Oxford United will be looking to continue their recent run of good form when they take on AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday night.
Karl Robinson’s side have scored 13 goals in their last three games and have moved into the top six for the first time this season after a 3-2 win over Gillingham.
The Dons are also in a purple patch and have eased their relegation worries with three successive wins over Accrington, Ipswich and Swindon respectively, scoring 12 goals from those fixtures. As a result, Mark Robinson’s side are now five points clear of the drop.
Striker Joe Pigott is the danger man for the Dons, having scored 19 goals in all competitions this season, including a brace in a 4-1 win over Swindon last time out. At 27 years old, he is also one of the older players in what is the youngest squad in League One.
While their form has improved, there are still defensive issues for Wimbledon. Six sides have conceded more goals this season, but only three have recorded fewer clean sheets than the Dons’ eight.
Wimbledon are still without long-term absentees in Terell Thomas, Callum Reilly and Shayon Harrison, while the U’s can welcome back Brandon Barker, Mark Sykes and Alex Rodriguez Gorrin from injury.
This fixture will be the fourth meeting of the season between the two sides. The first round of the Carabao Cup ended in a 1-1 draw, which the U’s won on penalties, before a 2-0 reverse in the league on Boxing Day. Oxford also won the Football League Trophy match 3-1, extending their unbeaten run against the Dons to six games.
Predicted line-up: Jack Stevens, Josh Ruffels, Rob Atkinson, Elliott Moore, Sam Long, Cameron Brannagan, Anthony Forde, James Henry, Brandon Barker, Elliot Lee, Matty Taylor
Prediction: AFC Wimbledon 1-2 Oxford United
