All you need to know ahead of the Hatters' trip to Kingsmeadow
AFC Wimbledon v Luton Town
Sky Bet League Two
Saturday 13th February 2016, kick-off 3pm
Official live online commentary on Hatters Player.
• Town have won both games away from home under Nathan Jones.
• Also yet to concede a goal on the road, scoring three times.
• Hatters looking for consecutive League 2 wins for first time since November.
• AFC Wimbledon currently 11th in League 2, four points better off than Town.
• Dons won four in a row until defeat to Yeovil on January 30.
• Hatters have never won at Kingsmeadow (D2 L1).
• Town without McQuoid and Doyle; Green trained this week.
WHO? AFC Wimbledon, aka the Dons, aka the Wombles, the club that was reborn following the old Wimbledon FC’s decision to relocate to Milton Keynes. AFC rose right the way through the football pyramid and won promotion to the Football League in 2011 after beating the Town in the Conference play-off final. Boss Neal Ardley has turned the Dons into prospective play-off chasers, currently sitting in 11th place, just four points off the top seven.
WHERE? Officially the Cherry Red Records Stadium, aka Kingsmeadow, the ground opened in 1989 but has been the Dons’ home since 2003. With a capacity of 4,850 it is the smallest ground in the Football League, where more than 800 Hatters fans are expected to make the trip to south London.
HOW TO GET THERE. It’s about 50 miles from Kenilworth Road to Kingsmeadow. Leave the M25 at junction 10, taking the A3 northbound towards London. At the exit for New Malden/Worcester Park, turn off and take the left into Malden Road (A2043) towards Kingston. Follow this to the next roundabout. Take the first exit into Kingston Road (A2043 still) and Kingsmeadow is one mile on the left. The stadium postcode is KT1 3PB.
HAVEN’T WE MET BEFORE? In the Dons’ AFC Wimbledon guise, the two clubs have met a total of eight times so far with the Wombles enjoying the overall head-to-head record, winning three to the Town’s two. Three games have officially ended draws – but one of those included the Dons’ Conference play-off final penalty shootout win at the Etihad Stadium in 2011. The Hatters haven’t won at Kingsmeadow in three attempts, with the first a 1-1 draw in the Conference in August 2009, while David Connolly’s last minute winner saw the hosts prevail 3-2 last season.
FORM GUIDE. The Hatters have won both games away from home under Nathan Jones, with a 2-0 victory over Mansfield followed up by last week’s success against Wycombe. The Dons had been on a good run of form themselves, victorious in four successive outings before succumbing to Yeovil 3-2 on January 30. The Dons have not played since then, with their proposed visit to Bristol Rovers last week postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
REF WATCH. Christopher Sarginson takes charge at Kingsmeadow for the first time in a year, but he has overseen the Hatters this term during their 3-1 victory at Morecambe. The experienced referee, who has officiated all levels of the Football League this term, also watched the Town’s 4-2 victory over Newport County in the FA Cup in 2014, while he also officiated a cup tie against Corby and a league tie v Crawley while the Town were in the Conference, both of which saw opposition players sent off. This season, Sarginson has looked after 21 games, giving out 65 yellow cards while sending off his first player at the start of this month.
DID YOU KNOW? Saturday’s hosts hold the record of the longest unbeaten run of league matches in English senior football, having played 78 consecutive league games without a defeat between February 2003 and December 2004.
TOWN TEAM NEWS. Nathan Jones revealed that Danny Green is back in training following his ankle injury, while Josh McQuoid and Nathan Doyle remain sidelined following their operations. The Hatters picked up a couple of knocks last week, but hope to have a strong squad to choose from.
LIVE AND ONLINE. As ever, we’ll be reporting live from the Cherry Red Records Stadium. Build-up starts at noon, so get on our early blog on the Wall for all the latest updates.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for photos, videos and all the behind-the-scenes action. Hatters Player subscribers will be able to listen to live commentary from just before 3pm with Simon Pitts in the press box.
Post-match, remember to check out the official website, YouTube channel and Player for reports, interviews and photographs and don’t forget to tune in from midday on Sunday for all the highlights in glorious HD!