AFC Wimbledon meet Port Vale in a stand-out clash on a weekend of depleted League One action due to international call-ups.
Victory would lift AFC Wimbledon up to third in the table, although they can go second if win by at least a four-goal margin.
Port Vale can climb to 13th with a win if Northampton and Wigan both fail to win elsewhere, whilst a winning margin of three goals or more would move them up a further place to 12th.
Team News
Matty Stevens is again ruled out for AFC Wimbledon after he missed their 2-0 victory at Blackpool due to a hamstring injury.
Joe Lewis (rib/finger) too is definitely sidelined but Antwoine Hackford (fitness) faces a late check on his availability.
Port Vale could be without Kyle John after the defender limped out of their 2-0 Vertu Trophy win at Accrington Stanley with a knock.
Liam Gordon (knee), Mitch Clark and Jaheim Headley (both unspecified) remain ruled out.
When is Kick-Off?
AFC Wimbledon host Port Vale on Saturday 11 October at 3pm BST at Cherry Red Records Stadium, live on Sky Sports + in the UK.
Stat Attack
- AFC Wimbledon have won just one of their last six meetings against Port Vale (W1, D1, L4).
- Port Vale have won just one of four previous EFL visits to AFC Wimbledon (W1, D1, L2).
- AFC Wimbledon have conceded twice in three of their four previous home games against Port Vale, except for a 4-0 win in their only previous home clash in League One in December 2016.
- Three of Matty Stevens’ five league goals for AFC Wimbledon have been scored at home, and two of those three home goals were netted from the penalty spot.
- Port Vale have lost just one of their last five league visits to London-based opposition (W2, D2, L1).
Prediction
Having found form in their last four league matches, AFC Wimbledon know that is a massive opportunity to put pressure upon their promotion rivals who have the weekend off – especially after a clinical display at Blackpool with their third clean sheet of the season.
Port Vale though have the better overall head-to-head form over the Dons and have settled nicely into the third-tier again after a very slow start to the season, especially with clean sheets in three of their last four matches which is ideal coming into this tricky clash against another in-form team.
Although a draw is my initial call given the Valiants’ recent strong away form in the UK capital, I do feel that AFC Wimbledon might just be too strong but this nevertheless should be a cracking clash between two of the promoted teams.
Prediction: AFC Wimbledon 2-1 Port Vale
Result: AFC Wimbledon 1-1 Port Vale