Preview: MK Dons vs. Wigan Athletic - prediction, team news, lineups

A crucial contest in the battle for promotion will take place at Stadium MK when third-placed MK Dons face Wigan Athletic, who currently sit in second position.

Although both sides are level on 72 points, Wigan have the advantage of possessing three games in hand over Saturday's opponents.

Match preview

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MK Dons are the most in-form side in League One at the moment, having avoided defeat in their last 10 games, with their last five outings resulting in maximum points.

In fact, no side has collected more points in League One in 2022 than the Dons, who have lost just one of their 15 league games in the current calendar year.

In midweek, they claimed a 3-1 home victory over Cheltenham Town thanks to a Troy Parrott brace and a Mo Eisa strike.

Despite their impressive run of results, Liam Manning will view Saturday's home contest as a must-win game if his side are to have realistic ambitions of clinching automatic promotion to the Championship.

Having scored at least two goals in their last five fixtures, MK Dons will be confident that they have the resources to test one of the best defences in League One on Saturday.

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Although they are chasing promotion to the Championship, Wigan will be disappointed that they missed out on a Wembley trip after they were eliminated by Sutton United in the semi-finals of the EFL Trophy in midweek.

James McClean levelled the tie before half time following Will Randall's opener and with neither side able to find a winner, the contest went straight to penalties, where the Latics ultimately fell short.

Despite missing out on a Wembley final, Leam Richardson will be fully aware that the league takes priority and a victory on Saturday could prove crucial in the race for promotion.

Like their hosts, the Latics have also enjoyed a successful opening to the year after losing only two matches in their 13 league games in 2022.

They have also lost just twice on their travels in League One this season, and after claiming back-to-back league victories, they will be confident of another positive result on Saturday.

Team News

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Aden Baldwin is ruled out for the hosts, while there are doubts over Connor Wickham and Tennai Watson who have both picked up knocks.

Manning is expected to bring Scott Twine back into the starting lineup after the 22-year-old dropped down to the bench for the midweek contest.

Meanwhile, Eisa will be aiming to score for a fourth consecutive game when he leads the line for the Dons on Saturday.

Wigan are without the services of Thelo Aasgaard and Jordan Cousins, who are both long-term absentees.

Glen Rea is expected to miss out after picking up a knee problem last weekend, while Jason Kerr is also ruled out due to an injury issue.

After making a number of changes for the EFL Trophy semi-final, Richardson is expected to name a similar starting lineup to the one that began the contest with AFC Wimbledon last Saturday.

MK Dons possible starting lineup:

Cumming; O'Hora, Darling, Lewington; Corbeanu, Smith, Coventry, Kesler; Twine, Parrott, Eisa

Wigan Athletic possible starting lineup:

Amos; Power, Whatmough, Watts, Darikwa; Naylor, Shinnie; Lang, Keane, Edwards; Humphrys

We say: MK Dons 2-1 Wigan Athletic

Both sides are in impressive form, but after winning their last five matches, we think that MK Dons will have the edge over the Latics and a victory on Saturday would see the Dons claim a league double over Wigan.