PREVIEW: Into London at the weekend

A closer look at this weekend's opponents

9 February 2023

United head to Plough Lane for the first time this weekend.

opposition

Smack bang in mid-table, AFC Wimbledon have only lost nine games this season, but nine draws will have left them thinking about what might have been, even at this early stage.

Won two, drawn two and lost two of the last six, that probably sums up their league season as, along with the majority of the division, they continue to strive for consistency.

January was busy, with Bristol City forward Sam Pearson the first through the door, having agreed a loan move.

Midfielder Armani Little was another to join on loan, this time from Forest Green, and Iraq international Ali Al-Hamadi bolstered the front ranks with a permanent move from Wycombe.

More loan movement came with the arrival of striker Saikou Janneh from Cambridge, and that was the prelude to a flurry of deadline day activity.

Three more loan moves were completed - centre-back Aaron Pierre from Sutton, winger Diallang Jaiyesimi from Charlton and Leicester City midfielder Kasey McAteer.

With plenty of options it will be interesting to see who gets the nod when the Cumbrians head south on Saturday.

who watch

Midfielder Ethan Chislett has nine goals from 35 appearances so far this season, and he's pretty much an ever-present amongst the starters.

He netted six in a run of nine games over the festive period, and has an attacking creative edge to his play.

He's our weekend one to watch.

Click HERE to purchase a match pass which will allow you to LISTEN to this fixture via our match streaming service.

With match commentary provided by BBC Radio Cumbria, this is a fantastic way to follow your team through the season.

Match audio passes are available for ALL EFL league games - click HERE to find out more about this season’s iFollow United service.

highlights

	Carlisle wins	Draws	AFC W'bledon wins
League	2	2	1
Total	2	2	1

Callum Guy scored on the stroke of half time and Kris Dennis netted in the second half to help the Blues to a 2-1 home win in September 2022. Ayoub Assal gave the away side hope on the hour, but it wasn't to be.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

We played in London in February 2016 and keeper Mark Gillespie was sent off just after the break. Paul Robinson netted for the hosts moments later, and that was enough to win the game.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

We were up in Cumbria in August 2015 when Jabo Ibehre levelled after the break after Andy Barcham had given the visitors the lead in the first half.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

It was a memorable day for all concerned in September 2015 when Brunton Park saw an avalanche of goals. United scored four, as did the Dons, and we had Gary Dicker sent off into the bargain. Oh, and the away team equalised with the last kick of the game.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

officials

Referee - Darren Handley
Assistant Referee 1 - Scott Williams
Assistant Referee 2 - Nicholas Cooper
Fourth Official - James Vallance
Observer - David Phillips

Our referee for this fixture is Mr Darren Handley. Darren has been in charge of 12 games so far this season and has shown 50 yellow cards and five reds.

He was last in charge of a Carlisle game in January 2022 when he came to Brunton Park for our 2-0 reverse at the hands of Sutton. Tyrsese Omotoye was the only Carlisle name taken.

We also saw him in January 2020 when Cardiff City came north for a third-round FA Cup replay. The Blues took their illustrious visitors all the way, with a brace from Harry McKirdy and a Nathan Thomas goal not quite enough as the Bluebirds edged it 4-3. McKirdy's was the only Carlisle name taken on the night.

We also met him at the beginning of December 2019 when we drew 1-1 with Morecambe at the Globe Arena. Hallam Hope put us in front just ahead of the break, but former-Blue John O'Sullivan pulled things level just three minutes later. Hope and Jarrad Branthwaite picked up bookings on the day.

Prior to that he was with us in October when we beat Blackpool 2-1 in the Leasing.com Trophy group game here at Brunton Park.

Ryan Loft and Canice Carroll got us the goals that won the tie, and Canice went in the book alongside Jon Mellish for their troubles.

tickets

Tickets can be purchased on the day of the game however there is a £2 increase in price for adults and concessions. U17 tickets do not increase in price on match day.

Prices

Adult	£25
Senior 65+	£17
Full time student	£17
Unemployed/benefits	£17
17 & under	£7

Checks will be in place on the day of the game and anybody who has purchased an age related ticket will be asked for proof when entering the ground. Failure to do so will result in the full adult price being charged.

Proof of full-time student, unemployment or benefits status must be provided at the time of purchase.

Ambulant disabled and wheelchair supporters will pay the relevant price with the carer free of charge.

Dates of sale

Date	Time
Thu 9 Feb	10am – 4pm

Methods of purchase:

In person – come to the Pioneer ticket office at the designated time. Sales on home match days will be from the west side ticket office (from 5.30pm on a midweek home match day).
Phone – ring the ticket office 03300 945 930 option 1 at the designated times and pay with a credit / debit card.
Internet – buy online HERE.

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If you wish to purchase bus travel you can organise this by calling CUSAT on 07563 700 987.

Match Reports

MATCH REPORT: Dons 0 - 0 United

Report from the Saturday afternoon away game

11 February 2023

It was a first visit to the revamped Plough Lane for the Blues on Saturday afternoon with manager Paul Simpson having been guest of honour at a forum hosted by the London Branch in central London the night before.

