OMAR Bugiel is in bullish form about AFC Wimbledon’s approach to their giant-killing EFL Cup task at Newcastle United on Tuesday night – as he highlighted the Dons’ recent successes in the competition as reasons to believe they can pull off a shock.
The St James’ Park tie is the last to be played in the third round after it was moved to the Premier League club’s ground from its originally scheduled date of last Tuesday after flooding at Plough Lane.
Johnnie Jackson’s League Two side have already knocked one Premier League team, Ipswich Town, out of the competition. If they can overcome the steep odds and beat Eddie Howe’s Magpies they will have a rematch at home against Chelsea. The Dons lost 2-1 to the Blues in the second round last season after knocking out Championship Coventry City.
Bugiel scored in the 2-2 against the Tractor Boys before the home side went through 4-2 on penalties.
“Every player in English football dreams of playing at stadiums like this, so it’s an experience that we have to take in our stride as a unit and attack head on,” Bugiel said on the Dons’ website. “We saw off Ipswich Town in the last round and Coventry City the year before, so people know we mean business and that they need to take us seriously.
“We have to stick to our game plan, stay solid, and understand that we have to be patient when we’re out of possession. When we get the chance, we know we can create moments of magic.”
Over 1,000 Dons fans are expected to make the trip to the north-east.
Bugiel added: “We will go there with full belief, particularly with our fans behind us.
“Full respect goes to our supporters for making arrangements to go at such late notice, we salute you.”
Wimbledon’s last game was a 0-0 draw at Bradford City on September 21.
“We should have taken our chances against Bradford, but regardless of the fact that we didn’t win, we still showed what we are about and the key now is to continue that strong form,” Bugiel said. “You never know what could happen – it’s worth remembering that Cambridge United beat Newcastle in the FA Cup there not too long ago. They won’t want to lose against us, but at the same time we don’t want to come away with a defeat either, so we’ll be looking to be right at it.
“It will be a strange one for them as they’ll be going from facing Manchester City to AFC Wimbledon, they may see us as an easier game on paper, but we know we can cause them problems.
“We don’t have to overthink the task in front of us, we just have to do what we’re good at.”
