection and Pompey keeper Craig MacGillivray gathered easily. Then Will Nightingale tried his luck from distance, but his shot was high and wide. With Wimbledon committing more men forward now, it offered an opportunity for Pompey to exploit space at the other end and it should have been 2-0 in the 53rd minute. Lowe showed lovely skill to turn and pick out Ronan Curtis, who was clean through, but he dragged his shot wide.

As we approached the hour mark, Wimbledon had played so much better, offering a real commitment to the cause that unsettled the hosts and got the travelling Dons behind their team. Terell Thomas summed up the renewed spirit with a brilliant challenge in the centre of the park and there was plenty more appetite for the battle in the second-half. Anthony Hartigan started to see a lot of the ball in the second-half, acting as a platform for Dons attacks, and he twice had good shooting opportunities himself. First, he shot over the crossbar after a long throw-in from Mitch Pinnock was only half cleared. Hartigan's second attempt was a cracking effort from 25 yards, but his powerful drive was straight at MacGillivray.

Wimbledon's second-half pressure paid off in the 76th minute and it was a goal of real quality too. Kwesi Appiah struck a brilliant effort from outside the box that left MacGillivray with absolutely no chance of saving it. That sent the 634 travelling Dons behind the goal into raptures, but it also woke up Portsmouth after a passive second-half from the title favourites. Terell Thomas was forced to clear off his line, as Portsmouth threatened a quick response. The hosts did go back in front when Thompson broke down the right and his cross picked out Ronan Curtis, who headed home from close range.

Though Wimbledon pursued another equaliser, Portsmouth held firm at the back and that meant a gallant defeat for the Dons. Certainly, the squad can take heart though from pushing promotion-chasers Pompey all the way.

AFC Wimbledon: Tom King, Tennai Watson, Ben Purrington (Tyler Garratt), Will Nightingale, Terell Thomas, Anthony Hartigan (Alfie Egan), Kwesi Appiah, Mitch Pinnock, Andy Barcham (Jake Jervis), Paul Kalambayi, Anthony Wordsworth.

Pic credit: Graham Hunt, Pro Sports Images.

Match Reports

Ticket News

Portsmouth away: Details about advance tickets

Buy in advance or on the day to cheer on the Dons at Fratton Park

19 December 2018

AFC Wimbledon's first match of 2019 is away at Portsmouth and you can buy tickets online up until 8.00 am on 28 December.

This match on 1 January (3.00 pm kick-off) is not all-ticket, so you can purchase tickets on the day of the game, but prices rise by £2 for Adults and Over-64s.

You can buy in advance from our online ticket shop and places on the supporters' coach can be reserved (see details at bottom of this page for more information). Tickets can also be purchased from the complimentary tickets window before and after the Blackpool game on 29 December.

Dons fans will be accommodated in the covered and seated Milton End and the prices below are for tickets purchased in advance:

Adults £23
Over-64s £17
Young persons (18–22) £15
Unaccompanied juniors (under 18) £10
Accompanied juniors with a paying adult £5.

Disabled supporters

Wheelchair users should contact the Portsmouth ticket office in advance on 03456 461898 to purchase wheelchair-and-carer tickets.

Carers are admitted free of charge provided the disabled supporter is in receipt of the highest rate of DLA, proof of which is required. Wheelchair and carer spaces are located in the home wheelchair section, in front of the home fans.

Prices

Wheelchair users (all ages) £14
Ambulant adult £15
Ambulant junior £10.

Coach travel

The supporters’ coach will leave from opposite South Wimbledon tube station at 11.00 am and from the Cherry Red Records Stadium at 11.30 am. The price is £22, and places on the coach can be reserved by contacting the club on 020 8547 3528.

Ticket News

AFC Wimbledon

Standings

Preview: Wally on the challenge of facing league leaders Pompey

Dons go down fighting at home of title-chasers

Portsmouth away: Details about advance tickets

Away games coming up: book a place on the supporters' coach