Boro boss expecting tough AFC Wimbledon match tonight (Tuesday)

Graham Westley said his side wants to get to Wembley again ahead of this evening’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Second Round match at AFC Wimbledon.

Boro go into the game on the back of three league defeats and Westley says that the club wants to make it three Wembley appearances in four seasons but expects a tough encounter at Kingsmeadow against a progressing AFC side.

Westley said: “I’ll pick the team on Tuesday that I believe can win the game on Tuesday. We want to go to Wembley. We’ve been there twice in the last three years in the FA Trophy and we’re going into this competition wanting to win the round and to progress.

“Terry Brown always has a side that has a commitment, enthusiasm and a great energy about it. They have a fantastic attacking attitude about them so they’re never an easy side to play against.”

Trophy rules state that either six of Saturday’s XI or six of the players with the most appearances this season have to play in tonight’s game. Boro hope to have Darius Charles back in contention following a knee injury while Chris Beardsley could play some part after recovering from his back injury last week.

Don Cowan and Rob Sinclair are still out, but Westley is expected to give some game time to Josh Walker and Phil Edwards, both of whom were on the bench for Saturday’s defeat to Scunthorpe.

AFC Wimbledon have already announced their starting XI for tonight’s match following injuries to Luke Moore (back) and Gareth Gwillim.

AFC’s starting XI is: Turner, Hatton, McNaughton, Johnson, Bush, Moore, Minshull, Yussuff, Mulley, Jackson, Midson.