Manuel Pellegrini’s Hammers will be looking to avoid a potential giant-killing at the hands of Wally Downes’ Wombles in the fourth round of the FA Cup
Having downed them once already in knockout football this season, West Ham face AFC Wimbledon for the second time this campaign as they look to secure a place in the last 16 of the FA Cup.
Manuel Pellegrini’s Hammers dismissed the Wombles, then under Neal Ardley, in the Carabao Cup in late August, with Issa Diop, Angelo Ogbonna and Javier Hernandez all netting in a 3-1 victory at Kingsmeadow.
Since then, the League One outfit have parted ways with their manager and replaced him with Wally Downes, though they have not won in five.
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The visitors should triumph over their third tier hosts with ease on paper – but the magic of the cup, as they say, works in mysterious ways.
| Game | AFC Wimbledon vs West Ham |
| Date | Saturday, January 26 |
| Time | 7:45pm GMT / 2:45pm ET |
In the US the game will not be broadcast live but can be streamed on ESPN+.
| US TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| N/A | ESPN+ |
In the United Kingdom (UK), the game can be watched live on BT Sports 2 and streamed on the BT Sports Live app.
| UK TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| BT Sports 2 | BT Sports Live |
| Position | AFC Wimbledon players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Ramsdale, McDonnell |
| Defenders | Watson, Nightingale, Oshilaja, Thomas, McDonald, Sibbick, Garratt |
| Midfielders | Pinnock, Kalambayi, Seddon, Trotter, Soares, Wordsworth, Hartigan, Wagstaff, Connolly |
| Forwards | Barcham, Pigott, Jervis, Kaja, Appiah, Hanson |
AFC Wimbledon starting XI: Ramsdale, Watson, Thomas, Oshilaja, McDonald, Nightingale, Wordsworth, Connolly, Pinnock, Appiah, Wagstaff..
| Position | West Ham players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Fabianski, Adrian, Trott |
| Defenders | Zabaleta, Diop, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Masuaku, Fredericks |
| Midfielders | Noble, Rice, Antonio, Nasri, Anderson, Obiang, Coventry, Holland |
| Forwards | Arnautovic, Carroll, Hernandez, Perez, Diangana, Snodgrass, Silva |
West Ham starting XI: Adrian, Antonio, Diop, Ogbonna, Masuaku, Noble, Obiang, Snodgrass, Diangana, Hernandez, Carroll.
West Ham are favourites, priced at odds of 2/5 to win, according to bet 365. Wimbledon are at odds of 7/1 while a draw is 17/4.
Click here to see all of bet 365’s offers for the game, including goalscoring markets, correct score predictions and more.
It’s not too commonplace for two sides from different divisions to meet twice over the course of a season – but that’s the fate that has befallen West Ham as they travel to third-tier AFC Wimbledon for the second time this campaign.
The Hammers travel to Kingsmeadow looking to emulate their victory last August when they knocked the Wombles out of the Carabao Cup with a 3-1 victory.
They will, however, make their trip in the midst of a protracted off-field saga surrounding the future of star Marko Arnautovic, one that has likely provided an unwelcome distraction for Manuel Pellegrini’s side.
The Austria international has been reportedly dissatisfied with his stay at London Stadium and only a few weeks ago looked set for a big money move to the Chinese Super League.
However, that deal fell through, leaving the striker in limbo after Pellegrini excised him from his matchday squad for his side’s last game against Bournemouth, playing Andy Carroll up front instead.
Wally Downes’ hosts meanwhile are looking for their first win since 2018 – and Wimbledon fans will harbour dreams of a legendary Wembley day in 1988 when their side takes to the pitch.
Back then, over thirty years ago, Wimbledon – now MK Dons – delivered a shock against red-hot favourites Liverpool to lift the FA Cup.
Downes need point no further as inspiration for his side if they are to repeat some giant-killing heroics on Saturday.