AFC Wimbledon vs Plymouth Argyle: League Two Play-Off Final Preview & Prediction

AFC Wimbledon will be looking to achieve their sixth promotion in just 14 years when they face Plymouth Argyle in the League Two play-off final at Wembley.

Since the Dons were formed in 2002 – after the original Wimbledon FC relocated to Milton Keynes – they have risen from the Combined Counties League to the Football League, and now stand on the cusp of reaching the third tier of English football in what will be their first competitive appearance at Wembley.

Neal Ardley’s side finished in the last play-off spot but come into this game in fine form – they won six of their last eight fixtures of the regulation season, before beating Accrington, who had only missed out on automatic promotion on goal difference, over the two legs in their play-off semi-final tie.

One of the most recognisable Wimbledon players is striker Adebayo Akinfenwa, who is known as the strongest player on the FIFA video game series, but the 34-year-old looks set to leave Kingsmeadow this summer regardless of the result on Monday, with the club not offering him a new deal following the expiry of his contract this summer.

Meanwhile, Plymouth will be the slight favourites coming into the final after spending the majority of the campaign in the top three, before eventually finishing fifth, four points outside of the automatic promotion places.

Argyle are looking to put an end to a five-year stay in League Two, and will be in confident mood having seen off Portsmouth in their semi-final tie, 3-2 on aggregate, thanks to Peter Hartley’s stoppage time winner at Home Park.

History certainly doesn’t favour the Devon outfit though – only one side that has finished fifth in the last six seasons has been promoted, while three teams have gone up having ended the campaign in seventh.

Team News:

Akinfenwa will be pushing for a start at Wembley after scoring off of the substitutes’ bench in the 2-2 draw at Accrington last time out, while Connor Smith and Jon Meades have both trained all week after missing the same game through injury.

For Argyle, top goalscorer Reuben Reid is likely to be on the bench despite being fully fit, Chelsea loanee Jordan Houghton is also available but Josh Simpson and Ryan Brunt will both be absent in the capital.

League Position: AFC Wimbledon – 7th (75 pts); Plymouth – 5th (81 pts)
Previous Meeting: Plymouth 1-2 AFC Wimbledon (April 9, 2016)
Form: AFC Wimbledon – WLDWWD; Plymouth -WLDWDW
Key Men: AFC Wimbledon – Lyle Taylor; Plymouth – Graham Carey
Shoot Says: AFC Wimbledon 1-2 Plymouth

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