United, backed by a sold-out amber army, travel to southwest London this weekend (26th March) looking to end a run of five games without a win…
How to follow the action:
Tickets for Saturday’s Plough Lane clash are now sold out, with 1,206 fans expected to make the journey from Cambridgeshire on Saturday for the 3pm kick-off.
Domestic fans who are unable to make the game will be able to listen to live match commentary via iFollow, as well as being able to follow live match updates on the day through United’s social media channels.
Overseas fans can stream the game live with an iFollow Match Pass. Match Passes cost £10 and are available to purchase by clicking here.
Opposition watch:
The Dons will be aiming to move above of the relegation places with a win on Saturday, having dropped into the bottom four last weekend following a 3-1 defeat at the Jonny Rocks Stadium.
Jack Rudoni had initially given Mark Robinson’s side the lead after finishing off a brilliant Dons counterattack on 24 minutes, before three quickfire Cheltenham goals in the final 10 minutes succumbed Wimbledon to their fourth defeat in as many games – and in turn denied the Dons their first win since December.
Despite dropping into the bottom four last weekend, following Gillingham’s draw with Sheffield Wednesday, a win on Saturday could see Robinson’s men leapfrog both the Gills and Fleetwood Town and up to 19th, with both teams not in action this weekend due to international commitments.
Form:
AFC Wimbledon form: DLLLL
Cambridge United form: LLDLL
How United head into the fixture:
Warren O’Hora’s second half strike condemned the U’s to their second defeat in two, and in turn ended United’s six game unbeaten run at the Abbey Stadium last weekend – despite Mark Bonner’s side putting up a valiant effort to deny MK.
Harvey Knibbs, on two occasions, saw strikes go agonizingly wide as United pushed hard for an opener in the game before former Brighton & Hove Albion defender O’Hora slotted in from the edge of the area, somewhat against the run of play, to keep MK’s automatic promotion hopes alive.
United will be hoping to end a run of five games without a win in League One this weekend at Plough Lane, with a win potentially moving Bonner’s men up to 14th in the table, depending on other results.
Head-to-Head:
AFC Wimbledon wins: 1
Cambridge United wins: 3
Draws: 1
Down Memory Lane:
Jensen Weir was on hand to fire United to victory in the reverse fixture five months ago, with the on-loan midfielder arriving late into the area to head home just two minutes after the restart.
Richard Money’s tactical move, bringing on both Josh Coulson and Harrison Dunk after half an hour, proved to be a stroke of genius when the U’s last faced the Dons in southwest London in 2015, albeit five and a half miles away from their new home at Plough Lane.
Having fallen behind at Kingsmeadow after Tom Elliott fired the Dons ahead after just 12 minutes, United regrouped at half-time and quickly turned the game around just three minutes after the restart, as goals from Leon Legge and current U’s first team coach Barry Corr sealed a comeback win.
Quick Quotes:
U’s head coach Mark Bonner is wary of the battling spirit his side will face on Saturday: "They are one of the highest pressing teams in the league and we know they will come out with a real energy. We know what to expect - a team, manager, club and fans fighting for survival in the league.”
George Williams on how to get the better of the Dons: "We will do a bit of analysis on them and see where we can exploit them, but we have just got to focus on ourselves. Our best games have been when we have focused on ourselves, played the way we play, and everyone has been at it and that will be key.”
Officials:
Darren Handley will make the step up to League One this weekend for the first time since MK Dons’ win over Burton Albion in January. With the referee largely spending this season officiating in the fourth tier.
For the first time since September 2019, when the U’s ran out 4-0 winners over Mansfield Town in League Two, Handley will head up a game involving Cambridge United.
Handley will be joined by assistants Garry Maskell and Matthew Lee ahead of Saturday’s clash, with Sam Purkiss being appointed as the game’s fourth official.