Carlisle United boss on 'external factors' and AFC Wimbledon

Saturday’s game in south London will be a big occasion for the host club who are returning to action at the Cherry Red Records Stadium after last month’s floods.

The repairs have included remedial work on a section of the pitch which was badly affected.

United head coach Williamson says that is one of the things Carlisle must be aware of and plan for.

“Yes, there's going to be little factors like that,” he said.

“You've got to weigh it up, and it might have a little change in the way we play and what you're looking at – but very minimal.

“Obviously both teams are going to have to ensure whatever the external factors are we've both got to face it and adapt best.”

Wimbledon, during more than a month without a home game, pushed Newcastle close in a Carabao Cup tie which was switched to St James' Park (Image: PA)

It will be a second encounter with Wimbledon for Williamson this season, as the new Blues boss took his MK Dons side to Plough Lane on September 14.

MK suffered a 3-0 defeat in what proved the Dons’ most recent home game – and a fixture which highlighted plenty of the home side’s strengths, Williamson admits.

“When they’ve got their tails up, they want to suffocate you,” he told the News & Star.

“They're organised, and they've got players such as [Omar] Bugiel up top…he's a real handful. He doesn't give you a second to rest.

READ MORE: Carlisle United's hopes on 'knocks' ahead of Wimbledon trip

“They've got experience at the back as well that makes it hard because if we can't go through, we go round, and if we can't go round we go over – but when a team isn't allowing you a second and they're on that front foot then it's very hard to break through that.

“We played them [with MK Dons] and it was a difficult afternoon. The occasion played a part and we know when that place gets rocking, how difficult it is – similar to here [Brunton Park] when the crowd get on the front foot.

“But we've got to focus on what we do and how we approach it.”

Omar Bugiel has been highlighted as a key Wimbledon threat by the Carlisle boss (Image: PA)

Wimbledon are 13th in the table but have only played seven games as a consequence of September 22’s flooding.

Johnnie Jackson’s side have won four, drawn one and lost twice in League Two ahead of their first home game for over a month, the Dons having also run Newcastle United close in a 1-0 Carabao Cup defeat which was switched from Wimbledon to St James’ Park.

“They’ve recruited really well and they're doing really well,” added Williamson.

“We know how hard it's going to be and we've just got to make sure that we focus on ourselves.

“We know we've strung sections of games together where we've been incredibly good but when we go down there we're going to have to put at least a 60-70 minute spell where we're hitting the levels that we know we can get to, to be able to come away with anything.”

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