Stanley are up and running following last weekend’s win over Tranmere Rovers and now attention turns to trying to make it six points from six – but without manager James Beattie who left the club yesterday by mutual consent.

Assistant manager Paul Stephenson takes the reins today as the Reds look to react to a dramatic Friday with another win.

AFC Wimbledon are the visitors to the Store First Stadium fresh from sharing eight goals away at Carlisle United.

It’s a repeat of the final game of last season and a repeat of that 3-2 win would be just what the doctor ordered for the home team.

There are three absentees from the Stanley squad after James Alabi returned to Stoke following the expiry of his loan deal and Jordan Mustoe and Connor Martin left the club at the end of their short term deals.

Michael Liddle was fit enough for the bench last weekend and will hope to overcome a minor setback with his knee problem to be involved in the squad again.

Wimbledon midfielder Harry Pell is suspended but defender George Francomb could return to the side after injury.

Former Dons player Neal Ardley led the club to safety last season and began the season in optimistic mood after some good summer business.

Wimbledon are now in their fourth season in the Football League and with the prospect of a move to a new stadium on the cards they are a club on the up.

A bright start to the new season brought evidence that the optimism is well founded for the first club formed in the 21st century to make it into the Football League.

Neal Ardley

Neal Ardley was appointed AFC Wimbledon manager in October 2012 following the departure of Terry Brown. He joined the Dons from Cardiff City where, as Academy manager since 2007, he had played a major role in developing the Bluebirds’ highly-regarded youth system.

Ardley took his coaching badges aged 24 while still a player with Wimbledon FC – the Dons were his first club and, as a winger and occasional right-back, he appeared almost 250 times for Wimbledon between 1991 and 2002, when he moved on to Watford.

He was capped ten times by England at Under-21 level. After over 100 appearances for the Hornets he spent a season each with Cardiff and Millwall and was made head of the Cardiff Academy when he hung up his boots in 2007.

Matt Tubbs

Matt Tubbs is on a season-long loan from Championship side AFC Bournemouth.

The 30-year-old built up a sparkling reputation as a goalscorer while playing in the non-leagues with Dorchester and Salisbury City – playing against Stanley in the FA Cup.

He moved to Conference big spenders Crawley Town and his 40 goals in his first season helped the club to the league title.

The following season Bournemouth signed the prolific striker and he was the leading scorer in League One – and he has started well for the Dons this season.

The two sides have met on six previous occasions and the record makes good reading from a Stanley point of view with the Reds having won five.

There’s been one draw, with the Dons still looking for their first win in the fixture.

The Red won the last meeting, on the final day of last season, 3-2 thanks to two goals from James Gray and one from Kayode Odejayi.

Stanley picked up their first win of the season at home to Tranmere last weekend and will hope to follow it up with another against the Dons.

Wimbledon’s last league win came against Southend on 19th August, though they beat the same side in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy on penalties just over a week ago.

Both of the Dons’ away victories have come away from Kingsmeadow.

Stanley

Gray 4
Naismith 3
Joyce 1
Carver 1

AFC Wimbledon

Matt Tubbs 7
Adebayo Azeez 2
Sean Rigg 2
George Francomb 1

Peter Bankes (Merseyside)

Mr Bankes is in his first full season as a Football League official after taking charge of one game at this level last year.

This is his first visit to the Store First Stadium as referee.

This season: 4 games, 11 yellow cards, 1 red cards

Admission prices for the game are:

Adults £20
Over 65′s & Students £15
Under 18′s £10
Accompanied Under 12′s £5