Clarets ready for the cup tie at Wimbledon

Last updated : 11 December 2014 By Tony Scholes

It's the second time we've played them in this competition; the previous occasion it ended in a 4-3 win for the Clarets in the 1993/94 season. We'd already beaten Newcastle and Leeds but were beaten by a strong Arsenal team at home in the fourth round.

Captain Waqas Azam

AFC Wimbledon have been giving the game a big build up over the last few days, and even, on Tuesday, reminded us when the two first teams met back in 1975 in the FA Cup. They claimed that it brought back epic memories although epic is not exactly the word I would use.

Their captain Ian Cooke did admit that the poor state of the Turf Moor pitch played its part in their winning goal. He said: "When we looked at the pitch the day before the quality of the surface was not as good as we expected.

"It was a bit bobbly and as Dickie's (goalkeeper Dickie Guy) clearance went towards their defender I ran forward hoping he would miscontrol it. That's what happened and I managed to get a shot in at their goalkeeper Alan (they called him Ian) Stevenson, who saved it but Mick (Mahon) scored the rebound.

"I can remember a fantastic atmosphere at Turf Moor with 21,000 fans there and great celebrations in the changing rooms afterwards."

I don't think there will be 21,000 there tonight, but hopefully a few South East based Clarets will be able to get to Kingsmeadow for the game which kicks off a 7 p.m.

Who knows? We might just be embarking on another good run in this competition. It's three years ago this week that we embarked on our run to the semi-final with a 7-0 win at Boston in front of almost 500 spectators, on a night when Shay McCartan, now scoring goals for Accrington, was the star and Jason Gilchrist bagged a hat trick.

This year's players are already in London. They left Turf Moor yesterday on the team coach and are getting the five star treatment as coach Terry Pashley explained. He said: "The lads will realise when the trip has finished that this is how the first team get treated every time they go away.

"They have used the first team bus, stayed over in a nice hotel and have got everything the first team lads would have. It is just a little insight for them in hopefully what lies ahead for them, but they have got to realise too that they have to earn the right."

Lewis Norvock is one of two players out injured

Pash has taken the whole squad with him, including two who are currently out injured, one of whom is Lewis Norvock.  "I thought it would have been wrong not to involve everybody and to leave people behind, especially through no fault of their own, so we have brought two injured lads along who won't be featuring, plus three u16 boys who could be called upon. They are all here so they could all feel part of it instead of being left at home," Pash added.

That full squad is: Waqas Azam (captain), Andreas Bianga, Jamie Frost, Christian Hill, Brad Jackson, Ntumba Massanka, Brandon Wilson, Tony Aghayere, Jamal Crawford, Vashiko Dixon, Josh Dolling, Hamam El-Fitouri, Shaun Hobson, Khius Metz, Lewis Norvock, Andy Nugent, Aiden O'Neill, Connor King, Alex Richardson, Callum O'Neill.

We go into the game unfortunately on the back of three defeats and face a Wimbledon side who have already come through two rounds to reach this stage. They kicked it off with a 7-0 home win against Fakenham in the first round before winning 2-1 at Gillingham.

They, however, won last time out in the league, beating Cambridge 3-2 at home last Saturday. They are currently 10th in the South East Division of the Youth Alliance League. Cambridge and Gillingham are two of the teams below them.

They will be without two of their players. Captain Dan Gallagher is ruled out with injury while Ben Harrison is unavailable due to first team commitments.

They will select from: Billy Bishop, Will Mannion, Reece Batchelor, Dominic Bongo, Neset Bellikli, Alfie Egan, Jason Stripp, Seanan McKillop, Louie Cockle, Dan Ano, Reece Williams-Bowers, Ian Smith, Callum Wilson, Ryan Sweeney, Taylor Roles, Billy Frost, Ollie Haines, Egli Kaja, Dan Agyei.

Admission tonight is £5 for adults and £2 for concessions.