Preview: Dons versus Charlton on Saturday
Neil Cox said that he’s sensed a determination within the squad to produce a positive response against Charlton Athletic tomorrow after last Saturday’s disappointment at Bramall Lane.
Tomorrow’s visit of Charlton is followed by the midweek visit from Coventry City, offering an opportunity for Wimbledon to extend an unbeaten home league sequence that stretches back to the end of October.
Speaking during an interview for Dons Player, Neil said: “We got beaten 4-0 and we did not play well so the boys have been really fired up this week. It was the biggest defeat of the season so we want to make sure we are back on it. We’ve just played Sheffield United and now we have Charlton at home with Scunthorpe and Bolton away to come. We are just looking forward to these games, I think that’s why the players were more disappointed after the Sheffield United game. They are all together and work hard for each other.
“We have a really good game coming up on Saturday and we will be trying to get three points. They (Charlton) are trying to pass the ball in the way that the manager wants them to, he is trying to change it. It’s going to be difficult; 4-3-3 looks like the way they play, but they might play a 4-4-2. We have been getting ourselves organised because it’s about what we do and how we perform. We are going to stamp our own authority on the game and that’s what we’ve been sorting out.”
yesterday, Dean Parrett and Will Nightingale are both back in full training. Tom Soares could make his home debut, but Jon Meades (ankle) is still ruled out.announcedAs we
Neil added that the prospect of playing in front of a sell-out crowd at the Cherry Red Records Stadium is one that everyone is relishing.
“It’s always difficult to go away from home,” said Neil. “We’ve stepped up a league and it’s always going to be hard. When we step out at home it’s a tighter pitch, the fans are always on our side, and there is always a great atmosphere – I’m sure it will be on Saturday. We played really well in the second-half at their place to win 2-1 and we will be aiming to do something similar again. It’s going to be a full house and the boys are looking forward to it.”
The full interview with Neil is available to Dons Player subscribers via the link above and an interview with Darius Charles is also available on our premium channel.