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

In the second matchweek of the League One season, AFC Wimbledon will welcome Lincoln City to the Cherry Red Records Stadium on Saturday.

The hosts opened their campaign with a 1-0 defeat against Luton Town on August 1 and are 18th, while Lincoln beat Reading 2-0 on August 2 and are fifth with three points.

Match preview

AFC Wimbledon can have no complaints with their defeat at the hands of Luton despite the fact they lost because of an 85th-minute own goal considering they produced just two shots, with their only attempt in the box coming from a 78th-minute set piece.

The defeat will have come as a reality check for boss Johnnie Jackson, who guided his side to the third tier after his team won the League Two playoffs.

Saturday's hosts had kept a clean sheet in their prior four competitive matches, though they only scored once in each of those fixtures.

The Dons ended their League Two season with four consecutive wins, but they lost the three friendly games leading up to their loss against Luton.

Jackson's side were mixed at home in the closing stages of 2024-25, with the hosts winning two, drawing two and losing two of their last six competitive outings at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.

Opponents Lincoln were excellent from a defensive perspective against Reading, preventing them from creating a single big chance and keeping their first competitive clean sheet in four games.

Head coach Michael Skubala guided his side to an 11th-placed finish in League One last term, a season in which his players struggled to create opportunities in the final third, with their 89 big chances only the 14th best figure in the division.

The Imps' most recent clash against their hosts came in March 2022 - a 2-0 win in League One - and they have drawn two, won two and lost one of the sides' five league meetings.

Lincoln's victory against Reading was their first competitive win in three attempts, and it was just their second triumph in seven matches when including the club's three friendlies, a period in which they suffered four defeats.

The visitors' performances away from home were poor last season considering they ended the 2024-25 campaign having been beaten in four of final six outings on the road, winning just once while conceding 11 times and scoring on eight occasions.

AFC Wimbledon League One form:

Lincoln City League One form:

Team News

If Wimbledon continue to utilise a back three, expect Isaac Ogundere, Joe Lewis and Ryan Johnson to appear in defence.

Midfielders Jake Reeves and Alistair Smith were selected together against Luton, and they could retain their places in the XI.

Striker Mathew Stevens may spearhead a front three also featuring Myles Hippolyte and Josh Kelly.

As for the visitors, winger Reeco Hackett-Fairchild netted against Reading, and he will almost certainly be in the starting lineup.

Robert Street could flank striker James Collins from the right, while Jack Moylan is likely to be fielded as a number 10.

Conor McGrandles and Tom Bayliss are the most probable candidates to be stationed ahead of centre-backs Adam Jackson and Sonny Bradley.

AFC Wimbledon possible starting lineup:

Bishop; Ogundere, Lewis, Johnson; Asiimwe, Reeves, Smith, Seddon; Hippolyte, Kelly; Stevens

Lincoln City possible starting lineup:

Wickens; Darikwa, Jackson, Bradley, Towler; McGrandles, Bayliss; Street, Moylan, Hackett-Fairchild; Collins

We say: AFC Wimbledon 0-2 Lincoln City

Wimbledon's performance against Luton was alarming, and if they struggle similarly in the final third on the weekend, then their chances of winning will be slim.

Though Lincoln's displays in front of goal have been subpar at times, they will be confident of maintaining a lead should they score first.

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