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TranmereTranmere Rovers3WimbledonAFC Wimbledon2

Tranmere Rovers 3-2 AFC Wimbledon

Last updated on .From the section League Twocomments63

AFC Wimbledon's slim hopes of claiming a League Two play-off spot came to an end with a defeat by Tranmere at Prenton Park.

The first genuine chance of the match came for the home side in the 25th minute when Harvey Saunders' effort from six yards was pushed wide by Dons goalkeeper Nik Tzanev.

But Saunders made amends in the 35th minute as he took full advantage of a defensive lapse before calmly slotting the ball just inside the far post.

Rovers made it two on the stroke of half-time when Rob Apter curled a beautiful left-footed effort past Tzanev from 12 yards.

The Wombles reduced the deficit 10 minutes after the restart when substitute Josh Kelly fired home his first for the club from the edge of the area.

But the away side's task was made all the more difficult when John-Joe O'Toole received a straight red card for a high tackle on Chris Merrie.

And Tranmere took full advantage with 20 minutes left on the clock when Connor Jennings fired the ball home from close range.

Kelly grabbed a consolation for the visitors deep into stoppage time but the damage had already been done.

Report supplied by PA Media.

Line-ups

Tranmere

Formation 4-4-2

  • 1McGee
  • 2O'Connor
  • 15Hockenhull
  • 30Belehouan
  • 26Norris
  • 25ApterSubstituted forTaylorat 82'minutes
  • 8Hendry
  • 16MerrieSubstituted forKanéat 90+3'minutes
  • 19SaundersSubstituted forHawkesat 83'minutes
  • 18Jennings
  • 9NorrisSubstituted forDennisat 83'minutes

Substitutes

  • 11Hawkes
  • 13Murphy
  • 14Dennis
  • 20Taylor
  • 23McAlear
  • 24Pike
  • 32Kané

Wimbledon

Formation 4-3-2-1

  • 1Tzanev
  • 5Balmer
  • 31LewisBooked at 45mins
  • 6Johnson
  • 26Currie
  • 4Reeves
  • 19O'TooleBooked at 59mins
  • 17McLeanSubstituted forNeufvilleat 8'minutesSubstituted forSasuat 75'minutes
  • 38GordonSubstituted forKellyat 45'minutes
  • 24Curtis
  • 18Chaaban

Substitutes

  • 3Brown
  • 9Davison
  • 10Kelly
  • 11Neufville
  • 13Foulkes
  • 16Ball
  • 29Sasu
Referee:
David Rock
Attendance:
6,456

Match Stats

Home TeamTranmereAway TeamWimbledon
Possession
Home51%
Away49%
Shots
Home20
Away14
Shots on Target
Home6
Away4
Corners
Home11
Away3
Fouls
Home5
Away15

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Tranmere Rovers 3, AFC Wimbledon 2.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Tranmere Rovers 3, AFC Wimbledon 2.

  3. Post update

    Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  4. Post update

    Delay in match because of an injury Jean Belehouan (Tranmere Rovers).

  5. Goal!

    Goal! Tranmere Rovers 3, AFC Wimbledon 2. Josh Kelly (AFC Wimbledon) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Omar Bugiel.

  6. Post update

    Attempt missed. Omar Bugiel (AFC Wimbledon) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Kofi Balmer.

  7. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Kristian Dennis (Tranmere Rovers) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.

  8. Substitution

    Substitution, Tranmere Rovers. Ousmane Kané replaces Chris Merrie.

  9. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Jack Currie (AFC Wimbledon) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jake Reeves.

  10. Post update

    Chris Merrie (Tranmere Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  11. Post update

    Dangerous play by Ronan Curtis (AFC Wimbledon).

  12. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Joe Lewis (AFC Wimbledon) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Omar Bugiel.

  13. Post update

    Foul by James Norris (Tranmere Rovers).

  14. Post update

    Aron Sasu (AFC Wimbledon) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  15. Post update

    Attempt missed. Kristian Dennis (Tranmere Rovers) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Lee O'Connor.

  16. Post update

    Offside, Tranmere Rovers. Kristian Dennis is caught offside.

  17. Substitution

    Substitution, Tranmere Rovers. Josh Hawkes replaces Harvey Saunders.

  18. Substitution

    Substitution, Tranmere Rovers. Kristian Dennis replaces Luke Norris.

  19. Substitution

    Substitution, Tranmere Rovers. Samuel Taylor replaces Rob Apter.

  20. Post update

    Attempt missed. Ben Hockenhull (Tranmere Rovers) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Regan Hendry with a cross following a corner.

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63 comments

  • Comment posted by AHardy90, at 17:09 20 Apr

    Have a Happy Retirement to my Uncle after 30 years of being Tranmere Rovers's Mascot Rover the Dog

    • Reply posted by Lord Cowshed, at 18:00 20 Apr

      Lord Cowshed replied:
      Paul Lewis, the Rover the Dog outfit has your name on it.

  • Comment posted by djk, at 15:13 20 Apr

    Great to see both sets of fans join in with 'stand up if you hotel the FA'

    • Reply posted by Andrew Platt, at 15:26 20 Apr

      Andrew Platt replied:
      Hotel?

  • Comment posted by The Spin Doctor, at 16:19 20 Apr

    Early in the 2nd half as I write this, but another poor, poor outing for AFCW is on the cards. Seems they have no drive and no desire in them, just lob the ball up the field and hope for the best. Not the way to win games.
    As for Tranmere, playing well and proving there is a team in Merseyside that knows how to score goals.

  • Comment posted by Samsung Frame, at 17:33 20 Apr

    Ahh so close but need to build on what was good this season for next. And to all the false dons up the road in MK good luck in the play offs… shame your claims couldn’t be backed up by your club. Where was your tribute for RIP Joe Kinnear?

