AFC Wimbledon play host to Cheltenham Town on Saturday afternoon looking for the win that will strengthen their bid for a top-two spot in the League Two table.
At a time when the home side occupy fifth position in the standings, Cheltenham are down in 13th spot, now cut adrift from the playoff places.
Match preview
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Earlier in the season, a promotion charge from Wimbledon appeared to be in doubt after a prolonged run of inconsistency.
However, Johnnie Jackson's side have since responded by accumulating 17 points from their most recent eight fixtures, the only defeat coming at Chesterfield by a 1-0 scoreline.
With the last three victories coming by one-goal margins, Jackson will be encouraged by the battling qualities of his squad and they now sit just two points adrift of second position.
Perhaps more impressively, this is now a team that possesses the joint-best defensive record in the division with only 19 goals being conceded in 23 matches.
Their last two wins have come against Gillingham and Newport County, teams that sit in 14th and 18th spot in the table, and Wimbledon will expect more of the same versus their 13th-placed opponents.
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Cheltenham will have had a 10-day break from action once they take to the pitch on Saturday courtesy of their last game against Walsall falling foul of the weather.
That postponement ended a brutal run of fixtures where they had played three other clubs occupying positions in the top six, admirably collecting four points.
Although they shipped five goals in an eight-goal thriller at home to Notts County, a clean sheet was kept in a draw at Port Vale on New Year's Day.
While just two wins have been recorded in 11 away league fixtures this campaign, Michael Flynn's side have recorded draws in their last three such contests.
Team News
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AFC Wimbledon have been dealt a blow after Romaine Sawyers, who scored in the win at Newport, left to link up with Bristol Rovers.
However, having only been introduced as a substitute last time out, Wimbledon could line up with the same starting lineup from the win at Newport County.
Although Myles Hippolyte was able to return to the squad after injury for that game, the midfielder will likely remain among the replacements.
A 10-day break may enable Flynn to select the same Cheltenham XI from their stalemate at Vale Park.
Scot Bennett came through 66 minutes on his return from a knee injury and the prolonged rest period can only have benefitted the centre-back.
AFC Wimbledon possible starting lineup:
Goodman; Harbottle, Johnson, Ogundere; Neufville, Hutchinson, Reeves, Smith, Tilley; Stevens, Kelly
Cheltenham Town possible starting lineup:
Day; Payne, Stubbs, Bennett, Bradbury; Young, Kinsella; Thomas, Colwill, Archer; Bowman
We say: AFC Wimbledon 2-1 Cheltenham Town
With Cheltenham well-rested after their break from action, they may be better prepared for this contest. Nevertheless, the Dons are the favourites to prevail from this contest for a reason, leading us to predict a hard-fought success by the odd goal in three.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Darren Plant
