Preview: St James Park set for a tactical scrap
Exeter City welcome AFC Wimbledon to St James Park on 09/12/2025 in what promises to be a clash loaded with contrasting recent form and attacking intent. The Grecians, sitting 20th in League One with 17 points from 17 games, arrive with a patchy league record but a morale-boosting FA Cup performance behind them — a 4-0 win over Wycombe Wanderers only days earlier under referee Will Finnie’s oversight. Exeter’s season has been jagged: five wins but ten defeats, and a modest 16 goals scored to date. At home they look a little more dangerous, yet their over-2.5 rate is relatively low, suggesting they don’t always turn chances into a goal-fest.
AFC Wimbledon travel in better league standing — ninth with 26 points — and they’ve shown they can fire in goals in the right moments. Their recent 5-1 victory over Cardiff City in the EFL Trophy reflects a side capable of explosive attacking days, and winger Aron Sasu’s outstanding rating in that game underlines a threat on the flank. Wimbledon’s results are inconsistent but their away numbers point to more open affairs: 13 goals scored on the road this season and a healthy over-2.5 percentage overall.
Key trends and what they mean for the match
Statistically this matchup tilts toward goals involving both sides. Exeter’s home fixtures have produced both teams scoring in roughly two-thirds of games, while Wimbledon’s away matches show both teams found the net frequently as well. Shot volumes are comparable — the visitors have a slight edge in total shots — and Wimbledon’s tendency to be involved in higher-scoring encounters is evident from their over-2.5 percentage. Conversely, Exeter’s recent cup win might inject confidence and momentum that could tighten the game early, but defensive frailties (18 goals conceded overall) leave them vulnerable to counter-attacks.
Bookmakers have Exeter as narrow favourites at 2.26, with the draw and Wimbledon at 3.20 and 3.15 respectively. That market reflects a belief that Exeter’s home edge and recent cup performance give them the nod, yet it’s clear the outcome is finely balanced — a single moment could swing the match either way.
Prediction and betting suggestion
Expect a lively, end-to-end contest where both teams find opportunities and at least one finishes on the scoreboard. Given the strong indicators for mutual scoring — Exeter’s high BTTS rate at home and Wimbledon’s away goal output — the most compelling market here is the goals market rather than a straight 1X2 punt. For readers interested in sharpening their market choices, consult tactical guides such as The right time to place bets on goal markets and broader advice like How the betting method involving cryptocurrencies works to refine staking and timing.
Betting suggestion: Both Teams To Score — YES. Rationale: high BTTS percentages for Exeter at home (around two-thirds) and solid away BTTS numbers for Wimbledon, combined with recent high-scoring displays from both sides. Stake responsibly and consider the match context — Exeter’s confidence from the cup win versus Wimbledon’s recent offensive outbursts — before committing.