[ 30 Dec 24 ] AFC Wimbledon v GILLS Match Thread

[Garawa]

- AFC Wimbledon have won 9 of the meetings whilst the Gills have won 6 and another 6 games were drawn. Wimbledon won the previous meeting, ending a run of 3 consecutive wins for the Gills home and away in all competitions.
- The Gills last win at AFC Wimbledon in the league came back in March 2019. They went winless in the next 5, losing 4 of them including successive 0-2 losses in July 2022 and March 2024 although these sandwich an EFL League Cup win in August 2022.
- AFC Wimbledon won their opening 3 league games at home, all with clean sheets and scoring 10 goals in the process. However, they have managed just 1 win in the subsequent 6 games since, scoring 6 and conceding 7, although they are unbeaten in the last 3.
- AFC Wimbledon are 1 of 4 sides to have managed 21 points from their home games (although Bradford have played a game less and Cheltenham a game more). Only leaders Walsall (26) have taken more points at home.
- AFC Wimbledon's 18 goals conceded is the joint lowest total in the division alongside Crewe. Their first 10 league matches produced 6 clean sheets but they have managed just 3 in the 11 played since.
- At just 3.33 per game, the 70 corners conceded by AFC Wimbledon is the fewest amount in League 2 however they have given away 9 in their last 2 matches.

[Mon 30th Dec 2024] EFL Sky Bet League 2: AFC Wimbledon v Gillingham FC
Opposition Manager: Johnnie Jackson. Matchday Team: Owen Goodman, Ryan Johnson, John-Joe O'Toole (Isaac Ogundere), Riley Harbottle (Sam Hutchinson), James Tilley, Romaine Sawyers (Aron Sasu), [c] Jake Reeves, Alistair Smith, Josh Neufville, Matty Stevens, Josh Kelly (James Furlong)
Opposition League Position: Sky Bet League 2 (5th)
Referee: Sam Purkiss
Attendance: 8,281 (?)

(20:01) Kick Off - Live on Sky Sports [ 3 - 5 - 1 - 1 ]
(20.07) The Gills have a series of efforts blocked for corners. The latest coming as Masterson gets a second bite to slot into the empty net but it clips the edge of the grounded defenders boot.
(20.13) O'Toole and Masterson battle with each other in the Wimbledon penalty area. As the ball comes in, O'Toole puts his arm around Masterson's neck and pulls him down but the ref says no penalty.
(20.17) Jayden Clarke is barged off the ball which is then put through into the box. It is left by the receiving player and falls to another in a great position to slot home but puts it wide due to being unprepared.
(20.24) A Wimbledon player goes down on the edge of the box. The ref plays on and the ball comes back. The Gills surround the ball and clean only for the ball to bounce back into danger. Eventually, Wimbledon's incessant pressure breaks down after an overhit cross.
(20.28) Again the game is stopped after O'Toole grapples with a Gills player - this time pulling the shirt of Nevitt.
(20.37) Twice Neufville beats the Gills defence down the Wimbledon right. The second opportunity saw a brillant ball that just needed slotting home but the Gills desperately scramble the ball away. The ball comes back however and a tame Stevens header trickles to the far post after a Morris parry who then scurries across and collects at the second attempt.
(20.40) Nevitt goes down inside the box after tugging with O'Toole but the ref says no penalty.
(20.46) 1 minute is added to the half
(20.47) Half time 0-0 [46:15]

(21.04) The second half kicks off. Wimbledon start the half without O'Toole who has a "knock".
(21.09) Max Clark gives away a very cheap corner from which they score with the arm being the part of the body which made the crucial connection.
(21.09) GOAL! AFC Wimbledon 1-0 Gillingham: Stevens
(21.23) Gills make a double change and switch formation. Instantly, it is 3 on 1 for the Gills but Nevitt goes alone and blazes over.
(21.49) The 4th official signals there will be a further 4 minutes to play.
(21.52) Rowe with a fierce long range drive sees the shot parried away for a corner.
(21.53) FULL TIME 1-0 [95:32]

Gills' League Position After Game: 13th
Match Report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c5yg5eg1l7wt
Match highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4OHXP8saIA