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

The home side are currently 12th in the division, level on points with 10th-placed Swindon Town, while AFC Wimbledon are 21st, four points ahead of the relegation zone, meaning that they are safe despite a difficult campaign.

Match preview

Grimsby secured a return to the Football League through last season's National League playoffs, so this campaign was always going to be about consolidating back in League Two.

The Mariners have enjoyed a solid season, winning 15, drawing 13 and losing 17 of their 45 matches to collect 58 points, which has left them in 12th position in the table.

Paul Hurst's side can finish as high as 10th but could also drop down to 16th depending on other results, so there is still plenty to play for on the final matchday despite not being able to claim anything substantial.

Grimsby will enter this match off the back of a 2-0 loss at Stevenage on April 29, but they won their last home game 2-0 against Crewe Alexandra on April 25.

Hurst's team also famously reached the quarter-finals of this season's FA Cup, but they suffered a 5-0 defeat to Premier League outfit Brighton & Hove Albion in the final eight.

AFC Wimbledon, meanwhile, have had a difficult campaign, only picking up 48 points from their 45 matches, which has left them down in 21st position in the table.

There is no getting away from the fact that it has been a tough season, but they have avoided being relegated, with Rochdale and Hartlepool United the two sides dropping out of the Football League this term.

Johnnie Jackson's side will enter this match off the back of a 1-1 draw with Tranmere Rovers, which broke a three-game losing run, but they have not been victorious in League Two since the end of March against Walsall.

The Dons were relegated from League One last season, so it would have been devastating if they had suffered another drop, but their focus can now switch to the 2023-24 campaign.

AFC Wimbledon have picked up 20 points from their 22 away league games this season, which is far from disastrous, and they will be facing a Grimsby side that have won just six times at home in the league this term.

Grimsby Town League Two form:

W

D

W

L

W

L

AFC Wimbledon League Two form:

L

D

L

L

L

D

Team News

Grimsby boss Hurst is expected to make a couple of changes to his starting side following the two-goal defeat to Stevenage last weekend.

Danny Amos and Otis Khan could be the two players to come into the XI, with the former likely to be used as the left-sided wing-back in a 3-5-2 formation.

Khan could replace Ryan Taylor, with the 35-year-old set to drop down to the bench, while Danilo Orsi is also pushing for a spot in the final third of the field.

AFC Wimbledon boss Jackson will have been pleased with his side's performance against Tranmere last time out, so it would not be a surprise to see the same XI take to the field for this match.

However, Chris Gunter and Saikou Janneh will be in the manager's thinking if he does decide to make changes.

Ali Al-Hamadi is the team's leading goalscorer in the league this season with 10, and the 21-year-old will again feature in the final third of the field for the visitors.

Grimsby Town possible starting lineup:

Crocombe; Efete, Smith, Waterfall, Maher, Amos; Clifton, Green, Holohan; Lloyd, Khan

AFC Wimbledon possible starting lineup:

Broome; Biler, Nightingale, Brown, Currie; Chislett, Woodyard, McAteer, Jaiyesimi; Al Hamadi, Davison

We say: Grimsby Town 1-1 AFC Wimbledon

No team has drawn more home games in League Two than Grimsby (10) this season, and we are predicting another stalemate here. AFC Wimbledon have avoided defeat in 12 of their 22 away league games this term and have enough quality to emerge with a point on the final matchday of the campaign.

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