AFC Wimbledon v Plymouth preview
Monday 31 August 2015 16:11, UK
AFC Wimbledon manager Neal Ardley will make changes to the team which beat Exeter 2-1 on Saturday when they host Plymouth in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
The manager has already expressed his determination to treat the competition seriously but also wants to give first-team opportunities to some of his fringe players, meaning recent substitutes Will Nightingale, Ade Azeez and Lyle Taylor are likely to start.
Plymouth won 2-0 at Wimbledon in League Two earlier this season, but Ardley said: "We will try and be strong, but we want to try and give players a chance. Though we want to find out certain things, we want to win every game and it is a competition we want to do well in.
"We want to do better than we did in the second half against Plymouth in the league. They will be strong too because you have to keep six players in [a Johnstone's Paint Trophy line-up] from your last team anyway."
Plymouth will again be without striker Reuben Reid for the trip to AFC Wimbledon in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
Reid, who has been linked with a move to Portsmouth, missed Saturday's win over Newport with a hamstring injury and has not travelled with the squad.
Josh Simpson (groin) will also miss out, while a thigh injury to Gregg Wylde is likely to restrict him to the bench despite a substitute appearance on Saturday.
Oscar Threlkeld, a recent arrival from Bolton, is expected to make his debut, although manager Derek Adams has hinted he will make minimal changes to a defence that has conceded just three goals this season.
