EFLC (R2) - AFC Wimbledon vs Ipswich Town Preview & Matchday Thread

[Frosty]

AFC Wimbledon v Ipswich Town



English Football League Cup – 2nd Round



Wednesday 28th August 2024 – 19:45



Plough Lane







Pre Match Thoughts - Mike



So that's the Two "big one's" out of the way and I think it is fair to say we have not disgraced ourselves at all. Clearly starting the season with Two defeats is never what we would choose but hey it was Liverpool & Manchester City and in both games we have had moments where we can look back and feel pleased with what we have achieved. Having the upper hand over Liverpool in the first half was One thing but did anyone of sound mind ever think we would go to the home of the Champions and take the lead ? I certainly didn't but boy was I dancing round the Lounge when Sammi Szmodics effort trickled over the line slower than a Snail with Leprosy. It may not have lasted long but we had "our moment" and seeing those fans in the stand go wild made it all worthwhile.

What followed in a crazy and dare I say it disappointing Four or Five Minutes was cruel to say the least, I suppose there was little complaint regarding the penalty that drew City level but quite why Leif Davis had to put in such a rash challenge is anyone's guess and our lead was wiped out in a matter of seconds as Haaland sent Muric the wrong way from the spot. I have to be honest, what followed was of great cause for concern for me, Muric in the Town goal almost displayed a disrespectful and cocky arrogance as he dawdled on the ball long enough to be closed down, dispossessed and made to look a right tool to gift City the lead, it was completely avoidable and in that moment any real hope was gone. The Third a minute later also saw the big man dashing wildly out off his goal with zero chance of getting there and his afternoon went from bad to worse as the Third was tucked away.

I feel for Muric but the fact there is history of this worries me, OK as bad as it was it probably hasn't cost us points on this occasion as City would in all probability have found a way of their own to win the game but imagine being One up at home to Fulham in a game where we need points and this happens. it has to be stopped and quickly, Hladky gave us a few scary moments for sure but he hardly ever cost us a goal and with ball at feet would not have been caught like that.

The pleasing thing for me is how we regrouped, composed ourselves and tried to play some Football and to be honest I felt we did ok, yes they had some chances but we dug in and kept in the same score for 70 odd minutes which is no mean feat when they are scenting Blood so we did not lose it or let our heads go down. There were some positives to take from the hardest of games, for me Sammi Szmodics was the stand out Town player, he looked very capable and did some good things when in possession, of course his goal too was well taken but all in all I was most impressed. Skipper Morsy again battled hard against all the odds and always puts in a shift while Liam Delap had some nice touches albeit not enough of them. I think it is fair to say we did not disgrace ourselves and just for a moment or Two gave them One hell of a scare which would have been even more scarier had the inconsistency of VAR not deprived us of an absolute certain penalty, the system is a joke, had we gone it at 3-2 that would have looked a really good effort. We can park that One now and move on, Our season starts in earnest now !!!!!

We take a break from League action as we go into Midweek Cup action against League Two AFC Wimbledon, probably a game and competition we could really do without although with such a large squad now fringe players will get chances to get Minutes into their legs and this is no bad thing for sure so from that perspective going as deep into the competition as we can will maybe not be such a bad idea, not only that tasting victory since the arrival of all the new players will be a confidence boost and as we know winning breeds confidence which breeds winning.

I am pretty sure Kieran McKenna will not be risking injury to any of his first teamers but just who are his first teamers now !! The latest arrivals of Dara O'Shea & Jack Clarke have been playing alread for ther respective teams so they have minutes under their belts, I think we may well see Jens Cajuste & Kelvin Phillips in Town shirts for the first time though, while the likes of Burgess, Edmundson, Townsend, Al-Hamadi, Taylor & Harness will all be expecting to see some game time. Whoever steps out for Town in this One should really be good enough to secure a place in the Third Round as no disrespect to the Dons there is quite a divide between the Premier League & League Two.

Let's hope we come home with a positive result and a good performance to set us up nicely for Saturday's Home League encounter with the Cottagers from Fulham, certainly not a must win but definitely One in which something from the game would be most welcome and in truth probably expected by all of us. IPSWICH TIL I DIE.




The Opposition – AFC Wimbledon - Honours



League

League Two
Play-off winners: 2016

Conference
Play-off winners: 2011

Conference South
Champions: 2008–09

Isthmian League
Play-off winners: 2008

Isthmian League Division One
Champions: 2004–05

Combined Counties League
Champions: 2003–04


Cup


Combined Counties League Premier Challenge Cup
Winners: 2003–04





The Manager – Johnnie Jackson








Head to Head








Match Referee – James Linington







AFC WIMBLEDON 0 IPSWICH TOWN 2

[arana peligrosa]

There can't be much honor for teams contesting over 7 or 8 months with a Reindeer as an eventual prize but in any event voted for a Town victory. The opposition are like three divisions below us (past upsets will always be there but this time sure we'll make it through) and even if we have to go to West London or wherever they're at to play this out, the venue seems immaterial. Home or away we'll simply have too much for them.

Expect certain first team omissions. Muric won't be played despite wanting more time on the field and wanting to atone for the weekends loss, Morsy, Burns, Luongo need not be risked for a game of this nature, and Hutchinson, Smodzics, are too expensive to be chanced. Names like Hirst, Ladapo, Slicker and Cajuste would be expected to feature at one time or throughout.

