Preview: AFC Wimbledon vs Cardiff City - prediction, team news, lineups

Fighting to claim top spot this week, Cardiff City will travel to take on AFC Wimbledon at the Cherry Red Records Stadium in League One on Tuesday.

The Dons are looking for their fourth straight win, while the Bluebirds will be hoping to continue their unbeaten streak.

Match preview

Johnnie Jackson's Wimbledon were promoted from League Two via the playoffs in 2024-25, and they have made light work of the step-up in division so far.

The Dons took all three points in a 2-1 win on the road against Reading last time out, courtesy of goals in either half from Matt Stevens and Marcus Browne.

That victory brought Jackson's men up to 10th in the table, where their tally of six points from their opening three games has them just one shy of sixth-placed Bradford City in the playoff spots.

Feeling that earning back-to-back promotions is an achievable target, the hosts will take confidence from the fact that they have won their three most recent competitive home matches, and fans may even be expecting a positive result.

Additionally, Wimbledon have now won their last three games across all competitions since losing their opening league clash this term, and another triumph in midweek could push the club into the top six.

Meanwhile, Brian Barry-Murphy's Cardiff were relegated after finishing bottom of the Championship last season, and they will be desperate to bounce back at the first time of asking.

To that end, the Bluebirds are yet to lose a league game in 2024-25, and they are in fact unbeaten across all competitions after beating Swindon Town 2-1 in the first round of the EFL Cup.

On Saturday, Barry-Murphy's men showed their class with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Rotherham United, keeping a clean sheet as Yousef Salech, Cian Ashford and Rubin Colwill all found the back of the net by the hour mark.

Three points at the weekend has Cardiff second in the table with a tally of seven, and given that they are just two points behind leaders Stevenage, they will see this clash as a must-win to keep within reach of the top spot.

However, the Bluebirds have struggled on the road in 2025, and with zero wins from their last seven away matches, it remains to be seen whether they can improve their travelling form in a lower division.

AFC Wimbledon League One form:

AFC Wimbledon form (all competitions):

Cardiff City League One form:

Cardiff City form (all competitions):

Team News

Wimbledon could be without versatile defender Ryan Johnson this week after he was withdrawn with an injury late on against Reading, and Riley Harbottle will be ready to take his place if he is unavailable.

At the opposite end of the pitch, forward Antwoine Hackford was also substituted with an injury last time out, and Myles Hippolyte should start in his absence.

As for Cardiff, all three of their goalscorers from the weekend will start the game, with Yousef Salech up top, supported by a trio of Cian Ashford, Rubin Colwill and Ollie Tanner.

Backing up the forwards from the base of midfield will be David Turnbull and Ryan Wintle, and they will operate just in front of centre-backs William Fish and Dylan Lawlor.

AFC Wimbledon possible starting lineup:

Bishop; Ogundere, Lewis, Harbottle; Asiimwe, Reeves, Smith, Seddon; Hippolyte, Stevens, Browne

Cardiff City possible starting lineup:

Trott; Kpakio, Fish, Lawlor, Mafico; Turnbull, Wintle; Ashford, Colwill, Tanner; Salech