AFC Wimbledon (a): Three Things The Imps Need To Do To Win

Ahead of Saturday’s match away at AFC Wimbledon in League One, I asked the Vital Lincoln City members what three things they think The Imps need to do to pick up all three points.

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Here’s what sedgleyimp said:

1. Play with energy and purpose. In the first 15 seconds last night, Marquis closed down one of the Ipswich Town defenders and was quite unlucky that it went out for a goal kick. At that goal kick, we had three players pressuring their defenders causing their keeper to have to think about how he was going to play the ball. Great I thought. The players will be playing with a high tempo as they had against Wednesday and that can only bode well for the rest of the game. It then largely stopped. I’m not sure why but such energy will be needed on what will be a huge game on Saturday. Everything that was put into the game on Saturday wasn’t on view at Ipswich and the players will need to be on their game against what I expect, based upon the home fixture last October, will be a physical side. So get that energy back and from the kick-off. They are on an awful run at the moment and will be suffering with their confidence. We need to get at them early and if we do they will buckle.

2. Just get the decisions right. The first goal last night was directly from a very promising attack we were having but a wrong decision was made. Simple passes were on often, but the wrong decisions were made. They just have to be spot on in what will be quite a nervy game with probably not too many clear chances made. Get those decisions right, and if that means keep it simple, and we will beat them.

3. Win the battle in the middle of the park. In our loss at home to them in October the best player on the pitch was our former captain Alex Woodyard, a player who still can control football matches. He has been absent for a few games of late but did play last night and his influence for them cannot be underestimated. So we need to make sure that we win the battle against him and whoever partners him. I believe the booking last night will mean McGrandles, our best central midfielder, will be suspended. This means whomever replaces him will need to be on his game and we should also consider doubling up with tacklers in that part of the pitch at the expense of what would be considered to be a more attacking player.

Thank you to Graham Burrell and Lincoln City Football Club for the photograph1

Have a go at our Lincoln City versus AFC Wimbledon quizzes, published last season (they were all correct at the time they were published).