Views from both camps ahead of tonight's game
AFC Wimbledon seek a first victory in English Football League One tonight with Neil Cox insisting that morale is still high in the squad after a difficult start to 2016/17.
Scunthorpe will arrive at the Cherry Red Records Stadium aiming to protect their unbeaten start, a run that has cemented expectations that they could challenge for promotion.
Manager Graham Alexander is a familiar face for Neil Cox as the pair were team-mates at Scunthorpe United in their playing days. Alexander will also know plenty about visiting AFC Wimbledon as he was manager of Fleetwood Town on that “Survival Saturday” when the Dons escaped relegation in 2013.
TEAM NEWS
Winger Chris Whelpdale’s fitness was due to be assessed today after he missed the Bolton game with a groin injury. The game will come too soon for George Francomb to be considered for first-team match action. For The Iron, Paddy Madden and Jamie Ness (both calf injuries) are not ready, but Sam Manton and Tom Hooper made impressive returns on Saturday.
QUOTES
: “We’ve stepped up a level and the centre-forwards have a bit more quality. We are getting punished for little errors that we maybe would have got away with last season, but we are not a million miles away. It will not go on and I’m sure other teams will make mistakes and we will create and score goals from them.Neil Cox
“I don’t think it’s anything to worry about. We are positive and so too are the players around the place. Bolton showed us a lot of respect and I know Gary really well. He will go into every detail, including their defensive set-up, to make sure they do not get punished.”
: “The story of AFC Wimbledon is a fantastic one for everyone in football. The emergence of when they started so many leagues below the EFL and to show that will power over the years. Everybody connected to that football club can be ever so proud that they're now in League One. That's for them to think and talk about, but as a football supporter you can do nothing but admire their spirit.Graham Alexander
"We're going down there for three points and that's the only focus we've got. We will prepare right, focus on our game and produce the performance we need."
: “It is frustrating that we’ve produced arguably three good performances and none of the results have gone our way. We had similar at the start of last season, but we will go again and do everything we can to put it right.”Lyle Taylor
HEAD TO HEAD (Last 2)
Scunthorpe 0 AFC Wimbledon 0 (18 January 2014)
AFC Wimbledon 3 Scunthorpe 2 (24 August 2013)
FORM GUIDE (Last 6 in league)
AFC Wimbledon LLWDWW
Scunthorpe DWWWWW
LAST TIME OUT
AFC Wimbledon 1 Bolton Wanderers 2
Fleetwood Town 2 Scunthorpe United 2
TICKETS
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BEAM-BACK
Tonight’s game will be beamed back live to Lincolnshire with Scunthorpe United supporters watching it at Glanford Park. This is part of a reciprocal arrangement with the reverse fixture on Tuesday 28 February being beamed back to the Cherry Red Records Stadium.
MATCH COMMENTARY
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