The latest instalment of the rivalry between League Two duo AFC Wimbledon and MK Dons takes place at the Cherry Red Records Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
These two teams meet for the first time since March when the Wombles claimed a narrow 1-0 home win over the Dons, courtesy of a dramatic 94th-minute winner from Ronan Curtis.
Match preview
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AFC Wimbledon have made their best four-game start to a EFL season in their history having picked up a total of nine points, while they have won six of their opening seven matches across all competitions, with their only defeat coming against Bromley (2-0) in League Two in the middle of last month.
The Wombles concluded the month of August with four successive wins, including a penalty-shootout triumph over Premier League side Ipswich Town in the first round of the EFL Cup following a 2-2 draw in 90 minutes.
Johnnie Jackson most recently steered his side to a narrow 1-0 home victory over Fleetwood Town, courtesy of a first-half strike from Josh Neufville, and Wimbledon currently sit seventh in the fourth-tier standings, three points behind leaders Doncaster Rovers who lost 2-0 to Harrogate Town on Thursday.
A challenging run of fixtures is on the horizon for Wimbledon, with Saturday's clash with rivals MK Dons followed by a trip to Bradford City and an EFL Cup third-round clash against Newcastle United on home soil.
Wimbledon head into this weekend's showdown having won just one of their last nine league meetings with MK Dons (D3 L5), although that sole victory (1-0) took place just six months ago on home soil.
As for MK Dons, they have lost only one of their last 10 away league matches against teams from London (W6 D3), failing to score in just one of those games in the process.
However, their start to the 2024-25 campaign has been far from ideal, losing three and winning just two of their opening five League Two matches, as well as suffering a heavy 5-0 EFL Cup defeat to Watford.
MK Dons have in fact lost each of their first three away matches in all competitions this season by an aggregate score of 8-0; the last time that they lost three consecutive away league matches was in March 2021 under former boss Russell Martin.
Mike Williamson's men have come out on top in their last two League Two home games, though, most recently beating Walsall 1-0 last weekend, and they will attempt to build on that result by putting in another solid performance against Wimbledon, who they have beaten in three of their last five meetings.
Team News
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AFC Wimbledon boss Jackson is not expected to make too many changes, if any, to his starting lineup, with Ryan Johnson and Joe Lewis set to continue in defence alongside either Riley Harbottle or Isaac Ogundere.
Neufville and James Furlong are set to operate as wing-backs as Alistair Smith, Jake Reeves and Myles Hippolyte all link up in midfield, while Joe Pigott and Omar Bugiel could be tasked with leading the line.
As for MK Dons, Williamson is set to name what he thinks is his strongest possible side, with Joe Tomlinson and Alex Gilbey - who both extended their contracts earlier this week - expected to retain their places in the first XI.
Callum Hendry has scored two goals in his last three games, including the only goal in a slender win over Walsall last time out, and he is expected to partner Tommy Leigh in the final third.
AFC Wimbledon possible starting lineup:
Goodman; Harbottle, Lewis, Johnson; Neufville, Smith, Reeves, Hippolyte, Furlong; Pigott, Bugiel
MK Dons possible starting lineup:
McGill; Tripp, Offord, Maguire; Nemane, Lemonheigh-Evans, Kelly, Tomlinson; Gilbey; Leigh, Hendry
We say: AFC Wimbledon 2-1 MK Dons
Both teams will need to turn up for the big occasion and bring their 'A' game for what could prove to be an entertaining contest on Saturday.
Although MK Dons look as if they are beginning to turn a corner, Wimbledon have looked strong for the vast majority of this season and they have our vote to claim the bragging rights and prevail in this derby showdown.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Oliver Thomas
