Arsenal 3-0 AFC Wimbledon

Arsenal 3-0 AFC Wimbledon
Carabao Cup
Wednesday 22nd September 2021

There was to be no Carabao Cup upset for AFC Wimbledon as Arsenal emerged as comfortable winners in this Third Round tie at the Emirates Stadium.

The Dons have been a force to be reckoned with in the early weeks of the new season; looking good value as they've scored for fun at one end of the pitch and showed resilience at the other to reach 7th position in Sky Bet League One. Back playing at Plough Lane too, Mark Robinson's team certainly have all the credentials to enjoy a respectable campaign (and who knows, maybe even a promotion push?) but this game against a close to full-strength Arsenal was just a bridge too far for them.

Despite their Premier League status - and with some deluded folk still even believing they're amongst the 'big six', Arsenal have been a laughing stock for a number of years. Therefore, it was probably a combination of the fact they haven't even qualified for Europe this season and their weak early-season form behind Mikel Arteta's reasoning for fielding such a strong team.

Tickets were £10 (which was my main reason for attending) yet the extremely shallow seating in the lower tier 'bowl' coupled with folk getting up and down every 20 seconds and regularly blocking my view of the pitch, spoiled my enjoyment to some extent. I've been to the Emirates Stadium on a handful of occasions in the past but even I'd forgotten just how crap an experience it can be if you're in the lower tier and don't fancy participating in human yo-yo trials!

Although the hosts avoided the sort of upset on the pitch which would have sent 'Arsenal Fan TV' into yet another laughable meltdown, some of their fans sat around me came out with plenty of verbal diatribe. It's always funny listening to idiots who are a certain way inclined that they'll not think twice about shouting needless abuse at their own players, calling them 'sh*t' and 'w**kers', amongst other things when it achieves absolutely nothing whatsoever. It can be especially ironic when those gobbing off look like the type of immature mugs who wouldn't even get into a bottom-of-the-table team in the Dog & Duck District League on a Sunday morning!

Each to their own, but there were more than a few individuals who fit into the above category at this game and it's little wonder why the Gunners have endured so many issues in recent times - from crap performances in general to many fractious player-supporter relationships (think Granit Xhaka or Mesut Ozil). Nor is it difficult to figure out why 'Arsenal Fan TV' has absolutely thrived everywhere apart from the Emirates Stadium.

That said, even though it was comfortable, it wasn't all plain-sailing for Arteta's team of internationals because Wimbledon gave a good account of themselves yet they just weren't quite able to muster up that one key, gilt-edged opportunity which players dream of in these kind of one-off cup ties.

Wimbledon may well have feared the worst when Alexander Lacazette put Arsenal ahead from the penalty spot on 11 minutes, converting after Gabriel Martinelli was brought down inside the box by Nesta McGuinness-Walker, and despite Dons 'keeper Nik Tzanev enduring a nervous moment when he fumbled an awkward ball right underneath his crossbar, he got away with it and the scoreline remained 1-0 by the interval.

The second half saw Arsenal carve out plenty of half-decent openings but a tendency to over-play rather than just have a shot was apparent in a few instances. However, they still had a few chances and Nuno Tavares was only denied by the post shortly before substitute Emile Smith-Rowe eradicated the lingering uncertainty which had built up in some parts of the stadium when he made it 2-0 on 78 minutes. That opened the floodgates and Eddie Nketiah quickly added a third goal with a deft flick-finish to put the result beyond any doubt.

I've seen Wimbledon three times now this season; the other instances being a deserved 2-1 win against Doncaster Rovers on the opening day and then in a 1-1 draw against Gillingham at Plough Lane. Each time they've impressed to a large extent, they've got some fine players in Ayoub Assal, Luke McCormick and Ethan Chislett, get the best out of others such as Ollie Palmer and Alex Woodyard, and they're 100% progressing in the right direction.

Now this 'big day out' type of occasion is over and done with, they can re-focus their efforts into their League One schedule and I wouldn't bet against them to keep pleasantly surprising people over the coming weeks and months.

