Two sides not far apart in the standings will face off this weekend as MK Dons welcome Notts County to Stadium MK for Boxing Day's edition of League Two.
Only one point separates both sides, with the hosts having accumulated 30 points from 19 games, sitting ninth, two spots lower than the Magpies, who have played a game more.
Match preview
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A nine-goal thriller against Newport on Saturday – the highest-scoring encounter in the fourth tier this season – is the latest chapter in MK Dons' league campaign.
It rained goals at Rodney Parade last weekend, as the Dons once again notched at least three goals for the fifth time in their last six league outings, though their opponents proved twice as clinical on the scoreboard, consigning Scott Lindsey's side to a 6-3 defeat.
MK Dons' attacking prowess can largely be credited to Lindsey, who was appointed head coach on September 25 following Mike Williamson's departure to Carlisle.
Since the 52-year-old took charge, the team have netted at least three goals in seven of their 12 league matches, and Saturday's loss – one of three defeats in this run – is the only occasion where they failed to secure maximum points after hitting that goal mark this season.
This is a sharp contrast to their slow start to the campaign, when they scored at least three goals just once, one of only two wins, in their opening seven matches, which also included four losses and a draw.
The Dons will be confident of claiming maximum points on Thursday as they aim to end a two-game losing streak, drawing confidence from their strong record of seven wins in their last nine clashes with Notts, despite failing to secure victory in the last two meetings between both sides.
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While the hosts aim to halt their losing run, Notts ended a five-game winless streak in emphatic fashion, securing a 3-0 triumph over Bradford in their latest outing.
This dominant performance was highlighted by quickfire strikes from Alassana Jatta and David McGoldrick, with the former netting a brace, securing their eighth win of the season.
That result lifted the Magpies to 31 points, placing them in a playoff spot and well on course to surpass their 14th-place finish from last season, which marked their return to the Football League.
Notts now aim to replicate their best winning streak of the campaign - a four-match run from late August to mid-September - and will fancy their chances against an MK Dons defence that has managed just one clean sheet in their last 14 league outings.
The visitors will take encouragement from their solid scoring record on the road, with 15 goals making them the league's joint-fourth-highest away scorers, though their leaky defence, conceding 16 times on their travels, offers little hope for a shutout
Team News
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The hosts head into this encounter without any injury concerns, leaving head coach Lindsey with a wealth of options to choose from.
After conceding six goals against Newport, the English manager is expected to make some changes to his backline.
Recently returned to full fitness, MJ Williams and Joe Tomlinson could feature, with the former potentially replacing Nico Lawrence in a three-man defence, while the latter could take over the left wing-back role from Joe Cameron Pritchard.
Joe White has seamlessly settled into a deeper midfield role and is set to start again this weekend after a solid performance and goal in his last outing.
As for the visitors, Jodi Jones remains sidelined through injury, although Daniel Crowley
returned last weekend.
Head coach Stuart Maynard may keep the winning lineup from the Bradford match, with Jatta and McGoldrick, who are the team's leading scorers, starting up front once again in a two-man attack.
MK Dons possible starting lineup:
McGill; Maguire, Williams, Offord; Tomlinson, Nemane, White, Kelly; Wearne, Gilbey; Hogan
Notts County possible starting lineup:
Bass; Ness, Platt, Bedeau; Austin, Abbot, Palmer, Tsaroulla; Crowley; Jatta, McGoldrick
We say: MK Dons 3-1 Notts County
Despite back-to-back league defeats, the hosts enter this clash as favourites, bolstered by their strong record against the visitors.
Notts may have ended their winless streak with an impressive victory in their last outing, but it could prove short-lived as a formidable MK Dons attack aims to bounce back from recent setbacks.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Adeyeye Oluwapelumi
