AFC Wimbledon v Burton Albion
TEAM NEWS: BURTON Albion were dealt a blow before the trip to AFC Wimbledon, with on-loan Derby County goalkeeper Adam Legzdins ruled out by an injury picked up in training.
Ross Atkins, therefore, returned to the side, while the back four remained unchanged from Tuesday night’s 1-0 home defeat by Northampton Town.
In midfield, new loan signing Seanan Clucas was handed an immediate debut alongside Adam Bolder, who returned following a two-match suspension.
Jacques Maghoma moved to the left wing, with Lionel Ainsworth operating on the right, with Cleveland Taylor and Jack Dyer the men to drop out of the starting line-up.
Justin Richards and Greg Pearson started up front.
DONS (4-4-2)-: Brown; Hatton, Mitchel-King, Balkestein, Gwillim (capt); L Moore, Moncur, S Moore, Knott, Midson; subs: Johnson, Turner, Harrison, Kiernan, Wellard.
BREWERS (4-4-2): Atkins; Corbett, James (capt), Austin, Webster; Ainsworth, Bolder, Clucas, Maghoma; Richards, Pearson; subs: Ada, Palmer, Phillips, Yussuf, Taylor.
HALF-TIME: The Brewers went close after just 28 seconds when Bolder picked the ball up 25 yards out and fired in a shot which skimmed off the top of the crossbar.
Almost immediately at the other end, Dons striker Jack Midson was played into the area to the right of goal and flashed a shot wide of the far post.
The hosts went in front on nine minutes when midfielder George Moncur’s pass from the left found Luke Moore in acres of space inside the penalty area to the right of goal and, after taking a touch, he fired low into the far corner past Atkins.
Less than a minute later, Pearson almost levelled, but his shot from just inside the area was beaten away by Dons keeper Seb Brown.
It was almost 2-0 on 17 minutes as striker Jack Midson played a one-two with Luke Moore, but his shot was turned around his near post by Atkins.
Albion were creating little, but one chance came on 40 minutes as Lionel Ainsworth crossed from the right, but Maghoma’s header was wide of the near post.
In stoppage time, left winger Billy Knott fired in a shot from 20 yards which Atkins did well to save.
AFC WIMBLEDON 1, BURTON ALBION 0
FULL TIME: Albion made their first change on 58 minutes, with Jimmy Phillips replacing Ainsworth.
However, it was nearly 2-0 two minutes later as Moncur broke inside from the right and fired in a shot which Atkins did well to tip around the post.
A second Albion change came on 64 minutes, with Chris Palmer on for Clucas.
However, it was 2-0 on 74 minutes as substitute Byron Harrison went racing down the right.
His cross found Midson in space at the far post and although Atkins saved his effort, Moncur volleyed home the rebound from just to the right of goal.
Caretaker boss Gary Rowett made his final change on 78 minutes, with Adi Yussuf on for Pearson.
However, less than a minute later it could have been 3-0 as Midson raced onto a ball in the left channel and fired just wide of the far post.
A rare Albion chance came on 88 minutes when Palmer’s far-post corner was met by Ryan Austin, but Brown saved low down.
The hosts put the icing on the cake in stoppage time as Atkins failed to gather a corner from the left and Harrison headed home.
There was yet more woe for Albion as, two minutes later, Sammy Moore ran onto a pass and lobbed Atkins.
AFC WIMBLEDON 4, BURTON ALBION 0
