Wimbledon v Coventry 16/11/96 3.00Wimbledon (1) 2 Coventry (0) 2 FT Earle 45 Whelan 56 Gayle 54 Dublin 70 Wimbledon and Coventry clash at Selhurst Park with respective managers Joe Kinnear and Gordon Strachan calling for a big improvement on below-par Coca-Cola displays in midweek. Third-placed Wimbledon, who needed an injury-time equaliser and an extra-time winner to overcome second division Luton, are likely to bring back rested quartet Oyvind Leonhardsen, Vinnie Jones, Robbie Earle and Ben Thatcher as they eye a first win in three League outings. Third-bottom Coventry, beaten at home by second division Gillingham in midweek, will again stick with striker Noel Whelan, who was charged with drink-driving in the aftermath of an off-field bust-up with teammate Dion Dublin earlier this week. 
Strachan will also risk starting the match with striker Dion Dublin, who has been under treatment for a groin strain. Dublin played the last 20 minutes of the midweek cup tie against Gillingham and Strachan says: ``He feels happier about the injury now and I hope to include him from the start.'' Peter Ndlovu, who scored both goals in Coventry's 2-0 victory over Wimbledon last April, and defender David Burrows are also in the frame after recovering from injury. Ndlovu missed the cup tie through a kick on the knee in training and Burrows has been out for several weeks with a groin injury. 
Wimbledon: Sullivan, Cunningham, Kimble, Jones, Blackwell, Leonhardsen, Earle, Ekoku (Holdsworth, 85), Gayle, Perry, Ardley (Fear, 73). Subs not used: Reeves, Harford, Murphy. Booked: Blackwell, Fear. Coventry: Ogrizovic, Shaw, Burrows, Williams, Daish, Jess, Whelan, Dublin, McAllister, Salako, Ndlovu. Subs not used: Richardson, Filan, Isaias, Borrows, Boland. Attendance: 10,307. Referee: M Bodenham (Looe). |
