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

Rivals MK Dons and AFC Wimbledon lock horns on Tuesday evening with the clubs facing different priorities in the League One standings.

While the home side are three points adrift of the playoffs, the visitors sit just two points clear of the relegation zone.

Match preview

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MK Dons and AFC Wimbledon will be meeting for just the 12th time on Tuesday evening, the home team having prevailed in seven of the previous 11 games.

They are also on a six-game unbeaten streak against Wimbledon, but boss Liam Manning will be conscious of the fact that his team are not firing on all cylinders.

Just six points have come from a possible 15 in League One, their solitary victory during that period seeing them overturn a two-goal deficit to win at Lincoln City.

MK Dons have offered very little since that encounter on Boxing Day, and a 1-1 draw at Accrington Stanley was a disappointment given that their hosts played the final 56 minutes with 10 men.

Scott Twine remains as the club's standout player this season with the versatile playmaker contributing five goals and six assists from his last eight appearances in the third tier.

AFC Wimbledon had a welcome weekend away from league action on Saturday as they squared off against non-league Boreham Wood in the FA Cup.

However, it was a disastrous afternoon for Mark Robinson's side, who went down 2-0 to the National League outfit to bow out of the competition.

The Dons' five-match unbeaten streak up until December 11 had suggested that they had turned a corner this season, but they have been well off the pace in the two games since their return to action.

Although they still sit clear of the bottom four with matches in hand, Robinson is aware that that his team must take advantage of their upcoming schedule if they want to avoid dropping into the relegation zone.

Team News

Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Theo Corbeanu should feature in the MK Dons squad after making the switch from Sheffield Wednesday.

Josh McEachran is in line to replace David Kasumu, who needed to be replaced just before the half-time whistle at Accrington.

Tennai Watson and Hiram Boateng are both options for Manning if he decides to introduce fresh legs.

Robinson will almost certainly make several alterations to his Wimbledon XI, including handing a recall to Will Nightingale.

Cheye Alexander may return at right wing-back, while Adedapo Awokoya-Mebude is an alternative in the front two.

MK Dons possible starting lineup:
Fisher; O'Hara, Darling, Lewington; Kioso, O'Riley, Kasumu, Harvie; Corbeanu, Eisa, Twine

AFC Wimbledon possible starting lineup:
Tzanev; Nightingale, Heneghan, Guinness-Walker; Alexander, Woodyard, Hartigan, Rudoni; McCormick; Awokoya-Mebude, Palmer

We say: MK Dons 1-1 AFC Wimbledon

Despite their contrasting scenarios, these two sides have produced similar form of late. With that in mind, and the hostility between the clubs, we expect a competitive draw to play out in Milton Keynes.

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