This Week's Opposition: AFC Wimbledon

Another win on the road means Pompey are still unbeaten away from home in the league this season. John Moushino’s side are now on an unbeaten streak of 4 matches with 10 goals scored and 0 conceded within that period.

Now to take some time away from the league and play under the Fratton Park lights in the EFL Trophy.

The team that visits us this week is League Two side AFC Wimbledon.

Let's take a closer look into them now….

MANAGER

Former player Johnnie Jackson is at the helm for The Wombles.

Jackson started his playing career at Tottenham Hotspur. During his time at White Hart Lane he spent many seasons on loan at various lower league clubs. He played for Swindon Town, Colchester United, Coventry City, Watford and Derby County.

After being released from Tottenham, Jackson signed on a free transfer with Championship side Colchester United. He made 120 appearances and scored 13 goals over his 3 years at the club.

He signed for Notts County on a 3-year contract on an undisclosed fee, however failed to settle into Nottingham and left after just 1 season and 24 appearances.

Jackson finished his playing career at Charlton Athletic. After a short loan spell due to a hamstring injury in the 2009/10 season, he went on to sign for The Addicks, remaining for 8 seasons in League One and the Championship.

Jackson made a total of 275 appearances and scored 55 goals. He retired at the end of the 2017/18 season and joined Charlton as a coach.

After Karl Robinson’s departure as manager, it was announced that Jackson would assist Lee Bowyer as caretaker manager. Jackson was named permanent manager in December 2021 after achieving 9 wins from 13 matches, however in May 2022 he was dismissed.

Jackson was then appointed as manager of League Two club AFC Wimbledon on a 2-year deal, replacing Mark Bowen following their relegation from the 3rd tier.

ONE TO WATCH

Our one to watch is ex-Pompey defender Lee Brown.

Brown played for Queens Park Rangers and Bristol Rovers before signing for Portsmouth in 2018.

In March 2019, Brown won his first piece of silverware when the Blues won the EFL Trophy, defeating league rivals Sunderland 5-4 on penalties.

During his time at the club across 4 seasons, he racked up 131 appearances and scored 6 goals.

In January 2020, Brown joined AFC Wimbledon on a free transfer with the club then still playing in League One. He made 15 appearances before relegation to League Two was confirmed.

The left back wears the number 3 shirt for The Wombles.

TOP SCORER

Number 10 Ali Al-Hamadi is the club’s top goalscorer so far this campaign.

The Iraqi professional started his senior career at Wycombe Wanderers and he also had a loan spell at Bromley before signing for The Wombles on a 2-and-a-half year deal.

Al-Hamadi scored his first goal for Wimbledon in a 2-2- draw with Hartlepool United earlier this year. In March, he was awarded the EFL Young Player of the Month award.

So far this campaign Al-Hamadi has scored 10 league and 3 FA Cup goals.

CURRENT FORM

Wimbledon currently sit 7th in the League Two Table after accumulating 32 points across 21 matches.

Their last 5 matches have ended in 3 victories, 1 draw and 1 defeat.

The Wombles finished 23rd in the League One Table at the end of the 2021/22 season, which ultimately led to their relegation to the basement division of the Football League.

Last season, Wimbledon finished 21st in League Two, narrowly avoiding another relegation.

Wimbledon are currently still in The FA Cup as well as the trophy - They progressed to the 3rd Round after a 5-0 win over Ramsgate and will play Ipswich Town at home in January.

To reach the knockout stages of the trophy this season, Johnnie Jackson’s side finished runners-up in a group containing Wycombe, who topped the chart, as well as Stevenage and the Crystal Palace Under-21s.

So, who will progress to the final 16 and take 1 step closer to Wembley?

All of the unmissable action will be right here on Express FM when Pompey Live returns from 7pm on Tuesday, the 19th of December at Fratton Park, where Robbie James, Jake Smith and Henry Deacon provide full coverage.

Kick-off: 7:45pm!