Preview: Fleetwood Town vs. AFC Wimbledon

In a match that could affect the title race in League Two, Fleetwood Town will host second-placed AFC Wimbledon at Highbury Stadium on Tuesday.

After Walsall’s stumble in recent weeks, the Dons could put a significant dent in the gap to the league leaders with a win.

Match preview

© Imago

Pete Wild‘s Fleetwood Town have already recorded four league wins in 2025, as many as they had between late September and the end of 2024.

The 13 points they have earned so far this year has left them 14th in the table, a comfortable 14 points above Morecambe in the relegation zone, and given that they are just nine points behind Crewe Alexandra in the playoff spots, they will be looking upwards as the business end of the campaign approaches.

That being said, Tuesday’s visitors are currently without a win in back-to-back games for the first time this year, and they were beaten 1-0 by Bromley last time out.

In that match, Wild’s side were arguably wasteful considering that they produced twice as many efforts on goal as their opponents – and forced four times as many saves from their goalkeeper – but were unable to respond to Michael Cheek‘s 46th-minute strike.

On the other hand, Fleetwood may view their defeat against Bromley as unlucky and instead take confidence from their attacking potential, knowing that three points in midweek could take them as high as 10th.

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Meanwhile, Johnnie Jackson‘s Wimbledon come into this clash looking to extend their 10-game unbeaten streak that has featured six wins and four draws since Boxing Day.

That run of form has helped the Dons climb to second in League Two, and they will be desperate to make the most of their game in hand over the league leaders after the Saddlers dropped 13 points in their last six fourth-tier games.

Most recently, Tuesday’s visitors beat promotion rivals Salford City 1-0 on Saturday, when Matty Stevens‘s 16th league goal of the season proved enough to claim an important three points.

However, it is notable that Jackson’s side have won just one of their last six games on the road ahead of their midweek trip to Highbury Stadium, drawing three and losing the other two since a 3-0 win over Harrogate Town back in early December.

In order to prove their status as title challengers, Wimbledon must take all three points against Fleetwood, though they will have to defy their poor away record over recent months to do so.

Fleetwood Town League Two form:

AFC Wimbledon League Two form:

Team News

© Imago

Given they performed better against Bromley last time out than their loss suggests, manager Wild may opt to field a similar starting XI against the Dons.

Brendan Sarpong-Wiredu will captain the side once again from midfield, where he will patrol the pitch in a pair with Elliot Bonds.

On the wings, Mark Helm and Phoenix Patterson will provide width, while Ryan Graydon is likely to continue as the lone striker with number nine Kian Harratt absent since the Fishermen’s win over Walsall on January 28.

As for Wimbledon, Saturday’s match winner Matty Stevens is likely to start alongside Omar Bugiel up top, with Marcus Brown offering support from an attacking midfield position.

Elsewhere, Isaac Ogundere, Joe Lewis and Ryan Johnson should continue in the backline after keeping a clean sheet against Salford, and the trio will be protecting Owen Goodman between the sticks on Tuesday.

Fleetwood Town possible starting lineup:
Lynch; Rooney, Bennett, Bolton, Potter, Hunt; Helm, Bonds, Sarpong-Wiredu, Patterson; Graydon

We say: Fleetwood Town 1-1 AFC Wimbledon

On Tuesday, Wimbledon will be feeling the pressure to both keep ahead of their rivals in the hunt for promotion and make up ground on Walsall in the title race.

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