    • Reply posted by mk dons 1988 fa cup winners, at 19:19 20 Apr

      mk dons 1988 fa cup winners replied:
      i still treasure my photo with him outside the mk ground

  • Comment posted by The Spin Doctor, at 17:14 20 Apr

    Nice fightback by AFCW but too little, too late.

    • Reply posted by dave61, at 19:49 20 Apr

      dave61 replied:
      What fightback?

  • Comment posted by kopite, at 15:25 20 Apr

    Come on the super whites.

    • Reply posted by The Spin Doctor, at 16:23 20 Apr

      The Spin Doctor replied:
      Merseyside's 'Super Reds' and 'Super Blues' have been all walked over in recent weeks and months, so it is left up to the 'Super Whites' to provide some cheer in Merseyside.

  • Comment posted by Lord Cowshed, at 17:59 20 Apr

    If I was a Wimbledon supporter I would be very annoyed, their players seemed to be focussed on the beach. Tranmere weren’t much better, but put away their early chances, then tried to gift Wimbledon the draw. One more week with a trip to Accrington, but looking forward to us getting rid of the dead wood in the summer.

    • Reply posted by Andrew, at 18:15 20 Apr

      Andrew replied:
      Here, here! The end of this torrid season can’t come quickly enough.

  • Comment posted by Geoffrey McCann, at 23:05 20 Apr

    Supporting swa since 1959, seen plenty of ups and downs , cup runs etc , dont let the FA take it all away from all EFL clubs like us

  • Comment posted by inflatablebone, at 21:50 20 Apr

    What was going on with Wimbledon's no 31's shorts.....dear me, needs to get a couple sizes bigger, almost had to avert my eyes!

  • Comment posted by Phil, at 16:06 20 Apr

    Wimbledon are so dirty. Big lumps that hold, push and go into the man long after the ball has gone. No idea of playing football, lump it forward and hope.

    • Reply posted by Stu Gatzo, at 16:20 20 Apr

      Stu Gatzo replied:
      Dry your eyes Phil, you are winning. Unfortunately this is how our useless manager prefers to play i.e. hit & hope. We’ve got super Johnie Jackson!!!!!

  • Comment posted by Ann, at 21:39 20 Apr

    If only Tranmere could have shown the same determination at the beginning of the season. Mind you, think they have the right manager now.

  • Comment posted by El Shippo, at 20:08 20 Apr

    Tranmere have shown that they can pull out the stops when faced with dire situations and when facing opposition from higher up the table. Adding the ability to beat the teams around and below them should make them a force with which to be reckoned next season. Encouraging Adkins and backing him with a few good signings will bring me hope. But it's the hope that kills you in the end!

  • Comment posted by Wimbledon 1889 1963 1988 2002, at 16:22 20 Apr

    It was fun while it lasted

    (And we've just scored!)

    Dons are going up ole ole 🤣

    • Reply posted by mk dons 1988 fa cup winners, at 19:20 20 Apr

      mk dons 1988 fa cup winners replied:
      maths not your strong point, mind ya nor is your loyalty to 1 club

  • Comment posted by Paul, at 06:59 21 Apr

    Just happy Nigel Adkins was brought in to save our season and give us some excitement. Genuinely think he will reshuffle, get in a good pre season and take us up.

  • Comment posted by beatles63, at 17:15 20 Apr

    A very strange season for Rovers. Good in parts but so inconsistent. Jury out on Adkins but he deserves one more season.

    • Reply posted by The Spin Doctor, at 17:21 20 Apr

      The Spin Doctor replied:
      Give Adkins until Christmas, if no significant improvement by then make the change.

  • Comment posted by Michael Mitchell, at 18:43 21 Apr

    Adkins is one of the best managers we have had. He has a plan and knows how to lead by being positive. Next season will see Tranmere win promotion. Just need some extra players as part of team . I am thinking 20 players .

  • Comment posted by Dodgy Geezer, at 07:33 21 Apr

    Must be strange being a Wimbledon - any upset at losing seems to still be somewhat quadrupled when MK Dons win on the same day ?

    Still they beat MK Dons at their new home this season with a late, late winner so that will more than satisfy the majority of them.

    Get ready for next season v MK Dons too, their defence is way too fragile to do anything in the play-off's

  • Comment posted by mk dons 1988 fa cup winners, at 19:17 20 Apr

    the mathematics was never in doubt hahahahahahahahaha what a club, fans that love the weather to be fair, goodnight

    • Reply posted by Stu Gatzo, at 20:21 20 Apr

      Stu Gatzo replied:
      Oh dear. Go watch the franchise and stop obsessing! Poor thing.

  • Comment posted by None_Set, at 18:05 20 Apr

    Love it when they lose

    Faster they drop out if the leagues the better

    • Reply posted by DorkingDad, at 19:14 20 Apr

      DorkingDad replied:
      Why?

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Stockport452711795464992
2Mansfield452413889464385
3Wrexham4525101087513685
4MK Dons452381479641577
5Crewe451913136864470
6Barrow441814126053768
7Crawley45207187167467
8Doncaster44207176765267
9Walsall451811166868065
10Bradford441712155557-263
11Gillingham45189184455-1163
12Wimbledon451614155950962
13Harrogate451711175867-962
14Notts County45187208985461
15Tranmere45176226666057
16Morecambe45179196478-1457
17Newport45167226172-1155
18Accrington45159215970-1154
19Swindon451411207480-653
20Salford451311216480-1650
21Grimsby451116185772-1549
22Colchester441111225775-1844
23Sutton United45914225580-2541
24Forest Green45109264378-3539
View full League Two table

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