Now for older readers of this post, it might well evoke memories of the day at Wembley when top coin John Motsons phrase

The crazy gang have beaten the Culture Club

 

Well it might not be the culture club tonight, but it is the Posh of Peterborough United who visit the Cherry Red Records Stadium, to play AFC Wimbledon in a EFL league 1 Fixture,  a resurgent AFC Wimbledon it must be said, who have not experienced the season they were hoping for and are currently showing how strong they are by propping up the rest of League 1

Since the appointment of Wally Downes in December last year, what was looking an increasingly lost cause, given AFC Wimbledon’s league posistion then and number of points adrift, the team has become galvanised and more solid defensively, moving away from a 4-4-2 to a 3-5-2 formation, which is a formation some say is better suited and more flexible for football needs

One look at the current League One table shows, AFC Wimbledon, still bottom of the league, with 33 points and a minus 23 goal difference, while Peterborough United lie 7th with 55 points and a goal difference of plus 6

So given that scenario, the betsters might well be saying that the odds favour Peterborough, who have recently had a managerial change, with Darren Ferguson taking charge from Steve Evans. Darren Ferguson’s teams are usually well organised, efficient and can be hard to break down

But when you compare the current form of both teams, then a very different story emerges

AFC Wimbledon are 7th, with a plus 1 Goal difference and 10 points from a possible 18

Peterborough United are 17th with a minus 3 goal difference and 6 points.

The team news going into tonight’s match is that AFC Wimbledon, have a fully fit squad, which will bear some resemblance to the last match against Doncaster, to choose from, as well as potential returnees from injury in the shape of Kwesi Appiah ( who has also earned a call up to Ghana’s squad for the Africa cup of nations) Dylan Connolly and quite possibly the experienced Rod McDonald

Wally Downe’s has stressed before he is loath to change a winning team unless he has to, so these guys will be useful additions to have on the bench, if required

Peterborough could hand a recall to striker Ivan Toney, who was available after suspension, but only made the bench for their previous match, but they are without, both Siriki Dembele and Josh Knight who are injured.

The stats also make further interesting reading when you consider

Each of the two meetings between AFC Wimbledon and Peterborough at Kingsmeadow have ended level – drawing 2-2 last season & while that result wouldn’t be a disaster for AFC Wimbledon, it would be a set back for sure as a win puts them right back in the mix to stay up

Peterborough are unbeaten in their last four games against Wimbledon (W1 D3) since a 1-0 loss at home in October 2016.

AFC Wimbledon boss Wally Downes, while in charge of Brentford,  has never beaten Peterborough  losing three and drawing two of five meetings in all competitions between September 2002 and January 2004.

However Wimbledon are a unique history making club, with excellent firsts, so that record could well change tonight

Perhaps the most interesting stat of all is this though Under Darren Ferguson, Peterborough have lost eight of their last nine matches played on a Tuesday in all competitions, drawing the other 2-2 with Bristol Rovers in January.

Either way, it promises to be a good match, which kicks off at 7.45pm