Two teams with opposing stakes face off this weekend at Stadium MK, with MK Dons looking to build on recent momentum against a Grimsby Town side fighting for the final playoff spot.
The Dons earned their first win under new manager Paul Warne with a hard-fought 1-0 success over Crewe Alexandra last Saturday, ensuring their League Two status for another season and finally putting an end to a six-match winless streak.
Warne, who took over on April 15, had earlier overseen a goalless draw against Newport County to end a run of four straight defeats, and his side is now unbeaten in two and has kept consecutive clean sheets for the first time in this season.
The Dons are currently 18th in the table with 50 points from 14 wins, eight draws, and 22 defeats, 11 points clear of the relegation zone with only two games remaining, and will be looking forward to a much-improved campaign next season after failing to improve on last season’s fourth-place finish.
Their immediate goal, however, is to finish the season on a high note, and MK will be buoyed by a 3-1 victory in the reverse game when they host Grimsby this Saturday, though it is worth noting that their previous two home meetings with the Mariners both finished 1-1.
The Dons have gone without a win in their last three home games, drawing the last two 2-2, and this slump has resulted in only eight league victories at Stadium MK this season, five draws and nine defeats, with an equal number of goals scored and conceded.
The stakes for Grimsby Town could not be clearer: two wins in their remaining games would secure a playoff spot, but any slip-up might allow Colchester United, Salford City, or Chesterfield to capture that precious position.
The Mariners are fifth with 67 points from 20 wins, seven draws, and 17 losses, with margins of one, two, and three points above Colchester, Salford, and Chesterfield, respectively, making the trip to Milton Keynes crucial.
Grimsby’s Achilles heel has been their weak backline, which has conceded 66 goals, the most of any team in the top three-quarters of the division. Only MK Dons (66), Newport County (70), and Accrington Stanley (68) outside the relegation zone have conceded as many.
That weakness was shown in their most recent appearance, when David Artell’s side surrendered a two-goal lead against Port Vale to draw 2-2, extending their winless record to three games and leaving them with a -5 goal difference, which might prove expensive if final positions are decided on that basis.
Despite their recent troubles, Grimsby are the league’s fourth-best travelers, having collected 34 points from 22 road games, and will be hoping that their excellent away form can get them over the finish line.
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Team News
Warne is anticipated to stick with the same starting eleven that helped him avoid defeat in his first two games as MK Dons manager.
However, defender Nathan Thompson is expected to miss the rest of the season owing to a significant knee injury, while Sam Sherring remains injured.
Donovan Wilson is out due to a hamstring injury, while Cameron Gardner is also out with a thigh ailment.
Justin Obikwu, Lewis Cass, and Jayden Luker are also out, as they are still undergoing treatment.
Meanwhile, Danny Rose, who scored twice last weekend, is poised to lead the line again as he looks to add to his league record of 14 goals.
MK Dons possible starting lineup:
MacGillivray; Offord, Sanders, Maguire; Tomlinson, Thompson-Sommers, Lemonheigh-Evans, Nemane; Kelly, Leko; Hogan
Grimsby Town possible starting lineup:
Eastwood; Tharme, Rodgers, Warren; Hume, Khouri, Green, Svanthórsson; McEachran; Vernam, Rose
We predict: MK Dons 0-1 Grimsby Town.
While Grimsby have only won once in four visits to MK Dons, their increased urgency in the playoff chase may provide them an advantage in this match, especially with the hosts displaying more defensive discipline recently, which may keep the score close.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match :https://www.sportupdates.co.uk/streamlive
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