This competition seems so trivial to some that can't even recall who eliminated us last season. Would be kind of fun to win it in that we never have, but the way they've now labeled it, guessing no replays or even extra time and there's no chance at all we'll be making full-time progress a priority, sort of leaves interest something minimal. We'll win this round most likely and would hope to continue as far as possible but somehow imagine it's not going to play out quite like that.

Wimbledon 1 ITFC 3

[Mauswara]

You'd think we'll be fielding a pretty strong starting team given the current squad members; this ought to be a good opportunity to score a few and to apply some of that magic gel. 1-5 Ipswich. No, I don't remember Barrow, please don't ask it's been wiped from my memory.

[Bluemike]

My team.....

Walton

Johnson
Edmundson
Burgess
Townsend

Cajuste
Phillips

Harness
Chaplin
Clarke

Al-Hamadi

[shabba]

Its on sky

Hope to see some minutes for some of the new signings. Really looking forward to watching town.

[Charnwood]

I just wonder if KMc will treat thi like a normal League Cup fixture and play a very much second string team or, given how many new players we have use it as a team building fixture to get players used to one another.

I guess the most important matter is to get through the fixture without picking up any nasty injuries.

[shabba]

I just wonder if KMc will treat thi like a normal League Cup fixture and play a very much second string team or, given how many new players we have use it as a team building fixture to get players used to one another.

I guess the most important matter is to get through the fixture without picking up any nasty injuries.

IMO he will play the second XI but give some minutes to new signings, maybe from the bench or giving them the first 45-60.

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

I just wonder if KMc will treat thi like a normal League Cup fixture and play a very much second string team or, given how many new players we have use it as a team building fixture to get players used to one another.

I guess the most important matter is to get through the fixture without picking up any nasty injuries.

Difficult call for KM. It would be nice to give the new players and fringe players some minutes on the grass - but on the other hand we are on the back of 2 defeats and need to regain some momentum, God knows what would happen to morale if we fail to win.

[hallamblue]

Suspect he'll play about 9 different players from Sat team v Man City

I'll go for a 4-0 win for Town

[Charnwood]

I wouldn’t normally bother to watch the game but will tonight just to take a look at some of the new boys. Is it on Town tv ?

Just hope Wimbledon aren’t as brutal as Crawley town were against Brighton last night. Disgusting tackle by the Crawley captain who wrecked the start of the season for one of Brighton’s latest £25m signing who’d joined the club 24hrs earlier.

[shabba]

I wouldn’t normally bother to watch the game but will tonight just to take a look at some of the new boys. Is it on Town tv ?

Just hope Wimbledon aren’t as brutal as Crawley town were against Brighton last night. Disgusting tackle by the Crawley captain who wrecked the start of the season for one of Brighton’s latest £25m signing who’d joined the club 24hrs earlier.

Not on town tv but it’s on sky.

[Bluemike]

I wouldn’t normally bother to watch the game but will tonight just to take a look at some of the new boys. Is it on Town tv ?

Just hope Wimbledon aren’t as brutal as Crawley town were against Brighton last night. Disgusting tackle by the Crawley captain who wrecked the start of the season for one of Brighton’s latest £25m signing who’d joined the club 24hrs earlier.

Yes that tackle was assault, he didn't even get a booking did he ?

[Cabanas Blue]

Team as expected and looks very strong.
https://x.com/ipswichtown/status/182885 ... 6&t=ZXuE7R
2

[Ricco]

Yeah, nice little team, maybe I would've like to see Muric get a bit more game time, but would be harsh on Walton I guess.

Burgess ahead of Edmundson, so maybe we'll see the latter leave.

[Bluemike]

Morsy and Greaves not in squad

[Cabanas Blue]

Yeah, nice little team, maybe I would've like to see Muric get a bit more game time, but would be harsh on Walton I guess.

Burgess ahead of Edmundson, so maybe we'll see the latter leave.

Agree about Edmundson I can't understand why no one has come in for any of our players not even rumors.

[TODD66]

1-0 Town

Had to be Al-Hamadi

[Charnwood]

Well that didn’t take long 0-1 Town Al-Hamadi on 3 mins.

[Cabanas Blue]

Nice long passes out from O'Shea.

[TODD66]

Got lucky there!

Did not look offside.

[Dubai Blue]

How are you guys watching it?

[Charnwood]

1-1 on 40 mins concede to set piece.

[Charnwood]

How are you guys watching it?

Sky +

[Cabanas Blue]

How are you guys watching it?

Sky red button or Wimbledon tv

[Bluemike]

Burgess all over the place as usual.

Cajuste looks real quality.

Clarke a handful

Johnson and Ogbene showing signs of good link up play

Townsend solid, good delivery for goal

Phillips anonymous

Al-Hamadi well taken goal

Chaplin started really well

O'Shea and Burgess not in sync

[Ricco]

Really worried that Phillips might not fit, was thinking this a couple of days ago. I've looked back at some of his play of fairly recent years and he just looks mentally elsewhere, not good in a posisiton that you have to be on it from whistle to whistle.

[Charnwood]

46 min
Substitution, Ipswich Town. Marcus Harness replaces Chiedozie Ogbene.

[Charnwood]

Jack Clarke on the left with Omari on the right are you g to be a handful. I just hope we can still find ourselves a goal poacher with a decent goal scoring record.

[Bluemike]

Losing now, defensive marking woeful

[Charnwood]

2-1 The Dons another set piece, that’s two attempts and two goals.