EFL Cup | Third Round

Sep 24, 2024 at 7.45pm UK

Kingsmeadow

AFC Wimbledon vs Newcastle

Match preview

Not the first team to be haunted by Fulham's former Arsenal proteges - and probably not the last - Newcastle were left to lament an atrocious beginning to Saturday's trip to Craven Cottage, where Raul Jimenez and Emile Smith Rowe quickly propelled the Cottagers into a two-goal advantage.

Another slick finish from Harvey Barnes right at the start of the second half offered Eddie Howe's men a small sliver of hope, which was then crushed when Fabian Schar spurned a golden chance from a Bernd Leno howler and Reiss Nelson capitalised on a rare Bruno Guimaraes blunder.

Missing the chance to move to the Premier League summit on account of their Fulham failure, Newcastle now hit the road again for a far more winnable fixture, although they made hard work of their penalty shootout success over Nottingham Forest in EFL Cup round two.

Nearing the 70-year mark since their last major trophy - triumphing in the 1954-55 FA Cup - collecting a long-awaited piece of silverware is surely the next step in Newcastle's post-takeover transformation, and they have made it past the third round of the EFL Cup in each of the last two seasons.

Barnes's consolation at Craven Cottage at least extended Newcastle's streak of scoring in all of their games so far this season, but Howe's men are also without a clean sheet in five, offering a crumb of encouragement to their in-form League Two hosts.

As is the case with their more distinguished visitors, Wimbledon also booked their ticket to the EFL Cup third round by beating Premier League opposition on penalties, conjuring up one of the shocks of the second round by eliminating Ipswich Town.

Johnnie Jackson's outfit were moments away from securing a remarkable 2-1 win in normal time, but Conor Chaplin's 86th-minute equaliser for Ipswich just delayed the Tractor Boys's exit, as Owen Goodman lived up to his surname in goal during the 12-yard shootout, stopping Omari Hutchinson and Jack Taylor's penalties.

Goodman's heroic feats appear to have rubbed off onto his defenders, as Wimbledon host Newcastle having kept three straight clean sheets in League Two, edging out Fleetwood Town 1-0 and crushing MK Dons 3-0 in a grudge match before the weekend's goalless draw with Bradford.

Already making an early play for League One promotion, Jackson's team reside in fifth place in the League Two table and have strung together a six-game unbeaten run in all tournaments - winning five of them - while also prevailing in each of their last seven competitive matches at Plough Lane.

Such a streak means that Wimbledon are certainly not to be taken lightly by their revered foes, and by sending Ipswich packing, the hosts made the third round of the EFL Cup for the first time in their short-lived history - a maiden fourth-round appearance may prove much harder to come by, though.

Injuries and Suspensions

Newcastle

4 Sven Botman

6 Jammal Lascelles

67 Lewis Miley

9 Callum Wilson

AFC Wimbledon

No sidelined players

Possible starting lineups for both sides

Newcastle(4-3-3)

22Pope(GK)

2Trippier(DR)

17Krafth(DC)

33Burn(DC)

20Hall(DL)

7Joelinton(MC)

8Tonali(MC)

28Willock(MC)

24Almirón(FWR)

14Isak(FW)

11Barnes(FWL)

AFC Wimbledon（3-5-2）

1Goodman(GK)

33Ogundere(DC)

31Lewis(DC)

6Johnson(DC)

2Biler(DMR)

7Tilley(DML)

16Ball(MC)

4Reeves(MC)

8Maycock(MC)

9Bugiel(FW)

14Stevens(FW)