Relegation-threatened Colchester United play host to playoff candidates AFC Wimbledon at the JobServe Community Stadium in League Two on Thursday.
Matt Bloomfield's side are two points above the National League trapdoor, while at the other end of the table, The Dons sit just outside the playoff positions.
Match preview
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Supporters of Colchester United will not have been feeling very festive before the beginning of the Christmas period, with The U's sitting in 22nd position in the League Two standings after picking up only 17 points from a possible 63 points on offer so far this season.
After only one win in their last five matches before December 26, Bloomfield's side recorded a belated Boxing Day present for their increasingly frustrated supporters with Junior Tchamadeu's goal enough for a 1-0 success over Gillingham.
Before that much-needed victory over one of their fellow relegation candidates, Colchester were last in action on December 10, when they not only suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Sutton United but were also reduced to 10 men following Ossama Ashley's dismissal in the second half.
Hoping to get back on track at the first time asking, The U's attempts were thwarted a week later when their match against Salford City was postponed after discovering a frozen pitch at the JobServe Community Stadium.
In the wake of registering only four victories throughout a so-far frustrating campaign for Colchester, supporters will hope that the confidence boost from their win over Gillingham can carry on when Wimbledon take their turn to be the visitors on Thursday.
AFC Wimbledon are one of the in-form sides in the fourth tier of English football after registering four victories in their last seven matches, which has seen Johnnie Jackson's side move to within four points of the heavily-contested playoff positions.
After being knocked out on penalties in the third round of the Football League Trophy by League One leaders Plymouth Argyle on December 21, The Dons witnessed their clash against Stevenage fall foul of the below-zero temperatures that have plagued the country throughout this month.
However, the weather would not get in the way of Wimbledon's Boxing Day clash with Newport County, as Jackson's side played out a 1-1 draw, despite playing the majority of the second half with only 10 men following Kyle Hudlin's dismissal just after the hour mark.
If Wimbledon can continue their current run of form following only one league defeat over the last two-and-a-half months, The Dons will have notable claims of being involved in the hustle and bustle of the playoffs from now until the conclusion of the season.
With only one head-to-head encounter registered in the footballing history books, Wimbledon will be out to cause a repeat of their 2-1 success at the beginning of October.
Team News
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Wimbledon will rely on top scorer Josh Davison and highly sought-after midfielder Ayoub Assal to lead the attacking line against Colchester, with Davison's strike-partner Kyle Hudlin suspended for the trip to the JobServe Community Stadium following his red card against Newport County.
In the absence of the on-loan Huddersfield Town man, 19-year-old Nathan Young-Coombes could come into Johnnie Jackson's starting XI after making an appearance off the substitutes' bench on Monday.
After scoring eight times across all competitions this season, it would be no surprise if the Dons were to receive an inundated amount of interest from sides higher up in the Football League pyramid trying to secure the signature of Assal during next month's transfer window.
One of the shining lights in a disappointing season, midfielder Alex Newby could again be absent from the Colchester squad after missing the last two matches due to an undisclosed injury.
In the wake of scoring the fourth-fewest goals in League Two this season, The U's faithful will again look to Samson Tovide to fire the hosts to victory.
Colchester United possible starting lineup:
O'Hara; Tchamadeu, Chambers, Eastman, Dallison; Skuse, Huws; Chesters, Newby, Tovide; Appiah
AFC Wimbledon possible starting lineup:
Tzanev; Biler, Kalambayi, Towler, Currie; Maghoma, Woodyard, Chislett, Pell, Assal; Davison
We say: Colchester United 1-2 AFC Wimbledon
At the risk of plying their trade outside of the Football League for the first time since 1992, former Colchester City player Johnnie Jackson could once again return to haunt his former employers, as Wimbledon take another step towards an immediate return to League One.
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