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

MK Dons will be bidding to make it three League One victories in a row when they welcome fellow strugglers Morecambe to Buckinghamshire on Saturday afternoon.

The home side are currently 20th in the table, one point outside of the relegation zone, while Morecambe occupy 22nd, two points behind their opponents in this contest.

Match preview

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MK Dons have spent the last three seasons in League One, finishing third in the third tier last term, which saw them qualify for the playoffs, but they lost to Wycombe Wanderers in the semi-finals.

The Dons are not in a playoff race at this stage of the 2022-23 campaign, though, and are instead focusing on avoiding relegation to the fourth tier of English football.

Mark Jackson's side have won 10, drawn six and lost 21 of their 37 league matches this season to collect 36 points, which has left them in 20th spot in the table, one point outside of the relegation zone.

MK Dons' recent form has allowed them to move out of the bottom three, recording back-to-back victories over Cambridge United and Accrington Stanley.

The Dons have actually won each of their last four games against Morecambe without conceding, including a 2-0 victory in the reverse game earlier this season.

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While MK Dons appear to be heading in the right direction, Morecambe are struggling to pick up wins at the moment, failing to triumph in League One since February 21.

Derek Adams's side have lost three and drawn three of their last six league games, and they will enter this match off the back of a 1-1 draw with Oxford United last weekend.

Morecambe are currently 22nd in the table, two points behind 20th-placed MK Dons, and they have played a game more than their opponents this weekend, which could be crucial.

The Shrimps were promoted to League One for the 2021-22 campaign, finishing 19th in the third tier, so avoiding relegation this term would be seen as a huge positive.

Morecambe actually have the second-worst away record in the division this term, only picking up eight points from 18 matches, but MK Dons have struggled at home, collecting just 13 points in front of their own supporters.

Team News

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MK Dons head coach Jackson could name an unchanged side from the one that took to the field for the first whistle against Accrington last time out.

Mohamed Eisa has scored six league goals this season and will again feature in the final third alongside Will Grigg, who has netted five times in League One in 2022-23.

Sullay Kaikai's eighth-minute goal proved to be the difference against Accrington, and the 27-year-old will again feature in the starting side for this match.

As for Morecambe, head coach Adams could make just the one change from the side that started the home draw with Oxford United last time out.

Cole Stockton has scored four league goals during the 2022-23 campaign and is likely to come back into the starting team for this weekend's fixture.

Oumar Niasse, formerly of Everton, recently moved to Morecambe on a deal until the end of the season, and the experienced striker will again be in the XI for this match.

MK Dons possible starting lineup:

Cumming; Watson, Tucker, Lewington; Kaikai, McEachran, Maghoma, Harvie; Grant, Grigg, Eisa

Morecambe possible starting lineup:

Ripley; Simeu, Rawson, Bedeau; Love, Shaw, Weir, Gibson; Crowley, Niasse, Stockton

We say: MK Dons 1-0 Morecambe

MK Dons will have gained plenty of confidence from their last two victories, both of which have been 1-0, and we are backing another success for Jackson's side in this match, which would further boost their hopes of staying in the division this season.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.