AFC Wimbledon manager Wally Downes on away trips to Ipswich Town and Sunderland

BY DANIEL MARSH

AFC Wimbledon face a tough double header of away trips this week, but Wally Downes is looking forward to their trips to Ipswich and Sunderland.

Next up for Wimbledon is a challenging trip to Suffolk to face Ipswich Town on Tuesday in the first of two back-to-back games against clubs fancied for promotion.

The Dons then make the long journey north to Sunderland on Saturday.

Despite defeat at Fleetwood on their last trip out, the Dons have a good record under Downes on the road and have thrived being the underdogs on occasions, such as their heroic escape from relegation last season.

And Downes agreed that going to places like Portman Road and the Stadium of Light are the sort of fixtures their fans can relish after retaining their third-tier status in April.

“Of course [we’re looking forward to it],” said Downes when discussing the forthcoming trips.

“We wanted to be a League One team, and we are a League One team. Going to places like Sunderland and Ipswich is fantastic for the fans and fantastic for the players. We’ve got to go there and put on a good performance.

“We put a good performance on at Sunderland last year and was unfortunate to come away with a 1-0 defeat. I’m not sure, but I don’t think the club have ever played at Portman Road, so it’s gonna be great going there on Tuesday. We need to certainly be at our best over the next week.”

PHOTO BY PAUL EDWARDS