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

The visitors also come into the game off the back of a win in midweek, and they will commence proceedings sitting 11th in the standings.

Match preview

Sutton have really managed to turn around their poor form in recent matches, now on a streak of three wins in their last four games, with the only game they lost coming in a 2-0 defeat away at league leaders Leyton Orient.

Prior to this impressive run, the U's had only won one of their last eight matches in all competitions, but they have now risen up the league table and are now sat in 15th place.

Even when they were struggling, Matt Gray's managed to keep it tight at home, and they now boast the fourth-best home record in the division, after winning their last three matches on their own turf.

Owing to recent form, Sutton are now just four points off the playoff places, although they have played at least one extra game than the majority of the league, so there is still some way to go if they want to better their eighth-placed finish from last season.

In their last match, the U's ran out 2-1 winners against 24th-placed Gillingham, although they did not make it easy for themselves, with Craig Eastmond scoring in stoppage time to secure a 2-1 victory.

Wimbledon have been on a fantastic run of form in recent times, and they are now 10 games without a defeat, leaving them just two points adrift of the all-important seventh place.

Improved defensively solidity has been paramount to this recent turnaround in fortunes, with the Dons keeping a clean sheet in five of their last seven League Two matches.

Included in this recent run is a 2-0 victory at home to Leyton Orient, with Johnnie Jackson's side becoming just the second team to beat the league leaders in League Two all season, after first-half goals from Ayoub Assal and Harry Pell.

Last time out, the Dons recorded a 2-1 victory away at Colchester United, with Josh Davison and Ethan Chislett striking in the second half to keep them well in the hunt for the playoff places, as they look to secure an immediate return to League One.

However, Wimbledon will have to put in a better performance than the one they mustered up earlier in the season if they are to get anything from the game on Sunday, losing 1-0 at home and only recording one shot on target back in October.

Sutton United League Two form:

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Sutton United form (all competitions):

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AFC Wimbledon League Two form:

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AFC Wimbledon form (all competitions):

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Team News

During their clash with Gillingham on Thursday night, Sutton were forced to withdraw Sam Hart after he suffered a clash of heads with Joe Kizzi, so Gray may not want to rush him back, with Enzio Boldewijn instead switching to left-back.

That would leave room for Harry Beautyman to come into the team on the right of midfield, with leading scorer Will Randall keeping his place on the opposite flank.

Defender Coby Rowe has missed the last seven games through injury, and he is expected to miss out for the Yellows once again, with Ben Goodliffe keeping his place.

As for Wimbledon, Kyle Hudlin could feature in the starting lineup, after his red card in the Boxing Day fixture against Newport County was rescinded, partnering Josh Davison in attack.

There are no fresh injury concerns for Johnnie Jackson to contend with, so the rest of his team is likely to remain unchanged for Sunday's encounter.

Sutton United possible starting lineup:

Rose; Kizzi, Goodliffe, John, Boldewijn; Beautyman, Eastmond, Smith, Randall; Bugiel, Neufville

AFC Wimbledon possible starting lineup:

Tzanev; Biler, Kalambayi, Towler, Currie; Chislett, Woodyard, Pell, Assal; Hudlin, Davison

We say: Sutton United 1-2 AFC Wimbledon

Sutton's form has improved recently, but it is still no comparison to the dramatic turnaround orchestrated by Johnnie Jackson at Wimbledon.

As such, we expect the visitors to secure a narrow victory in a closely-contested affair, winning by the same scoreline as they did on Thursday night.

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