Sports Mole previews Monday’s League Two clash between AFC Wimbledon and Gillingham, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
AFC Wimbledon and Gillingham will look to sign off 2024 on a positive note when they face off at Plough Lane in Monday’s League Two encounter.
The hosts are sitting in fifth place in the League Two table, while the visitors are four points further back in 13th position.
Match preview
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Wimbledon recently put together a four-game unbeaten league run (W3, D1), before their fine spell of form was ended by a 1-0 away defeat against Chesterfield.
They then had to be content with a draw in their Boxing Day clash against Swindon Town, with James Tilley netting a second-half equaliser to cancel out Harry Smith‘s opener.
While Wimbledon managed to avoid defeat, they will be frustrated by the fact that they have now won just one of their previous six home games in the fourth tier (D3, L2).
However, the promotion hopefuls still boast one of the best home records in League Two, having taken 21 points from their 11 home league games – a tally that has only been bettered by Walsall.
They also boast the league’s joint-best defensive record with just 18 goals conceded, highlighting one of the main reasons why they are two points adrift of the top three.
Monday’s hosts will fancy their chances of claiming all three points, having won four of their previous five home league games against Gillingham without conceding (D1), including a 2-0 victory when the two sides last met in March.
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Gillingham are sitting four points adrift of the top seven after winning nine, drawing three and losing nine of their 21 league games this season.
The Gills put together a three-game unbeaten streak before Christmas, recording 1-0 victories over Salford City and MK Dons before playing out a 2-2 draw against Cheltenham Town.
Unfortunately for Gillingham, their promising run of form came to an end with a Boxing Day defeat against Colchester United, conceding in either half as they fell to a 2-0 away defeat.
As a result, Mark Bonner‘s charges have now lost four of their last six away league games, suggesting that they may have their work cut out in Monday’s trip to the capital.
Gillingham may be able to take some inspiration from the fact that they have won three of their previous four competitive meetings with Wimbledon.
However, their only away win in that period took place in the EFL Cup, meaning that they will be looking to claim their first away league victory over Wimbledon since running out 4-2 winners in March 2019.
AFC Wimbledon League Two form:
AFC Wimbledon form (all competitions):
Gillingham League Two form:
Team News
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Wimbledon’s Myles Hippolyte is making progress in his recovery after missing the last seven competitive matches, but the forward is unlikely to be ready for the final game of 2024.
Striker Omar Bugiel will have to be assessed after being forced off in the closing stages of the first half against Swindon.
Matty Stevens will continue to offer one of Wimbledon’s main goal threats, having scored 11 times in 21 league appearances this season.
Meanwhile, the visitors could be without the services of Oli Hawkins, who has been absent from the last eight matchday squads due to injury.
George Lapslie, who was left out of the squad on Boxing Day, is unlikely to be involved against Wimbledon due to reports that he could complete a move to Bradford City in the January transfer window.
Armani Little and Timothy Dieng are pushing for starting spots after returning from injury to feature as substitutes against Colchester.
AFC Wimbledon possible starting lineup:
Goodman; Harbottle, O’Toole, Johnson; Neufville, Hutchinson, Smith, Tilley; Stevens, Kelly; Pigott
Gillingham possible starting lineup:
Morris; Hutton, Ehmer, Dieng, Clark; McKenzie, Coleman; Clarke, Little, Rowe; Nevitt
We say: AFC Wimbledon 2-1 Gillingham
Wimbledon may have won just one of their previous six home league games, but they will still head into the final round of fixtures of 2024 with the league’s joint second-best home record, and we think that they will take advantage of their familiar surroundings to claim a narrow victory, especially as Gillingham have lost four of their last six away league matches.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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