The Game
AFC Wimbledon v Argyle. The Cherry Red Records Stadium. Saturday, 18 April. 3pm. Sky Bet League One.
The Opposition
Wimbledon are 20th in League One, with 50 points from 43 games. They have won 14, drawn 8 and lost 21, and sit three points outside of the drop zone.
When Wimbledon won at Argyle, in their 13th game of the season, the Dons were fourth in the table. However, after winning eight of their first 13, Wimbledon have only won six from 30 since.
After winning at Home Park, Wimbledon went nine without winning, and won just one of 13. They did rally in February and March; an eight-game stretch saw them win five and draw two, giving hope that safety would be attained. However, Wimbledon have gained just one point from their last eight games, including losing their last five.
The Gaffer
Johnnie Jackson, 43, grew up in London and represented Tottenham Hotspur on the pitch as a youngster. Loan spells came in the EFL with Swindon Town, Colchester United, Coventry City, Watford and Derby County. The former England youth international departed White Hart Lane and had permanent spells with Colchester United, Notts County and Charlton Athletic before retiring in 2018.
Jackson would stay at Charlton as a coach, working under Lee Bowyer for a few years, before becoming caretaker manager in 2021. When Nigel Adkins was appointed, Jackson resumed his role as a coach, but was asked to step up again following Adkins’ sacking just months later. Nine wins in 13 saw Jackson appointed permanently midway through 2021/22, but he was sacked at the end of the season after a string of poor results.
Just over two weeks later, he was announced as AFC Wimbledon’s manager. He presided over the club’s promotion via the play-offs last season.
The Squad
Alistair Smith and Steve Seddon have each started all 43 of Wimbledon’s games.
Smith (below) is a 26-year-old central midfielder who fell out of league football having come through Mansfield’s academy, but re-entered with promoted Sutton United in 2021. After two seasons there, he moved to Lincoln City, albeit with loans out to Colchester United and Wimbledon, the latter of which became permanent in the summer.
Seddon, a left-back, is now 28. His time at Birmingham City was punctuated with loans to Stevenage, Portsmouth, and two to Wimbledon. Becoming an Oxford United player in 2021, Seddon had more loans, with Cambridge United and Burton Albion, before heading to Motherwell, and then to Wimbledon last summer.
Experienced midfielder Jake Reeves, 32, has scored once from 36 appearances in the league this season, six from the bench. After failing to make much impact at Brentford and Swindon Town, Reeves found a home at Wimbledon, and played over 100 times before moving on to Bradford City. He also played for Notts County and Stevenage before returning to the Dons in 2023, and has gone past the 100-mark in this spell, too.
Previous Meeting
Earlier this season, the sides met at Home Park, with Wimbledon winning 2-1. Argyle led through Lorent Tolaj, but Wimbledon turned it round with goals from Omar Bugiel and Marcus Browne.
A Strip for the Trip
Argyle will be wearing their pink third kit for this game.
Argyle TV
Argyle TV’s coverage will begin with the Pre-Match Show, which starts at 2pm, with Erin Black and Aaron Cusack joined by Ian Stonebridge. They will then hand over to the stadium for live commentary from Rob McNichol and former Argyle winger Garry Nelson.
Match passes to watch this game on Argyle TV are available overseas. CLICK HERE for more information.
