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

AFC Wimbledon and Gillingham get their EFL Cup campaign up and running when they lock horns in the first round at the Cherry Red Records Stadium on Tuesday.

Both sides squared off in this season's League Two opener on July 30, with Johnnie Jackson's side cruising to a comfortable 2-0 victory in front of their home fans.

Match preview

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AFC Wimbledon continue to struggle for form away from home as they were held to an uneventful goalless draw by Hartlepool United last Saturday.

In an end-to-end affair at the Victoria Park, both sides were guilty of a lethargic display at the attacking end of the pitch where they failed to convert their chances before settling for a share of the spoils.

Wimbledon have now failed to taste victory on the road in any of their competitive outings since the turn of the year — managing four draws and losing nine — with their last away win coming when they saw off Accrington Stanley 2-0 on December 7.

Jackson's side, who where they were relegated from League One last term, have now managed just one win from their last six games across all competitions, picking up two draws and losing twice.

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Like the hosts, Gillingham were relegated from League One last season when they picked up 40 points from 46 games to finish 21st in the league standings, only below 20th-placed Fleetwood Town on goal difference.

The Gills got their League Two campaign underway on July 30, when they suffered a 2-0 defeat away to AFC Wimbledon before bouncing back to claim a hard-earned 1-0 victory over Rochdale last time out.

In that encounter, Scott Kashket's ninth-minute strike was enough to separate the sides at the Priestfield Stadium as Robbie Stockdale's men were condemned to a third defeat on the bounce across all competitions.

Gillingham have now failed to taste victory in any of their last four competitive games away from home, picking up one draw and losing three since March's 2-1 victory over Accrington Stanley.

While Neil Harris's side will be looking to end this dry spell and get their cup run off on a high, next up is an opposing side who they have failed to defeat in their last four attempts, losing twice and managing two draws since a 2-1 victory in November 2020.

Team News

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Off the back of keeping a second consecutive clean sheet, we expect Jackson to name an unchanged back line on Tuesday, meaning that we should see a back three of William Nightingale, Alex Pearce and Lee Brown shielding Nik Tzanev in goal.

On the injury front, 23-year-old midfielder Luke McCormick is a doubt for AFC Wimbledon after missing the last three games through injury.

Meanwhile, Gillingham will be without former Ross County man Ashley Maynard-Brewer, who has been out of action since January through a severe knee injury.

He is joined on the club's injury table by 31-year-old midfielder Stuart O'Keefe, who is set to sit out his third consecutive game through a muscle problem.

Kashket grabbed his first-ever goal for the Gills in the win over Rochdale last time out and the former Crewe Alexandra man should retain his place in the final third, alongside Scottish forward Mikael Mandron.

AFC Wimbledon possible starting lineup:

Killip; Menayese, Lacey, Murray; Sterry, Featherstone, Niang, Ferguson; Cooke, Hastie, Umerah

Gillingham possible starting lineup:

Morris; Wright, Ehmer, Elkan, Law; Lee, Williams; Green, Reeves, Kashket; Mandron

We say: AFC Wimbledon 2-1 Gillingham

Gillingham have failed to win any of their last four visits to the Cherry Red Records Stadium, losing three and managing one draw since a 4-2 win in March 2019. Wimbledon have enjoyed the better of this fixture and we are backing them to come away with a slender victory once again.

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