The English domestic season draws to a close at Wembley Stadium on Monday when AFC Wimbledon and Plymouth Argyle meet in the League 2 Playoff final with the winners being rewarded for 49 matches of hard work and toil with promotion to League 1. The losers will be left to reflect on what might have been.
AFC Wimbledon
The side who sneaked into the final playoff spot have seen off the team who finished one off the automatic spots over two legs as seems to happen so many times these days. Wimbledon’s two legged success came against Accrington.
Their success was largely based on the use of their bench with substitutes accounting for two of the three goals they scored in that tie while when the Dons really needed him top scorer Lyle Taylor stepped up and secured them a place at Wembley.
Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth also came through 3-2 in their semi-final against Portsmouth. They left it very late to make it through with a slightly fortunate goal but now their players and their hordes of fans will head up to the capital full of belief that this is their time.
Plymouth have been pretty good on the road this season so it might well suit them that they have to travel for this match. They are solid defensively but the interesting thing will be whether they have it in them to come back should they fall behind at any stage.
Team news
Neal Ardley has no fresh injury worries from the semi-final win. He will consider whether to start with Adebayo Akinfenwa who it appears is being released by the club after this match. I’m sure he will want to go out with a parting shot to the club.
Plymouth will be boosted by the news that Reuben Reid is fully fit but with the form of Jamille Matt, Reid might have to make do with a spot on the bench. Jordan Houghton missed the semi-finals but he is fit however Ryan Brunt and Josh Simpson both miss out.
Previous Meetings
The two sides have already met three times this season, twice in the league and once in the JPT. The first thing to notice is that the away side won all three matches so that shows that both might be more confident having to travel than if they were at home with the pressure and anxiety coming from the terraces.
Plymouth were the victors in the first two fixtures between the two this season. They won 2-0 at Kingsmeadow in the league on the opening day and then they edged out the Dons 3-2 in the JPT. AFC Wimbledon won 2-1 at Home Park last month in what could be the most relevant form guide.
Betting
I’ve been taking on Plymouth throughout the playoffs and it hasn’t had the desired effect it has to be said. My gut instinct is that they are there to be taken on again but I’m a little shy to do it again I have to say.
Luckily there is another bet which catches my eye much more which doesn’t involve taking either side on so I will go with that instead and that is on both teams to score which I’m a little surprised you can get almost even money on.
There are two reasons I like both teams to score here. Firstly the big wide open expanses of this Wembley pitch will assist the forward players more than the defenders and also both sides have real game changers off the bench should they trail in the second half.
Plymouth’s best player in recent seasons has been Reuben Reid and he is set to start on the bench here while Adebayo Akinfenwa twice showed his worth off the bench in the semi-final so both sides have the option to change up and force the game should they need to.
I wouldn’t be surprised if more than 90 minutes are required to determine who goes up from this match but I would be surprised if both sides don’t find the back of the net before any extra time is played.
Tips
Back Both teams to score for a 4/10 stake at 1.98 with Unibet
Back it here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2016
