[ 12 Mar 24 ] AFC Wimbledon v GILLS Match Thread

[Garawa]

- AFC Wimbledon lead the wins over the Gills by 8 wins to 6 and a further 6 matches were drawn. In all competitions, the Gills have won the last 3 league and cup meetings after going winless in the 4 games before them.
- The Gills won their last visit to AFC Wimbledon, an EFL Cup game in August 2022. Their last win there in the league came in March 2019 and 4 league games sandwich those wins in which the Gills drew 1 and lost 3.
- AFC Wimbledon are unbeaten in 3 games, winning 2 of them. Before those games, they were winless in 4 with 3 defeats at the end of a run in which they had lost 8 and won 4 out of 15 league and cup games.
- At home in the league, AFC Wimbledon have won 1 and lost 1 of their last 4 games. These followed a run of 6 home league wins out of 7 games.
- The Gills have scored the fewest number of first half goals in League 2, a total of 13 in their 37 matches (including 3 in the last 19). AFC Wimbledon have conceded the fewest amount of first half goals in the division, a total of 12 in their 37 matches (including 1 in the last 10).
- AFC Wimbledon have given away 504 fouls in League 2, the most in the division. It is 159 more than they had won, also the worst difference. The Gills have conceded 354 fouls and is 37 fewer than the total they have won.
- AFC Wimbledon have the most clean sheets in League 2 (14) and the Gills are joint second with 13. The Dons however have suffered 13 blank sheets with Forest Green (14) being the only side in the division with more.

(19:47) EFL Sky Bet League 2: AFC Wimbledon v Gillingham FC - Kick Off [ 5 - 4 - 1 ]

(19.54) Morris makes a good save and from the corner, a Wimbledon attacker is knocked off balance which prevents him from making the required contact in a dangerous position.

(20.02) Good delivery from Hutton but its a little high for Hawkins who, in a good position, heads a little high and slightly wide.

(20.08) A Hutton corner is headed back across goal and cleared as far as Mahoney who drives an effort towards goal which is blocked a couple of feet from the goal line.

(20.08) Wimbledon counter-attack and a teasing cross finds an on-rushing head but it goes just over.

(20.17) After receiving a yellow card in the 11th minute, Ehmer holds his man then shows dissent by complaining to the referee about awarding the free kick.

(20.20) GOAL! AFC Wimbledon 1-0 Gillingham: Bugiel

(20.23) Masterson goes into a challenge 2-footed. The referee gives yellow then goes over to talk with an assistant and retains his original decision. Gills potentially lucky not to be down to 9 players.

(20.24) Red Card! Masterson drags back a Wimbledon forward and receives a second yellow in the space of just 2 minutes.

(20.28) Good strong wrist from Morris to make a good save and concede a corner.

(20.32) The referee adds on 2 additional minutes.

(20.35) Half time 1-0

(20.51) The second half kicks off. Hawkins is sacrificed to keep the 5 man defence so Williams and Mahoney are the most forward players.

(21.00) Big save by Morris and the rebound hits the attacker and runs away in Gills' favour.

(21.01) Max Clark now has squared up to the Wimbledon manager then cynically takes down a Wimbledon player. A yellow card is eventually awarded just before he is subbed.

(21.05) Reeves sends the ball down and across goal. It evades about 3 advancing players and goes wide.

(21.11) GOAL! AFC Wimbledon 2-0 Gillingham: Bugiel

(21.37) The Gills go in search of a consolation and Wimbledon counter-attack. Malone clears off the line.

(21.42) FULL TIME 2-0

Attendance: 7,527 (1,206)
Position: 10th
Referee: Thomas Kirk
Match highlights:
BBC Match Report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68475871