Doncaster Rovers 2-1 Manchester City (U21s)

Doncaster Rovers 2-1 Manchester City (U21s)
Papa John's Trophy
Tuesday 21st September 2021

An entertaining, and at times end-to-end game, finished in a victory for Doncaster Rovers over a decent young Manchester City team at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Sixteen years to the night of that epic Carling Cup tie between the same two clubs at Belle Vue which saw DRFC topple Stuart Pearce's mega-rich Premier League superstars infront of the Sky Sports cameras, this game didn't quite provoke the same excitement or nerve-jangling emotions though there was some attractive football played in periods.

Joe Dodoo's two goals, one either side of half-time, earned him the sponsors' 'Man Of The Match' award though Richie Wellens' men missed a flurry of good chances (especially in the first half) which ought to have made for a more comfortable win. If they hadn't been victorious then they'd have only really had themselves to blame!

Blessed with quality all over the pitch, City's general play, fluidity and style was evident on multiple occasions and a joy to watch at times and there is little doubt that many of those who featured for them will go on to enjoy decent careers at a good level.

Having gone 1-0 up from a well-orchastrated move which culminated with Sam Edozie slotting low past Louis Jones, the visiting youngsters' lead was short-lived as Dodoo quickly got Rovers back on level terms with a finish from just inside the box.

A lengthy period of pressure followed between the equaliser and the half-time whistle as Rovers' superior experience was apparent but despite creating numerous openings, a combination of inaccurate shooting and some good goalkeeping by Cieran Slicker ensured things remained all square at the break.

The second half was more balanced and the three points could easily have gone either way.

Rovers initially remained the more threatening going forward and eventually went 2-1 up just before the hour mark when Dodoo converted following a corner but thereafter it was end-to-end with not much between the teams. The woodwork twice spared Rovers from being pegged back as the upright was rattled before Taione Sodje clipped the post, whilst only a superb low and instinctive save from Slicker denied substitute Rodrigo Vilca from adding a third goal at the other end.

Such was the impression that a few of City's youngsters made, Rovers could do far worse than trying to seek out the possibility of loan moves at some point in the future. Whether or not City's hierarchy would be willing to leave their outstanding young talent in Richie Wellens' hands, given that his man-management skills have been called into question multiple times already, is another matter. Nevertheless, the best way for young players to develop will always be by gaining as much first team experience as possible - something which they're unlikely to get with any frequency at the Etihad Stadium!

Despite being tonked 6-0 by Rotherham United in the opening group game, this win has very much re-ignited Rovers' hopes of making it out of their group. A win at Scunthorpe United in the final group game in November will most likely seal a place in the knockout stages though ultimately it's not going to be results in this competition which determine whether or not it's a successful season at DRFC.

The win will increase confidence amongst the playing squad ahead of two upcoming away games at Plymouth Argyle and Ipswich Town and, considering Rovers are still bottom of the Sky Bet League One table, points from league games are what's needed now.

Next Up: Arsenal vs AFC Wimbledon at the Emirates Stadium Library tomorrow night.

Colchester United 0-1 Crawley Town

Colchester United 0-1 Crawley Town
Sky Bet League Two
Saturday 18th September 2021

After 18 years, 942 competitive games in England and having spent too much money to even want to consider contemplating, this was the day when I finally realised my long-harboured ambition to visit every stadium in the Premier/Football League.

Having already been to the new grounds at AFC Wimbledon and Brentford in recent weeks then I'd consciously made the decision to leave Colchester United until last - mainly because it's been the only one which has been elusive to me for about the past six or seven seasons.

Despite being forewarned that the stadium was a bland and boring out-of-town new build, it wasn't anywhere near as bad as expected. Granted, it's a 35-40 minute trek from the railway station (albeit along a straight road), a pub en route plus bright sunshine made the walk quite enjoyable. The facilities were decent and spacious enough (a far cry from those found at Layer Road), the lack of a decent crowd ensured there was plenty of space to move around and get comfortable whilst the gaps in the corners between the four stands also offered a pleasant backdrop. In my view, it's a far better stadium than a bland new-build 'bowl' which is found at quite a few places, though everyone will have their own individual thoughts as to what constitutes a nice stadium.

