As the League Two season enters its final stretch, Crewe Alexandra welcome MK Dons to Gresty Road on Monday afternoon in a fixture that holds great significance for both sides.
With just three matches left to play, the hosts are still in with a chance of breaking into the playoff places, while the Dons are aiming to secure their Football League status once and for all.
Match preview
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Crewe Alexandra's form has stuttered at the worst possible time, and their push for a playoff spot is hanging by a thread, having won just one of their last nine matches, a run that includes three defeats in their last five, and most recently, a goalless draw away at Colchester, a result that extended their winless streak to three.
With just three games remaining, the margin for error has vanished, making a win essential on Monday if Crewe want to keep their promotion hopes alive heading into the final two matchdays, and while the gap to the top seven is still just four points, recent performances have lacked the urgency and creativity required to climb the table at this stage of the campaign.
Home form has also been an issue, with the Railwaymen having won just one of their last five games at Gresty Road, and they have often struggled to control matches in front of their own fans.
Head-to-head history also offers little comfort, with Crewe winning only once in their last five meetings with MK Dons, though that solitary victory did come in the last time they hosted this fixture.
Manager Lee Bell will be urging his players to raise their levels, knowing full well that any further slip-ups could be the end to their already fading promotion push.
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MK Dons enter the final weeks of the season with their league status not yet mathematically safe, but a point here could all but seal the deal.
After a poor run of form, they showed signs of improvement last time out with a goalless draw against Newport City, which is a decent result in Paul Warne's first match in charge.
However, that draw did little to hide the bigger picture, with the Dons having won just twice in their last 16 League Two games, while they are winless in five, with four defeats and a solitary draw during that time.
Away from home, MK Dons have been fragile, winless on their last three trips, drawing one and losing two, but they may take heart from their overall record against Crewe, and the fact that they won one of their last two games at Gresty Road.
Team News
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Owen Lunt will not feature for Crewe, after the midfielder was sent in first-half stoppage time during their last game against Colchester.
In his absence, one of Max Sanders or Jack Powell are expected to come into the XI as one of the creative midfielders alongside Tom Lowery, who recovered from an injury he suffered against Cheltenham to play last time out.
Warne maintained the back-three system in his first game in charge of MK Dons, with the usual suspects Luke Offord, Jack Sanders and Laurence Maguire featuring in defence.
However, Callum Hendry led the attack, swapping roles with Scott Hogan, who stepped into one of the two spots behind the striker.
Crewe Alexandra possible starting lineup:
Marschall; O'Riordan, Demetriou, Williams, Billington; Thomas; Tabiner, Lowery, Sanders, Conway; Hemmings
MK Dons possible starting lineup:
MacGillivray; Offord, Sanders, Maguire; O'Reilly, Lemonheigh-Evans, Thompson-Sommers, Tomlinson; Kelly, Hogan; Hendry
We say: Crewe Alexandra 1-1 MK Dons
Warne appears to have brought an instant impact to MK Dons' defensive structure, and we expect him to approach this game with cautiousness given that one point might likely secure his team's survival.
Crewe have struggled in recent weeks and are not likely to break down the visitors if they set up to be defensively solid, which is why we are expecting a draw.
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