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

Portsmouth will travel to AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday, as they look to correct their form and battle for a place in the top six of the League One table.

Danny Cowley's men dropped to ninth after a defeat to MK Dons on Saturday, while their hosts drew with fellow strugglers Morecambe.

Match preview

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After narrowly avoiding relegation from League One last season, AFC Wimbledon again find themselves battling for survival this term, having picked up just 26 points from 23 outings and winning just six of those.

The Dons looked to have turned a corner before the turn of the year, stringing five games together unbeaten, including league wins over Crewe Alexandra and Accrington Stanley, an FA Cup triumph over Cheltenham Town and commendable draws with Wycombe Wanderers and Fleetwood Town, but their form has since taken another dip.

Mark Robinson's men have now failed to win any of their last five matches, with a cup defeat to fifth-tier Boreham Wood being particularly damning, while a goalless draw with 21st-placed Morecambe on Saturday has left them no further from the drop zone.

AFC Wimbledon remain just two points above the side they drew with in the relegation zone, and, with four teams dropping to League Two, they have a tough task if they are to steer clear, with all four sides below having Robinson's squad in their sights.

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Portsmouth arrive desperate for a victory for a different reason, as they look to close the gap between themselves and the playoff places.

After three wins to open the season, Pompey showed some concerning form, failing to win any of their next seven games, and Danny Cowley's side are now tasked with catching up to the top six.

While they certainly showed plenty of improvement, going on a 10-game unbeaten run in the third tier including six victories, the Hampshire outfit now arrive on the back of a draw with Cambridge United and a 2-1 defeat to MK Dons last time out.

Searching for a return to winning ways, Cowley's men trailed by two goals at the interval, and George Hirst's goal on the hour mark was not enough to salvage a result, seeing them fall back down below Sheffield Wednesday in the playoff race as a result.

With six points and three sides separating themselves and the top six, Pompey will know there is not much room for error and will be keen to make a return to winning ways to reignite their pursuit on Tuesday.

Team News

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AFC Wimbledon will remain without forward Aaron Pressley due to an injury, with Ollie Palmer again set to lead the line with support from wingers Ayoub Assal and Jack Rudoni.

However, they will be boosted by the return of Nesta Guinness-Walker, and the left-back should take his starting spot straight back after serving a one-game suspension.

Goalkeeper Nik Tzanev and centre-back duo Ben Heneghan and Will Nightingale will come in with renewed confidence after seeing out a clean sheet last time out.

Paul Downing remains Portsmouth's only absentee through injury, as the centre-back continues a spell on the sidelines.

After a relatively slow start to his loan spell from Leicester City, forward George Hirst has netted two goals in the last three games, and he will likely lead the line with Ronan Curtis, who recently became Pompey's top scorer since the turn of the century with his tally of 45 goals in 169 appearances.

AFC Wimbledon possible starting lineup:
Tzanev; Alexander, Heneghan, Nightingale, Guinness-Walker; Woodyard, Marsh; Assal, McCormick, Rudoni; Palmer

Portsmouth possible starting lineup:
Bazunu; Freeman, Raggett, Ogilvie; Romeo, Morrell, Williams, Hackett-Fairchild; Harness; Curtis, Hirst

We say: AFC Wimbledon 0-2 Portsmouth

While AFC Wimbledon will be equally desperate for a result, Portsmouth should see this as a great opportunity to get their playoff pursuit back on track against a side lacking confidence.

Cowley's men will know they have the quality required to get over the line and the need for another run of results, starting with Tuesday's trip.

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