DPL v AFC Wimbledon

When this fixture comes up it crosses my mind to try to attend and this year I actually got round to some serious research. It seems that they still play in Kingston On Thames albeit in a new stadium, but nevertheless accessible for me only by a journey involving train, tube, train and bus and over 2 hours with everything going smoothly, so taking account of the journey to and from the local station 3 hours would be a minimum. By car, I would have to encircle most of south London on the M25 before turning north into completely unfamiliar South London/Surrey traffic and hoping to find somewhere to park. So not really sensible.

We normally encounter AFC W when they are not doing so well and I would have said paradoxically we’d go on and lose or occasionally draw, but when I actually checked we have drawn the last 3 there and 2-2 every time! However they are doing quite well this season and may prove tougher this time. Paradoxically again though, their last 3 home league results have been defeats. One was fairly narrow judging from the stats (0-1) to Bradford, but the other - a significant comparator too - was more decisive, 2-4 to Accrington. I’m ignoring the 5-1 v Cheltenham (8 points in League 1 and May-less) because I’m sure their opponents would not be interested in proceeding in the FA Cup (which could be my error of judgment!)

Added strength and selection options are now open to McCann and on top of improved performances we might expect increased resources than were available last week. I am personally pleased to see Maxwell getting back to fitness and I am still hopeful that Molyneux will inject a little more balance. Miller is progressing we are told and he would be a great addition to the present strength.

If we are genuinely rising to play-off territory we ought to be winning this one so I’m saying 3 points, 2-1 Ironside/Faal.