Our prediction for this League 2 match:
Hartlepool and AFC Wimbledon square off against each other at Victoria Park in a highly-anticipated League Two game. The Pools suffered a heavy 4-0 loss to Walsall in their opener, meaning that they are low on spirits ahead of Matchday 2. Both Hamilton and Sterry are pushing for a start as head coach Paul Hartley should opt to make changes to the team that suffered the loss at the weekend.
The Dons, on the other hand, kicked off the new League Two campaign with a 2-0 win over Gillingham. AFC Wimbledon aim to give fans yet another reason for celebration, and seeing that Johnnie Jackson can count on key players for Saturday’s clash, away win should definitely be considered. In their last meeting at the venue Hartlepool defeated AFC Wimbledon 1-0, meaning that the visitors are hungry for revenge.
Highlighted Player (Nikola Tzanev):
Nikola Tzanev is a New Zealand goalkeeper who started his youth career at Crystal Palace. Tzanev then moved to Brentford and he continued wearing the red and white shirt at senior level. After ending his loan spell with Lewes, the 195-cm-tall shoot-stopper moved to AFC Wimbledon in 2017.
During the 2018/2019 campaign he played for Potters Bar Town as a loan player, but at the end of the season he returned to AFC Wimbledon. He made his League One debut with the Dons on August 3, 2019 in a 2-1 loss to Rotherham United. Speaking of his international career, Nik Tzanev made his New Zealand debut in a 1-0 win over Chinese Taipei on June 5, 2018.
The Dons goalkeeper has 3 caps for the New Zealand U20 team as well. Nikola Tzanev was born in Wellington on December 23, 1996 and his preferred foot is right.
Highlighted Team (AFC Wimbledon):
Based in Kingston upon Thames, AFC Wimbledon are a professional football club that compete in the third tier of English football, commonly known as the League One. AFC Wimbledon were formed by former Wimbledon FC supporters in 2002 following the FA decision to allow the club to relocate to Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, only 90 kilometers north of Wimbledon.
The Dons welcome their rivals at Kingsmeadow, the stadium with the capacity of 4,850. AFC Wimbledon play their home games in blue shirts and blue shorts, whilst the colour of their away kit is yellow. The Dons won the Lanes Cup on two occasions (2007/2008, 2011/2012), Supporters Direct Cup three times (2002/2003, 2005/2006, 2009/2010), while lifting the Surrey Seniors Cup in the 2004/2005 season.
Popular British actor Vinnie Jones is considered one of the most famous Wimbledon players, scoring 14 goals in 177 appearances for the club. Jones has 7 Premier League red cards, making him one of the dirtiest players in the history of English football.