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

AFC Wimbledon will look to put an end to a 17-game league winless run on Saturday, when they entertain Lincoln City.

A dismal run has seen the Dons fall to 20th spot in the League One table, now just one point above the relegation zone.

Match preview

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After a relatively commendable first half to the season, the threat of relegation did not seem a real concern for AFC Wimbledon, but they have quickly been dragged into the scrap.

You now have to go back over three months to find their last third-tier victory, with Mark Robinson's side accumulating just nine points from the 17 games since that defeat of Accrington Stanley.

They head into Saturday on the back of consecutive losses, too, firstly falling at the hands of Wigan Athletic before being beaten 2-0 by Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday.

As a result, Robinson's men now sit just a single point above the drop zone, and, with four teams condemned to the drop, they will know they need to quickly reverse their fortunes if they are to avoid dropping in.

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Lincoln, meanwhile, find themselves in a difficult run of their own, having won just one of their last six outings in the third tier.

After a playoff journey last campaign, the new term has been one of disappointment for the Imps, as they have continuously sat in the bottom half, albeit with a relatively healthy lead over the relegation zone.

They did manage to post an important victory last weekend, defeating high-flying Sheffield Wednesday 3-1 on home turf thanks to a John Marquis brace and a Brooke Norton-Cuffy goal, but they were quickly brought back down on Tuesday as a trip to Ipswich Town resulted in a 2-0 defeat.

That has left Michael Appleton's men 18th in League One, and, while they do sit six points above the bottom four, a defeat to a relegation-threatened side at the weekend would certainly see them dragged uncomfortably closer to the fight.

Team News

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AFC Wimbledon's line should again be led by Sam Cosgrove, who continues to search for his first goal for the club since a loan move from Birmingham City, having stepped into the centre-forward role since the departure of Ollie Palmer.

Midfielder Jack Rudoni has taken on plenty of the attacking responsibility for the Dons, netting eight goals and providing three assists in league action, and the 20-year-old will again be deployed in an advanced role.

Lincoln, meanwhile, have several attacking options to choose from, with John Marquis again expected to lead the line with the support of Swansea City loanee Morgan Whittaker and either Tom Hopper or Liam Cullen.

On the other flank, Arsenal loanee Brooke Norton-Cuffy has caught eyes with his performances, and the 19-year-old is again one to watch at the weekend.

Experienced midfielder Chris Maguire offers further quality in attack, while Appleton should again deploy a back three of Adam Jackson, Regan Poole and TJ Eyoma.

AFC Wimbledon possible starting lineup:
Tzanev; Alexander, Nightingale, Csoka, Brown; Woodyard, Marsh; Rudoni, McCormick, Assal; Cosgrove

Lincoln City possible starting lineup:
Wright; Jackson, Poole, Eyoma; Norton-Cuffy, Fiorini, Maguire, McGrandles, Whittaker; Marquis, Hopper

We say: AFC Wimbledon 1-2 Lincoln City

Both sides find themselves in poor runs recently, but Lincoln's performance against an in-form Sheffield Wednesday side tips the balance in their favour in our view.

We expect Appleton's side, who boast more quality than their standing suggests, to triumph against the team with the division's longest winless run.

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