Dons boss Jackson predicts League Two play-off final to be a tight affair

AFC Wimbledon manager Johnnie Jackson has predicted that their League Two play-off final against Walsall will be a closely-contested match-up.

The Dons secured their place at Wembley thanks to a 2-0 victory over Notts County on aggregate, while the Saddlers saw off Chesterfield 4-1 in their semi-final fixture.

Walsall came out better from the duo’s encounters in the regulation season. The Saddlers left Plough Lane with three points in late November, before rescuing a late draw in the reverse fixture in March.

The Dons enter the play-off final having kept three consecutive clean sheets while Walsall have only just managed to reverse the momentum of their late-season freefall down the League Two table.

“It’s going to be tough game,” said Jackson. “They were flying high for most of the season and just narrowly dropped out at the end, but they have done great to regroup and rally.

“They were very impressive in their semi-final. So a tough game is coming up, two evenly-matched teams are going to be going at it.

“It is a one-off game of football.”

AFC Wimbledon took just one point from their two encounters with Walsall this season, with their last encounter ending in a 1-1 draw after a late Taylor Allen set-piece cancelled out Omar Bugiel’s opener.

“We played two unbelievably tight games,” said Jackson. “Here they beat us 1-0 – but there was nothing in the game.

“We went in front at their place and played pretty well, but got pegged back at the end. Allen hit a lovely free-kick.

“Two really close games, and I am sure it will be the same in the final.

“They are going to be fiercely competitive and hard to beat.”

PICTURE: KYLE ANDREWS