Preview: MK Dons vs. Cheltenham Town - prediction, team news, lineups

MK Dons will look to stretch their winning run to five league games on Tuesday, when they play host to Cheltenham Town.

A fourth straight victory at the weekend saw Liam Manning's side remain within three points of the top two spots in the League One table, while their hosts climbed to 14th place after a win of their own.

Match preview

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Thanks to a strong season under Liam Manning, MK Dons remain firmly in the hunt for automatic promotion to the Championship.

They have hugely strengthened their claim with four straight victories heading into Tuesday, starting with away wins over Sunderland and Charlton Athletic.

After making it three wins on the bounce against Bolton Wanderers, the Dons stretched that run to four matches against the odds at the weekend, defeating runaway league leaders Rotherham United 2-1 away from home despite being reduced to 10 men.

Daniel Harvie was sent off in the 25th minute, and Dan Barlaser netted the resultant penalty to go 1-0 up, only for Manning's men to overturn the deficit short-handed in the second half through Harry Darling and Mo Eisa.

That saw them remain just three points behind second-placed Wigan Athletic, and, while the Latics hold two games in hand, MK Dons will know they can ramp up the pressure if they continue their impressive winning run.

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To do that, they will have to defeat a Cheltenham Town side who have confidence after a victory of their own at the weekend.

Following an 11-match winless run between November and February, Tuesday's visitors dropped deep into the bottom half of the League One table, but they have since turned their form around in impressive fashion.

They stopped the rot with back-to-back wins over Sunderland and Fleetwood Town before playing out draws with promotion-chasing duo Wycombe Wanderers and Ipswich Town, the former of which being a dramatic 5-5 scoreline.

After a narrow defeat to Crewe Alexandra, Michael Duff's men made an eye-catching return to winning ways last time out, thrashing strugglers Doncaster Rovers 4-0 on home turf thanks to an Alfie May brace and goals from Ben Williams and Mattie Pollock.

As a result of their impressive turnaround, the Robins have climbed back up to 14th spot in League One, and they will now go in search of another positive result to continue their rise towards the top half.

Team News

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MK Dons will be without left-back Daniel Harvie, who is suspended following his red card at Rotherham.

They have tended to keep a relatively consistent squad, and Manning has dealt well with the January losses of Andy Fisher, Peter Kioso and Matt O'Riley, with Jamie Cumming stepping in between the sticks and Conor Coventry joining Josh McEachran in the midfield.

Mo Eisa will continue to lead the line after taking his league goals tally to nine last time out, while Theo Corbeanu will hope to displace either Scott Twine or Troy Parrott in the front three.

Michael Duff may opt to keep his Cheltenham XI unchanged after a rampant performance at the weekend.

Kion Etete should continue to lead the line alongside Alfie May, who took his tally to 17 league goals for the season with a brace in that game.

Elsewhere, Charlie Raglan, Mattie Pollock and Will Boyle will again line up as a back three.

MK Dons possible starting lineup:

Cumming; O'Hora, Darling, Lewington; Watson, McEachran, Coventry, Kesler; Corbeanu, Eisa, Twine

Cheltenham Town possible starting lineup:

Evans; Raglan, Pollock, Boyle; Blair, Wright, Bonds, Ramsey, Williams; May, Etete

We say: MK Dons 2-1 Cheltenham Town

Cheltenham have certainly been vastly improved recently, and they will pose a tough test, but we back the hosts to get over the line.

Manning's men come in with plenty of momentum, and they will look for a fifth straight win to keep up their pursuit of the top two.