Preview: MK Dons vs. Wrexham

Sports Mole previews Tuesday’s League Two clash between MK Dons and Wrexham, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Wrexham will be bidding to make it three straight wins in League Two when they continue their campaign with a trip to fellow promotion hopefuls MK Dons on Tuesday night.

The Welsh outfit currently sit third in the table, three points off leaders Stockport County, while MK Dons occupy fifth, four points behind their opponents in this match.

Match preview
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MK Dons finished 21st in League One last season to drop out of the third tier, but they are very much in the mix for an immediate return to that level for the 2024-25 campaign.

Indeed, the Dons have won 16, drawn six and lost 10 of their 32 league matches this term to collect 54 points, which has left them in fifth position, just four points behind third-placed Wrexham.

MK Dons are seven points ahead of eighth-placed AFC Wimbledon, meanwhile, so they have a strong gap when it comes to the playoff spots, but this will be a very tough examination against Wrexham.

Mike Williamson’s side will enter this match off the back of a 2-1 victory over Swindon Town on Saturday, which made it four wins from their last six matches in League Two.

The Dons have also been strong at home in the league this term, picking up 33 points from their 16 matches, recording 10 victories in the process.

While MK Dons have been strong at home, Wrexham’s form on the road has been patchy, only managing to pick up 20 points from their 15 matches away from their famous stadium.

The Red Dragons are bidding to make it successive promotions following their rise from the National League last term, and they do appear to have navigated their way through a recent tough period.

Indeed, Phil Parkinson’s side lost four straight matches to Newport County, Blackburn Rovers, Salford City and Bradford City between January 20 and February 10, with three of those defeats coming in the league.

Wrexham have beat Sutton United and Notts County in their last two league matches to return to a strong position in the table, though, currently sitting third, two points off second-placed Mansfield Town and three behind the leaders Stockport County, who have lost their last two.

The Red Dragons have lost their last two games against MK Dons, though, including a 5-3 defeat on the opening matchday of the 2023-24 League Two campaign.

MK Dons League Two form:

Wrexham League Two form:

Wrexham form (all competitions):

Team News
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MK Dons boss Williamson will need to assess the fitness of his players due to the quick turnaround, as a couple took knocks in the latter stages of Saturday’s win at Swindon.

There have been no fresh injuries reported, though, and there will be another start in the final third for Stephen Wearne, who came up with a brace in the narrow success.

Alex Gilbey has been in strong form this season, finding the back of the net on seven occasions in 34 appearances, and he will also be in the MK Dons side for this match.

Wrexham head coach Parkinson is expected to name the bulk of the side that took to the field for the first whistle on Saturday, but it is unlikely that Steven Fletcher will pay due to the quick turnaround.

Fletcher may drop to the bench, with Ollie Palmer and Jack Marriott in line to replace him, and the latter could just be given the nod in the final third of the field.

Paul Mullin has scored 12 times for Wrexham this season, but their leading goalscorer is Elliott Lee on 14, and both will start here.

MK Dons possible starting lineup:
Kelly; Norman, O’Hora, Harvie; Lofthouse, Payne, Bate, Tomlinson; Kemp, Wearne, Gilbey

Wrexham possible starting lineup:
Okonkwo; Barnett, Cleworth, O’Connell, Boyle, McClean; Jones, Cannon, Lee; Mullin, Marriott

We say: MK Dons 1-1 Wrexham
It is difficult to ignore the home form of MK Dons and away form of Wrexham when choosing a result on Tuesday night. A case can be made for either to win it, but we believe that two quality sides will end up with a point each, which both managers would likely accept ahead of kickoff.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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