There were two changes from the team that faced Harrogate last weekend with Joe Garner and Joel Senior in for John-Kymani Gordon and Ben Barclay.

There was nothing between the sides through the opening 10 minutes, but the Dons broke through when Jaiesimi won a tussle with Senior for the ball in the midfield area. Brown was on the overlap and his drilled delivery was stopped by Feeney on his chest. Loud appeals for handball were ignored.

A foul on Gibson by Little 35-yards out gave the red shirts an opportunity to get forward, and the man who was felled opted to go for the target. It had the power, but it was always too high.

Gibson was gifted a volleying chance from distance on 25 minutes when a misplaced pass from Chislett bounced his way. He caught it cleanly but this time it didn't have quite enough to test Tzanev between the sticks.

Moxon floated a deep free kick towards the back post moments later and Feeney muscled his way onto it. A dipping header had to be nodded clear by Pearce before it could trouble the nets.

The Dons broke at pace and Brown and Jaiesimi combined to win a corner. Holy felt he came under unfair pressure as he scooped the ball away from beneath his bar when it was sent long. The big stopper had the last laugh as he raced off his line to punch the second delivery towards the halfway line.

Good work from Dennis and Mellish brought a corner for the visitors at the other end, and a wonderful whipped inswinger from Moxon was met by the neatest of glances by Kris Dennis. A sharp reactive save from Tzanev prevented it from crossing the line.

United stayed forward and Moxon fed a sweeping pass to Guy outside the centre circle. The Cumbrians were thwarted as things slowed down on the edge of the area.

In a period where the game started to open up a rasper of a cross from Brown had Pearce interested. He stretched to get his head there but he was a whisker away from making the connection.

There was pressure on the Carlisle box ahead of the break as crosses came in from left and right, but the defensive wall stood strong to keep it at bay.

The away team responded with a quick move down the right, sparked by a dinked pass from Guy. Senior raced on and kept it low, but it was stopped by Little before Dennis coud get a touch. Moxon took over, but another exchange of passes came to nothing as they ran out of space.

United almost took the lead deep into time added for the half when Moxon found Garner with a great set piece. The striker met it with a downward header but it fell the wrong side of the upright.

Holy had to watch a snapshot from Chislett into his hands from the edge of the area after the ball was given away by Moxon during what was a lively start to the second period.

A stepover and a clipped cross from Gibson announced Carlisle's arrival in the half, but a header from Armer was too close to Tzanev.

The ball then came to Armer and Mellish on the left flank, and they used Moxon to create more space. He rattled it to Garner, but a touch off the outside of the boot from him was too far in front of Dennis.

There were moments for both teams that didn't quite come to fruition, as the final pass went too long or too short.

United almost unpicked the lock on 70 minutes when Gordon controlled a high ball forward from Mellish. He trapped it, then stepped inside his man. Gibson sprinted onwards to clip it into the box, and his cut back appeared to have found Dennis. The striker had his back to goal, and he was left with his head in his hands as it bobbled off his toe.

Carlisle looked the more likely heading into the final 15 minutes, and they almost did it again when a Moxon corner was cleared from the near post. It was recycled, and Feeney headed it back towards Huntington on the penalty spot. The defender hooked his boot round it but it took a deflection as it went over the bar.

Another dangerous centred ball was cleared only as far as Armer, who put Moxon into a good position. He went deep, and it eventually fell for Guy to strike. Tzanev went full length and got both hands to it to beat it away.

Lovely, slick, neat football from Patrick and Moxon resulted in a slipped through ball for Gibson, who popped up deep inside the area. The angle was tight and a defender got a touch, which took the sting out of it and made it easy for the stopper.

Senior stopped Janneh when he broke clear late in the day, and Moxon got in the way of the Brown follow up when he tried a scissored volley.

The home crowd were suddenly up for it and there was more defending to do when Janneh once again pulled off a shoulder. Feeney got the block this time.

More good football, this time with Gibson and Moxon doing the leg work, left Armer in space in time added on. The left back cut it back but Gordon's effort was smothered.

Wimbledon broke and Davison somehow scopped over from close range just as it looked like he was going to nick the winner, and that was that as it ended all-square.

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Bookings

AFC Wimbledon - Kalambayi (45)

Carlisle United - Moxon (20), Huntington (45)

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Teams

AFC Wimbledon - Tzanev, Gunter, Brown, Woodyard (c), Pell (Ali Al-Hamadi 62), Davison, Jaiesimi (Janneh 62), Chislett (McAteer 85), Pearce, Little, Kalambayi. Subs - Broome (gk), Marsh, Pierre, Currie.

Carlisle United - Holy, Huntington, Feeney (c), Mellish, Senior, Gibson, Guy, Moxon, Armer, Dennis (Patrick 75), Garner (Gordon 63). Subs - Kelly (gk), Whelan, Devitt, Robinson, McCalmont.

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Match officials

Referee - Darren Handley
Assistant Referee 1 - Scott Williams
Assistant Referee 2 - Nicholas Cooper
Fourth Official - James Vallance
Observer - David Phillips

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Attendance - 7,876 (1,024)