SCENE SETTER
John Yems’ Reds will travel to the newly built Plough Lane to take on League One AFC Wimbledon who progressed to the second round by defeating Barrow on penalties last night, following a 0-0 tie in normal time.
FORM GUIDE
The Reds travelled to Devon to take on National League leaders Torquay United in the first round of the Emirates FA Cup, in a game that would turn out to be one of the greatest ties of all time.
Goals from Aaron Nemane and Ben Whitfield put the hosts 2-0 up before the half-hour mark, in a poor start to the game from Crawley. But after the break, following another twenty-minute stoppage, Nichols slammed in from the spot before eighteen minutes of added time were indicated.
Max Watters was the man to clinch an equaliser in the 104th minute of normal time before Josh Umerah put the hosts ahead on 108 minutes, with a goal that silenced the Reds. However, that Crawley spirit was again present as we raced down the other end with silky transitions before the ball was squared across to the back post, finding Tunnicliffe who made it 3-3 right before the whistle, on 90+21 minutes.
The game again appeared to be over as Asa Hall scored two from the spot in the first-half of extra-time, but Tom Nichols was quick to respond a minute later before completing his hat-trick, heading in a marvellous Tarryn Allarakhia cross.
Reds had 5 minutes to find an incredible winner and it was found through Ashley Nadesan who brought down a delightful pass from Player of the Round, Tom Nichols, before drilling under the diving body of Lucas to complete a 6-5 victory in an all-time classic.
The Reds are winless in their last two league games but will be determined to get back to winning ways against tough opposition on Sunday.
AFC Wimbledon made the long trip to Barrow yesterday in the delayed first round tie that left Reds fans eager to find out our second round opposition days before the clash.
The game finished goalless after 120 minutes of action and it was the Dons who ran out winners on penalties, scoring four in a row to knock the League Two side out at the death.
Wimbledon were on a five-game unbeaten run in League One before Saturday’s defeat against Steve Evans’ Gillingham, a match in which the Dons lost out 2-1 at Priestfield Stadium, as Ben Heneghan scored in the first half.
THE HISTORY
Reds fans will remember some fierce clashes between the sides in recent history; in twelve past meetings, both teams have scored in eleven, with the most recent game finishing 1-0 to the Dons, a clash where George Francomb and Dannie Bulman played in midfield for the opposition, before signing for the Reds.
In three match-ups between 2011-12, the Reds won 3-1, 3-2, 2-5 and 4-1, as we faced the Dons in a League Cup qualification battle as well as in the league.
THE OPPOSITION
Ex-Red Ollie Palmer is now a Don after his move from the Reds in the summer. Ollie has yet to score for the League One side in four substitute appearances and one start, in which he played 60 minutes against Barrow last night.
Joe Pigott is likely to start for the home side in attack. The striker has 6 goals in 13 league appearances so far this season, after scoring 22 in the league between the previous two campaigns.
Alex Woodyard has also been an integral player for the Dons this season, after spending last season at Peterborough and Tranmere Rovers. Only missing one league game this season, Woodyard usually plays in a midfield three alongside the likes of Anthony Hartigan and Callum Reilly.
TEAM NEWS
Tom McGill, Reece Grego-Cox and David Sesay are unavailable for tomorrow’s game.
HOW THEY BET*
AFC Wimbledon - 6/5
Draw - 23/10
Crawley Town - 21/10
COVERAGE
The match will be streamed live on BBC digital services
