Football – England – League Two
Saturday 15th December 2012 – Kickoff: 1500hrs
21st placed AFC Wimbledon take on play-off incumbents Rotherham United on Saturday afternnon with The Wombles looking for their first home win since late October and overall they’ve had a pretty lean time of things in recent weeks with just one win in their last seven.
Recent losses to Southend United, Exeter City, Cheltenham Town and Gillingham suggest that they tend to struggle against the top half sides and in particular, those clubs situated in the top six or seven of which Rotherham United are one.
Wimbledon have won just one of their last nine home matches as well which doesn’t help their cause either with a total of just five points picked up courtesy of a win over second from bottom Bristol Rovers along with draws against Dagenham & Redbridge and third from bottom Aldershot Town.
AFC Wimbledon’s home record therefore doesn’t exactly strike fear into visiting clubs’ hearts right now at 2-2-6 10/16 and they’ve kept just two clean sheets in their last thirteen home matches which provides another opportunity for Rotherham today. Striker Byron Harrison (7 goals) is Wimbledon’s highest goalscorer and aside from former Oxford United striker Jack Midson (4 goals, 1 assist) there appears to be little else in terms of creativity or goalscoring.
Visitors Rotherham United currently occupy fifth place just four points behind Cheltenham Town and despite some mixed results lately they’ve always done enough so far to maintain their challenge for at least a play-off place; recent defeats against Wycombe Wanderers and Gillingham at home have been outweighed by wins over Cheltenham Town, Exeter City and Accrington Stanley which interests me as the latter two results were achieved away from home.
On the road, Rotherham United have an away record of 3-4-3 11/16 and they’ve lost just once in their last seven matches on their travels. Away wins at Aldershot, Exeter and Accrington have kept up the pace with the top six along with points at Barnet, York City and Fleetwood Town.
Millers’ striker Daniel Nardiello (10 goals, 2 assists) leads Rotherham’s goaslcoring charts and he has players such as Ben Pringle (4 goals, 4 assists), Michael O’Connor (4 goals, 1 assist) and Alex Revell (3 goals, 1 assist) in support and they look the more likely to make things happen today.
Wimbledon’s home form has been questionable in recent weeks while Rotherham just seem to do enough to get results when they need them and with Southend, Exeter and Fleetwood Town breathing down their necks, they’ll need all the points today. I’ll go for a 2-1 away win here but give the quarter ball just in case.
Pick: Rotherham United AH-0.25 @ 1.76 Pinnacle
