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Preview: AFC Wimbledon vs. Stevenage - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 26 February 2023, 22:21
AFC Wimbledon and Stevenage will meet at the Cherry Red Records Stadium on Tuesday evening in a game where both teams will be desperate to put an end to their recent poor form.

In their last match, the Dons were unable to hold onto their early lead and were beaten 2-1 by Gillingham, while Stevenage came unstuck at home against Tranmere Rovers.

Match preview

After suffering relegation from League One last season, it has been tough for the Wimbledon faithful, as a position in the playoff places is becoming further from reality as each game passes.

There have been too many draws that have cost Johnnie Jackson's side thus far, as they hold the second-most draws in the competition (12) behind Crewe Alexandra (14).

Despite having led early in the second half through Ali Al Hamadi in their most recent affair, the home side lost 2-1 against Gillingham, as goals from Max Ehmer and Cheye Alexander flipped the game on its head and left them with nothing to show from the game.

The Gillingham result now leaves Wimbledon winless in their previous five matches in the league, having not scored a single goal in three of those games.

However, they are unbeaten in their last six home games in the league and will believe that they can secure a result in this fixture against another side who are suffering from a dip in form.

Meanwhile, Boro are in desperate need of a result, as they head into this fixture without a victory in their previous seven games with their last win coming against Leyton Orient over a month ago.

Only two draws since then has seen their grip on an automatic promotion place loosen in recent weeks, as they slipped beneath Carlisle United on the weekend into third.

A loss against Tranmere Rovers in their last fixture spelled serious issues for the away side, as they struggled to finish off the chances that they created and were beaten by a Josh Hawkes penalty in the 73rd minute.

To achieve a victory in this affair, it will be vital that Stevenage return to the defensive solidity that previously secured them a high position in the table, as they have not recorded a clean sheet in their previous four matches.

That said, a win in this matchup would send Stevenage back into an imperious position in the League Two table, taking them into second position in the league and five points clear of Northampton Town in fourth place.

AFC Wimbledon League Two form:

W

L

D

D

D

L

Stevenage League Two form:

W

D

L

D

L

L

Stevenage form (all competitions):

L

D

L

D

L

L

Team News

Despite the collapse from his side in the Gillingham defeat, Johnnie Jackson will likely stay with the side that started on Saturday afternoon.

Lee Brown and Josh Davison are both on four yellow cards in League Two this season and are one yellow card away from a one-match suspension.

Steve Evans is also set to remain with the team he deployed in the 1-0 loss against Tranmere Rovers on the weekend.

Regular goalkeeper Taye Ashby-Hammond will miss this affair through injury, with Toby Savin expected to keep his place in the side.

Danny Rose is one card away from suspension, as the centre-forward currently has four in the league.

AFC Wimbledon possible starting lineup:

Tzanev; Gunter, Nightingale, Brown; McAteer, Woodyard, Little, Currie; Pell; Davison, Hamadi

Stevenage possible starting lineup:

Savin; Sweeney, Bostwick, Piergianni; Smith, Gilbey, Roberts, Reeves, Clark; Norris, Rose

We say: AFC Wimbledon 0-2 Stevenage

Despite having gone on a run without winning in their last seven matches, we believe that Stevenage will find their feet in this affair and will get their first win of the month on Tuesday evening.

Wimbledon have been strong at home recently, but we think that Stevenage will be too defensively secure and will find their scoring touch in this matchup.

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