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

Wycombe Wanderers and MK Dons face each other on Saturday, for the first time since last season's League One playoff semi-final.

Gareth Ainsworth's side went through to the Wembley showcase despite defeat in the second leg at Stadium:MK, but this game will be played under different circumstances with both teams in the bottom half of the table.

Match preview

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The Dons have been lacklustre to say the least this season after missing out on automatic promotion to the Championship by just three points last term.

They sit inside the relegation zone with just three wins to their name, and their issues were compounded in their last league game when they lost 4-1 at home to Plymouth Argyle.

Morgan Whittaker, Niall Ennis and Finn Azaz gave the league-leading visitors a 3-0 lead at half time, with Azaz grabbing his second after Will Grigg had given the hosts the slightest glimmer of hope four minutes after the interval.

That result was the fourth straight league defeat, meaning they have lost nine times in the division - the same number they suffered over the entirety of last season.

They have struggled to replace the quality that talisman Scott Twine and commanding centre-back Harry Darling produced last season after they departed to Championship Burnley and Swansea City respectively.

Liam Manning's side have picked up wins in the EFL Trophy in recent weeks, including Tuesday's win away at Walsall which confirmed their progression to the next round of that competition.

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Wycombe, who ultimately fell short in the playoff final against Sunderland in May, have also struggled at the beginning of this season, just not quite to the extent of the Dons.

It does look that Ainsworth and his players have turned their fortunes around in previous weeks, with back-to-back wins for the first time this season, following on from their victory against Oxford United two weeks ago with a come-from-behind win against Peterborough United last time out.

Harrison Burrows had given the Posh the lead, but goals from Garath McCleary, Sam Vokes and Anis Mehmeti moved Wycombe to 13th in the table and to within four points of the top six.

Mehmeti is the team's top scorer with six in the league so far, and finished off a quick counter-attack at the weekend, something that Wycombe have done well all season.

MK Dons have struggled in the air so far this campaign, and Wycombe's physicality from crosses and set pieces could cause issues, especially with big targets such as Vokes and Alfie Mawson to aim for.

They were also in action in the EFL Trophy in the week, drawing 1-1 with Peterborough and winning a bonus point via a penalty shootout, but it was not enough to see them progress to the next round of the competition.

Team News

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Dons' morale-boosting win at Walsall saw Manning make nine changes and he could be inclined to give some of the players from that game a go from the start.

They are still without Tennai Watson and Mo Eisa through injury, and Dawson Devoy will miss out due to suspension.

Wycombe will hope to have Jack Grimmer available, after the full-back was brought off with an injury in midweek.

They are still without Ryan Tafazolli, Josh Scowen and Curtis Thompson but could have Dominic Gape back from the injury he suffered at Oxford two weeks ago.

MK Dons possible starting lineup:

Cumming; O'Hora, Tucker, Lewington; Oyegoke, Smith, McEachran, Johnson, Harvie; Grigg, Dennis

Wycombe Wanderers possible starting lineup:

Stryjek; Forino-Joseph, Mawson, Jacobson; McCarthy, Freeman, Wing, Obita; McCleary, Mehmeti; Vokes

We say: MK Dons 1-2 Wycombe Wanderers

Wycombe are growing in confidence and have looked more like the team that reached the playoff final last season, and should pick up the win against a poor MK Dons.

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