BLUEBIRDS BACK ON THE ROAD

Cardiff City are back on the road as they travel to face Johnnie Jackson's AFC Wimbledon at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.

Yousef Salech celebrating.

The Opposition:

The Dons had a successful 24/25 campaign finishing in fifth place before earning promotion from League Two via the play-offs.

Wimbledon saw several key players depart following play-off success, with fourteen departures. Therefore, the newly promoted side have been active in the Transfer Window, adding Steve Seddon from Motherwell, Joe McDonnell from Eastleigh, Alistair Smith from Lincoln City, Antwoine Hackford from Sheffield United, Delano McCoy-Splatt from Fulham, Danilo Orsi from Burton Albion, Nathan Bishop from Sunderland and Nathan Asiimwe from Charlton Athletic.

Johnnie Jackson usually sets up his teams in a 3-5-2, built on wing-back overloads, high pressing, and quick transitions. At Wimbledon he's blended this with phases of more patient, possession-based play, aiming to work the ball wide and flood the box with late runners. While his sides are hardworking and tactically disciplined, critics note he can sometimes be too rigid in sticking to his chosen system.

The Bluebirds:

Cardiff come into this one on the back of a convincing 3-0 win over Rotherham United on the weekend, with goals from Yousef Salech, Cian Ashford and Rubin Colwill.

City had success against a back five on the weekend, but The Dons are likely to show more than an idealess Rotherham did. Expect a more aggressive and physical test, something Cardiff have to step up to. The Bluebirds will have to move the ball as well as they did on the weekend, and match the intensity in order to get something from this one.

Opposition Player To Watch:

Mathew Stevens in action.

Wimbledon striker Mathew Stevens is one to keep an eye on ahead of this clash. The 27 year-old netted twenty-one goals in all competitions last season, and has started this season with two goals in three starts.

Stevens has worked his way through the divisions, having played for the likes of Barnet, Peterborough, Cambridge City, Sligo Rovers, Kettering Town, Slough Town, Forest Green Rovers, Stevenage and Walsall before joining Wimbledon in the summer of 2024.

Last Meeting:

Cardiff City 1-0 AFC Wimbledon (2015)

Criag Noone in action.

City's last encounter with The Dons came in the First Round of the Capital One Cup, with a first-half goal from Craig Noone enough for The Bluebirds.

Noone's stunning first half free-kick saw Russell Slade's Bluebirds advance to the Second Round.

Team News:

Cardiff City - Perry Ng and Alex Robertson remain out for The Bluebirds.

AFC Wimbledon - Late decision to be made on Ryan Johnson. Otherwise, a clean bill of health for the hosts.

Preferred XI:

GK - Nathan Trott

RB - Ronan Kpakio

RCB - Will Fish

LCB - Dylan Lawlor

LB - Joel Bagan

CDM - Calum Chambers

RCM - David Turnbull

LCM - Rubin Colwill

RW - Cian Ashford

LW - Isaak Davies

ST - Yousef Salech

Score Prediction:

AFC Wimbledon 0-1 Cardiff City

I see this game going very similar to the Port Vale, but with City just edging out Wimbledon.

Instagram

Twitter