STAR PREVIEW: AFC Wimbledon v West Ham

AFC Wimbledon and West Ham have already met in cup competition this season and the Hammers can win once again, this time in the FA Cup fourth round.

Manuel Pellegrini’s men actually had to survive a scare in that EFL Cup tie, being behind with less than half an hour to go, Issa Diop made it 1-1 before Angelo Ogbonna put the Hammers in front and then Javier Hernandez sealed the win.

That tie came with West Ham in a torrid period of early season form as new signings struggled to fit in and the atmosphere around the club was clearly affecting the players at home and away – indeed the 3-1 win was the first under the tenure of Manuel Pellegrini. Things are easier now, given that they are tenth in the Premier League despite a 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth last Saturday, and they should be well set to progress through cup competition.

Things are harder for Wimbledon, who have seen Wally Downes replace Neal Ardley, although not to any great effect as they are without a win in five league games. That said, Downes, a former member of Wimbledon’s Crazy Gang, has achieved one highlight already, to make it this far.

A 3-2 defeat of Fleetwood Town is likely to be a level below what’s needed to beat the Hammers, however, who played a strong side when beating Birmingham 2-0 in the third round. Issa Diop, Angelo Ogbonna, Declan Rice, Pedro Obiang and Marko Arnautovic all retained their places from the midweek Premier League draw with Brighton before that game with Mark Noble and Pablo Zabaleta the only senior players rested there.

AFC Wimbledon v West Ham
FA Cup 4th Round
19:45 BT Sport 2 / BT Sport 4K UHD

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD
(Maximum 10 matches)
AUG 2018 CARABAO CUP AFC Wimbledon 1-3 West Ham

Changes might be coming once again but the Hammers have already shown that they have the depth to handle this trip earlier and they should be too good, with goals in the equation too.

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