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Wimbledon Preview

By: Richard Hubbert
Date: 10/01/2003

AFTER a short break from first division football, the Mariners are back onto their survival mission, this time away at mid table Wimbledon, who of course, Town beat 6-2 at Blundell Park last season.

Home > 2002-2003 Season > Previews > Wimbledon (a)


The Bottom Line

Town do not want to hit a bad run of form again, and with Stoke, Sheffield Wednesday and Brighton picking up more points in the last few weeks, they need to get another positive result.

The Opposition - Any Good?

See Opposition - Any Good? Wimbledon

Recent Form

 

TownWimbledon
DBurnley(h)2-2 (cup)
DNorwich(h)1-1
WDerby(a)3-1
WSheff Wed(h)2-0
LPreston(a)0-3
WRotherham(a)3-0
DWatford(h)0-0
DStoke(h)1-1
LWalsall(a)1-2
WPreston(a)5-3

Players To Watch

 

TownWimbledon

Terry Cooke

Neil Shipperley

This now is surely the perfect opportunity for ex Manchester City midfielder Terry Cooke to cement a place in the Town team after being left out for the past two months. John Oster has come and gone so Cooke now needs to show the fans and Paul Groves what they have been missing and what sort of game he has on Saturday could be vital to the final result. Started in the cup against Burnley and scored from the penalty spot.

Journeyman striker who has had spells at Forest, Barnsley and Crystal Palace. Scores goals wherever he goes and is in good form for the Dons this season. His partnership with Irishman David Connelly has been particularly impressive and the pair have bagged 29 goals between each other already this season, with Shipperley bagging 15 for himself. Will be a huge threat to the Town defence with his presence and intelligent link up play.

Top Scorers

 

TownWimbledon

Kabba 6
Oster 5
Pouton 4
Campbell 4

Shipperley 15
Connelly 14
McAnuff 6

Team News

 

TownWimbledon

  • The Mariners are expected to make at least a couple of changed to the side that drew in the Cup against Burnley.

  • Firstly, the injured George Santos will be replaced by Steve Chettle who will make his return at centre back alongside Simon Ford.

  • Steve Livingstone will return upfront to partner Darren Mansaram with David Soames dropping to the bench.

  • If Michael Boulding signs in time, which remains unclear, then he will probably be on the bench having only recently played his first full match, for Aston Villa reserves.

  • Town do have a worry over 'keeper Danny Coyne but he is expected to shake off the knock he picked up in training on Wednesday.
  • The Dons have been hit with the news that star striker David Connelly will be out for two weeks with a hamstring injury. This paves the way for Patrick Agyemang to take his place in the Wimbledon attack.

  • Wimbledon have horrendous long term injury problems and are down to just 19 fit professional players, with highly rated winger Lionel Morgan sent away this week to have a knee cartlidge operation that will keep him out for eight weeks.

  • This has paved away for Gareth Ainsworth to link up with the squad after recently returning from a loan spell at Walsall. He could be on the bench.
  • Probable Starting XI's

     

    TownWimbledon
    Danny Coyne
    John McDermott
    Simon Ford
    Steve Chettle
    Tony Gallimore
    Stuart Campbell
    Stacy Coldicott
    Paul Groves
    Terry Cooke
    Darren Mansaram
    Steve Livingstone
    Kelvin Davis
    Peter Hawkins
    Mark Williams
    Trond Anderson
    Mikele Leigertwood
    Jermaine Darlington
    Joel McAnuff
    Damien Francis
    Nigel Reo-Coker
    Neil Shipperley
    Patrick Agyemang

    Subs

     

    TownWimbledon
    David Soames
    Iain Ward
    Chris Thompson
    Chris Bolder
    Sean Allaway (GK)
    Chris Willmott
    Paul Heald (GK)
    Wayne Gray
    Gareth Ainsworth
    Alex Tapp

    Last Time Out

    The last time the two sides met was at Blundell Park in August in a drab 0-0 draw, a game that was hugely different to the game just four months previous when Town thrashed Wimbledon 6-2 with Alan Pouton and Michael Boulding both netting hat-tricks. The game in August, however, had little action in it. After the game Town boss Paul Groves was misquoted in the press in an interview where it was alledged that he had threatened to resign after Town fans jeered the team off the pitch.

    Town Team: Coyne, McDermott, Gallimore, Groves, Chettle, Coldicott, Pouton, Campbell, Cooke (Barnard), Rowan (Jevons), Livingstone.
    Subs (not used): Ford, Mansaram, Hughes.

    Attendance: 4,625    Report

    Wimbledon Head-to-Head (24th on The Opposition Ladder).

    Prediction

    Fishy prediction: 1-0 Town. Reader's POMs

    Directions

    Click on the link for directions to Selhurst Park (left).

    Pubs

    Click on the link for the Selhurst Park Pub Guide.




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