Brown confident ahead of Stevenage clash (From Wimbledon Guardian)

Dons prepared for a tough start to the season

11:00am Tuesday 14th August 2012 in Sport By Tim Ashton

Boss Terry Brown is in confident mood as his Dons charges prepare for the season opener at Stevenage Borough.

The first round Capital One Cup match comes on the back of a tough pre-season campaign of two wins in eight games, finishing with last week’s 2-0 home defeat by Portsmouth.

However, results aside, Brown is happy that they are ready for the season ahead.

“I took more positives from the Pompey game than I have from any of the other games,” Brown said.

“This is a new body of players and it is taking them a little bit longer to gel than I had hoped. But pre-season is what it is. Providing you get through it without picking up too many injuries and I am able to pick my strongest side tonight I will be happy.”

He added: “I am going into the match in confident mood. We start the season with two real beasts of games but because our pre-season has been horrendously strong, we’re ready for that.”

Curtis Osana is touch and go to play, while Jason Prior, Callum McNaughton, Louis Harris, Huw Johnson and Rashid Yussuff remain on the treatment table for the foreseeable future.