Match Discussion: Play Off Semi - The Dons (H) Live

[PON_News]

Play Off Semi - The Dons (H)

Team: AFC Wimbledon

Date: 10/05/2025

Where: Meadow Lane

What line-up should Stuart Maynard opt for? What will be the key areas for the Magpies to get a victory? What do you think the final score will be?

Have your say below, join in with the Pride of Nottingham match discussion.

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

The excitement is building. 72 hours to go. Can Notts get a positive result & give themselves a chance for the second leg? I think they can, but they will have to be at their best. 

I am very encouraged by Notts away record this season. I think that if Notts can get a narrow win on Saturday or even a draw, I think Wimbledon will be very weary of Notts at their place.

Having the first leg at home can work in Notts favour because Wimbledon will want to dominate the play in the 2nd leg & that may give Notts more room up front, to hit Wimbledon on the break. 

I'm pleased that Austin is back & I hope he is fit enough to start the match because before his injury he was playing so well. I'd also like to see Jarvis in the starting eleven, because I think he's better defensively than Jones.

My first eleven would be 

Bass, Macari, Platt, Bedeau, Austin, Abbott, Palmer, Jarvis, Grant, Jatta, McGoldrick.

Subs.

Miller, Whittaker, Edwards, McDonald, Hinchy, Gordon, Jones

[gtownjohnno]

1 hour ago, Robbie said:

The excitement is building. 72 hours to go. Can Notts get a positive result & give themselves a chance for the second leg? I think they can, but they will have to be at their best. 

I am very encouraged by Notts away record this season. I think that if Notts can get a narrow win on Saturday or even a draw, I think Wimbledon will be very weary of Notts at their place.

Having the first leg at home can work in Notts favour because Wimbledon will want to dominate the play in the 2nd leg & that may give Notts more room up front, to hit Wimbledon on the break. 

I'm pleased that Austin is back & I hope he is fit enough to start the match because before his injury he was playing so well. I'd also like to see Jarvis in the starting eleven, because I think he's better defensively than Jones.

My first eleven would be 

Bass, Macari, Platt, Bedeau, Austin, Abbott, Palmer, Jarvis, Grant, Jatta, McGoldrick.

Subs.

Miller, Whittaker, Edwards, McDonald, Hinchy, Gordon, Jones

Prefer J Jones for Grant....Let's go for it straight from the Kick-off....Lets hope Sam Austin is fit enough to start...

[Fan of Big Tone 𝕏 @mainstandpie]

I’m thinking same as you @robbie if we can get a draw or win at Meadow Lane there’s every chance we could beat them at their place but who knows we know Notts can compete with the best on their day but will they turn up, time will tell.

[ARLukomski 𝕏 ARLukomski Instagram declanweliczko_arlki]

My feelings

[menzinho]

I do think we’ll need to change something going into this match as we have been really poor at home recently. I would like to see Jodi and Jarvis play as proper wide attackers but that would require a switch to a back 4 and I’m not expecting it to change that drastically. I think we’ll play ultra-safe, I can see Austin coming in at RWB in place of Gordon. Jatta upfront with Didzy and Grant behind. The rest of the team will be the usual, falling into a 5-2-2-1 more often than not.

Genuinely I’ll be impressed if one team manages 3 goals over the two legs. It’s got a 1-0, 1-1 vibe all over it for me. I’m almost 99% certain we won’t score in the first half, I don’t bet but I feel like I should (please prove me wrong here Notts!)

That said I’d love us to start in a manner that really gets us fans going, trying to pin them in, pressing high and playing balls to get them to defend. I’ve not seen us play like that for a long time… I think if we recycle the ball too much and worry too much about possession it will frustrate the crowd and encourage the Dons.

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

Last season Notts finished in 14th place in League 2.

This season Notts have finished in 6th place & still have a chance of promotion.

No matter what happens from here on in, it's been a season of progress.

Notts are quite capable of playing well above that ranking of 6th best team in the League.

That's why I'm very hopeful of further success in the playoffs.

[Dripsey3]

It's a match up of 2 sides who are out of form. We look like a team who has run out of steam. Wimbledon are a team low on confidence. We know how we are going to play and so do Wimbledon. Doncaster looked like the home team last time out. I expect Wimbledon will try and replicate that. The most important thing is avoiding defeat. We are better on the road where there is less pressure. 

