Team news update and preview for tomorrow's game
Neal Ardley has been given the green light to include Deji Oshilaja in his squad for Stevenage tomorrow with international clearance having been received in time.
The 21-year-old defender (pictured), who has signed on loan from Cardiff City, is in contention to make his debut at the Lamex Stadium. Midfielder Jake Reeves could also add fresh impetus in midfield after signing on a permanent basis in midweek – just over two years since his previous loan spell at AFC Wimbledon.
Neal Ardley will have to make a change up front with Matt Tubbs having left earlier this week, but the Wimbledon manager believes he has enough attacking options to cope.
Speaking to Rob Cornell during an interview for Dons Player, Neal Ardley said: “We have loads of different options. Sean Rigg can play up front if we need him to and Ade Azeez too, but we can also go with three up front. We’ve played many different formations this season and the players have adapted to them all brilliantly. We played a diamond formation at Portsmouth and have also lined up with a 4-4-2 and a 4-3-3. That’s great because the players know how each system functions.
“I’m delighted that we’ve brought in Jake Reeves and Deji Oshilaja and it’s great that we’ve also managed to keep Jake Goodman. We’re working on bringing other players in behind the scenes. We have fresh impetus coming in now and hopefully that will give everyone a lift with competition for places. We need to try and keep going during January after a very good December.”
earlier today.announcedOf course, that month brought four wins out of five and earned Neal Ardley the Manager of the Month award, as we
However, Neal is eager to ensure that his squad retains the same focus at the Lamex Stadium tomorrow after a big occasion for the club against Liverpool on Monday night.
“It’s a tough game for us because Stevenage are in good form,” added Neal. “Graham Westley was nominated for manager of the month and they have lost just once in six games. Stevenage did a really good job on us at our place earlier this season. Of all the games we could play ‘after the Lord Mayor’s show’ this would probably not be the one we would choose.
“We had a good December and the Liverpool game was amazing in every way. Although I had mixed emotions immediately after it, I’m slowly looking back on it now with a lot of pride about what happened.
“It’s really important now to have a solid January and pick up points along the way so that we try and stay in the hunt. We need to try and keep the momentum going, but we know that League 2 is extremely tough.”
On Dons Player today is Neal’s reaction after he was awarded the Manager of the Month award and yesterday we featured interviews with Deji Oshilaja and Jake Goodman.
a service which includes access to commentary of all League 2 matches, is available at a special price of £19.99 for six months. Click on Your AFC Wimbledon to sign-up.Dons Player,