Two teams aiming to climb the League Two table are set to come together on Tuesday night when AFC Wimbledon host Accrington Stanley at Kingsmeadow.
The hosts are 10th in the table with 22 points from 13 matches, while the visitors are 18th in the standings with 17 points from their 15 league games.
Match preview
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AFC Wimbledon suffered relegation from League One in 2021-22 as they placed 23rd in the table with just 37 points from 46 outings, resulting in them returning to the fourth division for the first time since 2015-16.
They have experienced two contrasting seasons back in League Two since then, placing 21st in 2022-23 with 48 points from 46 games, just five points above the drop zone, before climbing to 10th in 2023-24, finishing with 65 points from 46 games.
Johnnie Jackson's side came into this campaign aiming to close the gap on the playoff places and compete for a chance to return to League One, and the Wombles have had a fair start in pursuit of that goal.
They currently sit 10th in the table with 22 points, just three points behind the playoff spots, although they have played at least two fewer games than the teams directly above them.
Jackson's side did lose back-to-back league matches for the first time when they were defeated by Port Vale and Grimsby Town, but they bounced back with a dominant 3-1 win against Barrow last time out.
Now aiming to close the gap on the playoff places, AFC Wimbledon will host an Accrington Stanley side that they have failed to beat in the last five meetings at Kingsmeadow, losing three and drawing two.
Accrington are also coming into this game in a fantastic vein of form, undefeated in their last five matches across all competitions with three wins and two draws.
That is a significant improvement upon a disappointing opening to the term that saw Accrington fail to win any of their first 10 fixtures across all competitions.
John Doolan, in charge since March 2024, will be heading into this one hoping to continue that improved run of form with another positive result, with a long-term aim to move closer to the playoff places.
Team News
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The hosts secured a 3-1 win against Barrow last time out, ending a two-game losing streak in the league, and Jackson could opt to name the same starting 11 here.
Mathew Stevens has scored 10 goals in 19 appearances since joining the side from Forest Green Rovers in the summer, and the striker will be looking to continue his scoring run with another goal in this one.
As for the visitors, they are coming into this game on a five-game unbeaten run across all competitions, meaning Doolan could decide to field a similar team here.
Dara Costelloe is Accrington's top scorer in the league with four goals in 13 appearances, but the forward has failed to hit the net in five games heading into this one, something he will look to remedy with a likely start on Tuesday.
AFC Wimbledon possible starting lineup:
Goodman; Harbottle, Lewis, Johnson; Neufville, Ball, Smith, Maycock; Tilley; Stevens, Pigott
Accrington Stanley possible starting lineup:
Crellin; Aljofree, Rawson, Awe; Love, Coyle, Khumbeni, B. Woods; Costelloe; Walton, J Woods
We say: AFC Wimbledon 1-1 Accrington Stanley
The hosts have had a largely positive start to the 2024-25 campaign, while the visitors are coming into this one in a great run of form, leading us to believe this one will end all square.
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Ellis Stevens