[liampie]

On 07/05/2025 at 21:45, gtownjohnno said:

Prefer J Jones for Grant....Let's go for it straight from the Kick-off....Lets hope Sam Austin is fit enough to start...

issue with jodi, hes still not quite ready, and starting him might be a big mistake. Only in the second half, did he look like his old self. It was quite apparent that he struggled, which is natural but he looked scared to be challenged, and even more so when he had the ball.

maybe, he should be considered an impact sub? brought into the game around the 55th minute?

i love jodi, we all do but he needs a little more man-management, and whilst being played should see him regain his confidence. he left, looking miserable after the doncaster game. For our sakes, but his, I just feel we need to start someone else ahead of him. david mcgoldrick being placed back is a bigger priority for me.

[DangerousSausage]

I think he looked miserable because we played poorly @liampie, and JJ knows he's not playing as well as he could. He was injured a long time and it's a tall order for him to get his form back, realistically he'll need a pre-season. But for better or worse, SM has decided to give him as many minutes as possible in the hope that he regains his match fitness when it matters the most. Time will tell whether that gamble pays off.

I'm not super confident about the play-offs, but we are one of three out-of-form teams and at least one is guaranteed to be in the final. And then it's a one-off and anything can happen.

I hope there's a full crowd and a banging atmosphere. I think it's going to be tight.

[Fan of Big Tone 𝕏 @mainstandpie]

1 hour ago, DangerousSausage said:

I hope there's a full crowd and a banging atmosphere. I think it's going to be tight.

Last time I looked it seems as if Notts fans are not very enthusiastic, there are a lot of seats still available, I think 8pm on Saturday puts a lot off plus Notts poor form at home. Hopefully there might be a last minute rush for tickets.

[gtownjohnno]

Watching Leyton Orient v Stockport....some shocking referee decisions!!!!!!.....hate to say it but what's the betting the referee has a nightmare performance this evening!!!!...All the major decisions will go against Notts....we've seen it before several times here this season........

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

Notts have posted on X that they expect 12,000 to attend the match tonight. I'm sure that if the match had been in the afternoon or early evening it would be much more.

Unfortunately, the TV companies control the start times nowadays.

 

[Chris Website URL Visit Site 𝕏 fmcj10 Instagram fmcj10]

I feel a lot less confident and more nervous with the game being at home first.

It makes you wonder how the players feel, and if their nerves will be kicking in before or approaching the kick-off. Along with what they do to keep focused, and allow the pressure to be treated like it was a regular game. Personally, I see the game as being similar to Doncaster in terms of expectations and importance. Whilst we could have finished 3rd then, if the results went our way, it seemed extremely unlikely. AFC Wimbledon have started poorly in the past, and become much better over time, and I would hope Notts approaches the game with the mindset that the first 10 minutes isn't crucial to be on the front foot.

But understanding quickly as to how they will be playing, and adapting to taking control would be encouraging. Performance-wise, I would hope for more consistent displays and less worry over making longer passes. Wimbledon might want the majority of the game to be played in the air from our perspective, so I think we do need to stamp that out and move it efficiently along the ground.

I wouldn't start Jodi Jones, I would have him on the bench. I do hope David McGoldrick comes in, and I wouldn't be against Will Jarvis starting or perhaps Conor Grant starting out wide. Though it seems more likely that Sam Austin will be making a return to the starting XI.

Defensively, we have to take the pressure off Alex Bass, protect him, and avoid rushing decisions. Ideally, we'll show a good level of movement and desire for wanting the ball. I hope it's not scrappy, and that we can be creative, but the focus will be on how the officials control the match, along with how it's allowed to flow. We have had poor officiating, but it's the same across the league and we need to do our part as a club to overcome that.

Otherwise, it becomes a distraction and excuse.

A crucial first game, which even finishing 0-0 would make the away leg very nerve-wracking. The unpredictability of the playoffs renders regular league performance largely irrelevant. It's more important that we truly desire this victory more than anything.

[liampie]

it does seem like more fans are expecting notts to struggle, i feel unsure myself and nervous. i dont think we have to worry as much, just play our game and try to be the best that is possible. the main thing is to setup a lead for the away counter, or in the very least make it easier to go about.

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

It's Matchday.

 

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

Strongest side we have put out for months.

Didzy, Abbott Austin & Macari in the starting 11.

Robbo on the bench. CMON U PIES.

 

[Morten Johansen]

The time has come.

COYP!!!

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

The match is underway.

 

[super_ram]

Wishing Notts all the best tonight and for all the other playoff games,GOOD LUCK.

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

Update 

 

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

Update 

Notts 0 Wimbledon 0

 

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

Update.

Update.

Update.

 

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

Goalless at Halftime.

Mark Stallard: 'Not a lot in the teams, if we had a prediction before the game we'd have thought we would have got the first half we had. It's probably a fair reflection of the game.'

Update.

 

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

Back to it. Unchanged.

Update.

Update.