Getting a ticket wasn't as straightforward as it ought to have been and that's because Colchester operate a weird policy whereby 'match permits' (as the club describes them) fluctuate in price dependant on how early in advance you buy one. Each stand has multiple prices and you're also forced to complete a 'Health Declaration' a few days beforehand in order to actually obtain your physical ticket - even if you've purchased one many weeks in advance. To an outsider, it seems a long, overly-complicated and bizarre 'wango fango' procedure and why they can't just have a single price for each stand - irrespective of when you buy, is stupid.

One bonus is that a programme is included in the ticket price but for an adult who'll be charged upwards of £25 if they buy on a matchday, it's hardly good value for money. Altogether, it's no surprise in my opinion that attendances figures have dwindled to the point where they're now regularly at their lowest levels since the stadium opened in 2008.

Colchester's problems are also apparent on the pitch too as they were comfortably beaten by the better team and looked poor in attack - a statement which can be backed up by the fact they've struggled for goals in the early weeks of the new season.

Despite getting a few attempts on target and having a few periods of promising pressure, they didn't force Crawley 'keeper Glenn Morris into a meaningful full-stretch save, or really difficult save, or anything which was actually that troublesome. Frank Nouble was punished harshly by the referee on more than one occasion by virtue of just being a big, bustling target man but they had nobody who made the runs that you'd expect an out-and-out regular goalscorer to make and it was all a bit too blunt and predictable. Freddie Sears offered not much to write home about despite having a reputation which suggests he should be one of the better players in the U's ranks.

Jack Payne got what proved to be the only goal early on for Crawley, though John Yems' team ought to have doubled that lead given some of the situations they found themselves in as the game wore on.

Having weathered an early storm during which Colchester had four corners inside the opening 10 minutes - the last of which was actually a woeful short-corner routine where the ball never even made into the box at the first attempt, the visitors then went ahead on 22 minutes. Will Ferry burst down the right and made Charlie Daniels look stupid by nut-megging him before squaring a pass for Payne who was unmarked and slotted low into the bottom corner.

The U's fans weren't happy as they watched their side toil in their attempts to build up a head of steam. Crawley looked comfortable and were much better at finding space and working the ball into good areas and both Nick Tsaroulla and Ferry went close with further chances before the half-time interval.

Now attacking towards their own fans, Colchester did 'up the ante' after the re-start yet on only one occasion did they put together a piercing move which penetrated the backline though Nouble's subsequent shot was easily kept out by Morris. The U's did enjoy other bits and pieces of pressure, especially in the closing stages when they were desperately chasing an equaliser, but never did they really give the impression that they were capable of showing quality - something which is partly testament to how well Crawley performed on the day.

The only thing the Red Devils didn't do for all their hard work was add a second goal which would have put the result beyond all doubt. Ashley Nadesan couldn't make the most in one attack whilst Tom Nichols was a nuisance all over the pitch before his ever-so-slow substitution to waste a few seconds. Nichols has almost re-invented himself as a player since his horrendous spell at Bristol Rovers and deserves huge credit for his contribution in this game - from linking things up to tracking back and helping the cause, it was a really positive individual performance. His replacement, Kwesi Appiah, could have scored with an opportunity during what seemed like a prolonged period of injury-time but the scoreline remained as it was.

Crawley deserved their victory and will undoubtedly finish above the U's in the league table based on this performance. Despite their perception as a small club with a low budget, they've got some good players at this moment in time - many of whom are capable of going on to play at a higher level, and would put to shame some better paid players elsewhere in League Two. John Yems is clearly getting the best out of them and their technical ability and overall play for far superior to that of their opponents who, I suspect, will breathe a sigh of relief when they've accumulated 50 points.

It's ironic that Max Watters - Crawley's goalscoring sensation from last season (and someone who has featured multiple times on this blog), scored his first goal for MK Dons yesterday as well. Had he played in this game there's every probability that he'd have got on the score-sheet.