AFC Wimbledon do battle with The Cod Army once again tonight and Wally Downes has stressed the importance of this match during a big week for the club.
Though Wimbledon have a plum FA Cup fourth round tie at home to West Ham coming up on Saturday, the need for League One points perhaps assumes greater significance with just 18 matches to go this season.
Of course, The Dons have been involved in key matches against Fleetwood over the years, starting back in non league days when the two clubs were vying for promotion into the Football League. Back in 2011, Wimbledon brushed Fleetwood aside in the play-off semi-final and two years later came that dramatic ‘Survival Saturday’ with a dramatic final-day win securing survival in the Football League.
Fleetwood won on their last visit to the Cherry Red Records Stadium, a 1-0 victory last March, but Wimbledon have won the last two meetings between the two clubs.
Below are quotes from both managers, stats, and a recap of previous matches.
Wally Downes:
“In the long-term this game is more important. Getting points from teams around us, although Fleetwood are higher than us, is critical. Two out of our last three league games have been against top teams and we fell short, but we need to make sure at home that we turn it into a fortress now and start picking up maximum points. That’s from now right the way through until the end of the season.
“Fleetwood pass the ball around very well. They are neat and tidy, very inventive from set-pieces, and they will be looking for revenge.”
Joey Barton
“We knew last time out against them we were miles the better side, but we lost the game. This time we just need to make sure we are switched on because we are obviously hurting after the FA Cup game.
“Tuesday is a chance for us to win a game of football and is another opportunity for us to reach the level of performance we produced in the first half."
Form Guide (last six in all competitions, starting with most recent)
AFC Wimbledon LDWLDW
Fleetwood DDLDLW
Last time out
AFC Wimbledon 1-4 Barnsley
Rochdale 1-1 Fleetwood
Past three meetings
Fleetwood Town 2-3 AFC Wimbledon (5 January 2019)
The Dons marched into a 2-0 lead before the hour, thanks to goals from Andy Barcham and Anthony Hartigan, but Paddy Madden and Ched Evans both scored to level it up. However, that was far from the end of the story as Kwesi Appiah struck a cracking goal in the 90th minute to send Wimbledon into the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup.
Fleetwood Town 0-1 AFC Wimbledon (4 August 2018)
Wimbledon produced a resolute display on the road at Highbury Stadium. Joe Pigott scrambled home the only goal of the game with 60 minutes on the clock to earn a perfect start to the 2018/19 season.
AFC Wimbledon 0-1 Fleetwood (30 March 2018)
In the corresponding fixture at the Cherry Red Records Stadium last season, Fleetwood just about edged it. Jack Sowerby's first-half strike was the difference in a match played in farcical conditions. On a rain sodden pitch, the referee even ordered the rollers on during the second-half, but the match was allowed to go on and Fleetwood earned a vital three points in the battle to stay up. However, Wimbledon also went onto secure League One status at the end of the season.
And a nice memory from further back!!
On an emotional day at the Cherry Red Records Stadium, Jack Midson’s penalty meant that AFC Wimbledon stayed in the Football League. The 2-1 victory on 27 April 2013 was achieved on a tense final-day of the 2012/13 season. Gary Alexander had opened the scoring, but that was cancelled out by Andy Mangan, before Midson kept his cool from 12 yards when Wimbledon really needed him to. Take a look below at the celebrations that followed!
Tickets
We still have seat tickets available in the John Green Stand and the Paul Strank Stand for this match. Tickets for the John Green Stand will be available from the turnstiles and for the Paul Strank Stand you can buy them from the complimentary tickets window.
Terrace tickets for the Chemflow End and the RyGas terrace are also still remaining. Buy in advance from our online ticket shop until 3.45 pm this afternoon and you can collect from the complimentary tickets window before the game. Tickets will be available to pay on the night.
Match commentary
Domestic subscribers can tune into our iFollow channel for commentary of tonight’s game with Mikey T and Rob Cornell taking you through the action. Overseas subscribers can watch a live stream of the game on the same channel.