Preview:AFC Wimbledon vs Barnsley - prediction, team news, lineups

AFC Wimbledon play host to Barnsley on Saturday afternoon looking to build on their solid start to the campaign since promotion from the fourth tier.

Meanwhile, Barnsley make the trip to the capital having put together an unbeaten opening to the season, helping them sit in third position in the League One table.

Match preview

With momentum on their side from the win in the League Two playoff final, AFC Wimbledon have impressed on their return to the fourth tier.

Even in narrow defeats to Luton Town and Cardiff City, Johnnie Jackson's side suggested that they are ready to cement their place at this level.

As well as conceding just three times in four matches, AFC Wimbledon have victories over Lincoln City and Reading to their name,

Already with a five-point advantage over the relegation zone, there is an opportunity for the Dons to move further clear and already target consolidation.

Nathan Asiimwe and Matty Stevens have made the biggest impression thus far, either providing one goal and one assist or the latter netting twice in four outings.

However, AFC Wimbledon's defensive record will be put to the test by a free-scoring Barnsley outfit that have already scored eight times.

Conor Hourihane's side also kept their first competitive clean sheet since the early part of 2025 in defeating Peterborough United 1-0 last time out.

That will have come as a huge relief to Hourihane, even with his Barnsley side showing during the early weeks of the campaign that they have the quality to go the distance in a promotion race.

Davis Keillor-Dunn, Caylan Vickers and David McGoldrick have all netted two goals apiece, while Adam Phillips has one strike and two assists to his name in the number 10 role.

AFC Wimbledon League One form:

L W W L

AFC Wimbledon form (all competitions):

L W D W L

Barnsley League One form:

W W D W

Barnsley form (all competitions):

W W D D W

Team News

Riley Harbottle is in line to start for AFC Wimbledon after Joe Lewis was forced off in the 28th minute against Cardiff.

Antwoine Hackford is also pushing for a second league start of the campaign ahead of Danilo Orsi.

Vimal Yoganathan is in contention to return to the Barnsley midfield after serving a one-match suspension.

Patrick Kelly's place in the team is most at risk, but the 20-year-old may be retained in the engine room having impressed in Yoganathan's absence.

Jon Russell and Reyes Cleary are both in contention should Hourihane wish to introduce fresh legs with 37-year-old McGoldrick playing 90 minutes in midweek.

AFC Wimbledon possible starting lineup:

Bishop; Asiimwe, Ogundere, Harbottle, Johnson, Seddon; Smith, Reeves, Hippolyte; Orsi, Stevens

Barnsley possible starting lineup:

Cooper; Watson, Shepherd, Earl, Ogbeta; Connell, Kelly; Vickers, Phillips, Keillor-Dunn; McGoldrick

We say: AFC Wimbledon 1-1 Barnsley

Having already tested themselves against two of the title favourites, Wimbledon will feel that they have acclimatised to this level. Barnsley are the clear favourites to prevail, yet the Dons could have enough about them to earn a hard-fought share of the spoils.

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