Preview: Barrow v AFC Wimbledon

26 November 2020

Take a look at everything you need to know ahead of tonight's FA Cup tie with our full and in-depth preview of the action.

Barrow v AFC Wimbledon
Thursday 26^th November 2020, 7.45pm
The Progression Solicitors Stadium
Emirates FA Cup First Round

In Opposition
AFC Wimbledon sit in the middle ground of the League One table as they make their belated trip to The Progression Solicitors Stadium for this evening’s FA Cup tie.

The Dons were struck by COVID-19 on the eve of the original tie meaning it had to be postponed but Glyn Hodges’ men are heading north to face Barrow tonight.

They were beaten for the first time in six outings on Tuesday night when they lost 2-1 at Gillingham so will be hoping to get back on track in the FA Cup in Cumbria.

The club has been boosted recently by their return to a new stadium at Plough Lane, though they were denied victory by a last-gasp Doncaster Rovers goal in a 2-2 draw during their only game there so far.

One To Watch
Joe Pigott has been a reliable supply of goals for AFC Wimbledon since they paid Maidstone United an undisclosed for the front man back in January 2018.

The former Charlton Athletic youngster has been in good form once more during the opening stages of 2020/21 and has already found the net six times in League One this term.

At the start of the month he wrote his name in Dons history when he became the first player to score at their new Plough Lane stadium in the 2-2 draw with Doncaster Rovers.

Head To Head
Tonight’s game will be just the fifth competitive encounter between Barrow and AFC Wimbledon, but the first since the sides last shared a division in 2010/11.

During that campaign results went with the home side, Barrow running out 2-0 winners on home turf in November 2010 before being beaten by the same score in the capital in March 2011.

Referee
Seb Stockbridge will be on the whistle for this evening’s FA Cup tie, taking charge of his first Barrow game of the new campaign.

The official has been promoted on to the EFL list of referees for 2020/21 and has been operating across League One and Two so far this term.

His most recent outing came at The Pirelli Stadium on Saturday when he saw Burton Albion beaten 3-1 by Northampton Town.

Competition Rules
First Round ties will no longer go to replays so if tonight’s game is all-square at 90 minutes then a further period of 30 minutes extra-time will be played, followed by a penalty shootout if required.

Betting
AFC Wimbledon have been installed as slight favourites to win tonight’s FA Cup tie at odds of 7/5, though The Bluebirds are only just behind at 7/4 and it’s rated 23/10 to go to extra time.

Click here now to take a look at Sky Bet’s range of odds on this evening’s action.

Live Streaming
We’re streaming Thursday’s FA Cup tie in the usual way on iFollow, with Match Passes on sale now for the price of £10.

Season Ticket holders are reminded that they will not be granted free access to cup games so will need to purchase a Match Pass to view this evening’s action.

Click here now to buy your Match Pass for tonight.

Live Commentary
We will also provide an audio commentary of Thursday’s game when we link up with BBC Radio Cumbria’s Adam Johnson and John Goodwin, who will describe all the action as it unfolds.

You can purchase an Audio Match Pass for £2.50, an Audio Monthly Pass for £4.49 or sign-up for Audio Season Pass which provides all live commentary and video news for just £45.

Click here now to subscribe to iFollow Barrow.

Match Reports

Barrow Exit FA Cup On Penalties

26 November 2020

A photo of Jayden Reid — Jayden Reid in action against AFC Wimbledon

Barrow bowed out of the FA Cup after being beaten on penalties following a First Round stalemate with AFC Wimbledon at The Progression Solicitors Stadium.

The Bluebirds gave as good as they got during the a hard-fought encounter during which neither side could find a route to goal, even after 30 minutes of extra time.

However, it was the visitors who held their nerve from the spot to overcome David Dunn’s men 4-2 in the shootout to book a Second Round tie at home to Crawley Town on Sunday.

The visitors began the game on the front foot and carved out the first chance inside a minute when a free-kick in to the box dropped loose to Will Nightingale but the defender fired an effort wide.

The game was still only three minutes old when The Dons engineered another opening as Ethan Chislett met Jack Rudoni’s cross but his header deflected wide before Ollie Palmer then nodded wastefully over from the resultant corner.

The Bluebirds’ first chance came through Josh Kay who cut inside from the right wing to shoot but his effort did not have the power to really trouble Nik Tzanev in the Wimbledon goal.

Dimitri Sea almost marked his full debut with a wonderful goal on 20 minutes when he showed good strength to hold off a Dons defender on the edge of the box before unleashing a powerful, curling effort which flashed just wide of the left-hand post with Tzanev reduced to spectating.

The Frenchman came even closer to opening his Barrow account seven minutes before the break when he was found at the end of a rapid counter-attack and unloaded a ferocious drive from twenty yards which crashed back off the right-hand post.

It was a cagey start to the second half but it was The Dons who came out of their shells first when a ball was fed in to Chislett at the front post but his goalbound shot was blocked behind for a corner by Sam Hird.

The visitors continued to threaten and Chislett spurned a decent chance to put them in front when a deep corner from the left dropped in to his path but he blazed a wild shot well over the bar from eight yards.

At the other end Jayden Reid engineered an opportunity for himself twenty yards out and he unleashed a powerful drive

As time ran out there were big calls for a Barrow penalty when Angus sprinted on to a brilliant long ball from Callum Gribbin and cut inside in to the area before going to ground but referee Seb Stockbridge waved away the appeals.

There was nearly a sting in the tail at the end of stoppage time when Wimbledon pulled a corner from the training ground and Antony Hartigan arrived on cue to meet the pull-back but his effort flew just over Lillis’ cross bar to send the game in to the extra time.

The Dons began to get on top during the first period of extra time and could have gone in front when Nightingale let fly from long-range to try and catch Lillis out but the keeper got down well to parry the surprise effort and Hird cleared the rebound.

Joe Pigott then found enough room on the edge of the box to fire just over, while Chris Taylor had a half-chance for Barrow when he worked an opening only to see it blocked well by a defender.

The biggest chance of the second period fell to Rudoni, who did well to hold off the Barrow defenders on the right side of the box but then drove a low shot across goal and wide.

Penalty Shootout
Dior Angus - Missed (0-0)
Ryan Longman – Scored (0-1)
Scott Quigley – Missed (0-1)
Shane McLoughlin – Scored (0-2)
Josh Kay – Scored (1-2)
Steve Seddon – Scored (1-3)
Patrick Brough – Scored (2-3)
Jack Rudoni – Scored (2-4)

Full Time: Barrow 0 AFC Wimbledon 0 (AFC Wimbledon win 4-2 on penalties)

Barrow: Lillis, Zouma (Brough 77), Wilson, Hird, Ntlhe (Brown 91), Kay, C Taylor, Gribbin, Sea (James 71), Angus, Reid (Quigley 86).
Subs not used: Moloney, J Taylor, Biggins.

Booked: Gribbin, Hird, Kay.

AFC Wimbledon: Tzanev, Csoka, Woodyard, Nightingale, Thomas, Alexander (McLoughlin 90), Hartigan, Palmer (Pigott 65), Chislett (Longman 90), Rudoni, Guinness-Walker (Seddon 115).
Subs not used: Cox, Kalambayi, Reilly.

Booked: Nightingale, Palmer, Guinness-Walker.

Referee: Seb Stockbridge

Attendance: Behind Closed Doors

Barrow AFC

Standings

Preview: Barrow v AFC Wimbledon

Barrow Exit FA Cup On Penalties