The Dons bring awesome away form to London Road, but top scorer is unlikely to play, plus past matches and a referee to send a shiver down your spine

The Dons have surpassed all expectations so far to sit sixth in the third tier after winning promotion from League Two through the play-offs.

And they’ve gained most ground on their travels with four wins in seven outings, including the last three at Doncaster (2-1), Blackpool (2-0) and Plymouth (2-1).

But the Londoners have lost their last two games, both at home, to Burton Albion in League One and to National League Gateshead in the FA Cup without scoring a goal. Posh boss Luke Williams has told his team to ignore those results though see here

The closeness of the division was emphasised by Reading’s 1-0 Thursday night win over Stevenage, one that lifted ‘The Royals’ up eight places to 12th. But even two wins wouldn’t necessarily get Posh out of the bottom four because they have the worst goal difference in League One so the need for good form over a reasonable period is urgent. Posh are currently six points from safety after Reading’s win.

KEY GAMES

Other Saturday games involving teams in the bottom half are: Blackpool v Cardiff; Bolton v Port Vale; Bradford v Burton; Doncaster v Barnsley; Exeter v Wigan; Huddersfield v Plymouth; Northampton v Mansfield; Rotherham v Lincoln; Wycombe v Orient.

DONS DANGER MEN

Top scorer for ‘The Dons’ in League One this season is former Posh striker Matty Stevens with five goals, but he is unlikely to feature tomorrow because of a hamstring injury. Stevens, a former boxer, spent three years at Posh without making a single start. A man signed from Barnet made just five substitute appearances, four of them in the DFL, for Posh before embarking on a prolific goal-scoring career at Forest Green Rovers and Wimbledon.

Responsibility for goals has fallen to Omar Bugiel and Danilo Orsi, a former Crawley Town teammate of Posh forward Klaidi Lolos. Winger Marcus Browne was a decent player at Oxford. He came on a substitute in both League One play-off semi-final games against Posh in May, 2024, after which he moved on a free transfer to Wimbledon.

PAST MATCHES

Posh have won their last three EFL meetings with AFC Wimbledon at London Road, most recently goals from Sam Szmodics (2) and Jonson Clarke-Harris secured a 3-0 success in February 2021. Posh won promotion from League One that season.

Wimbledon’s only win in their most recent re-incarnation arrived in October, 2016 when an early Tom Elliott goal was enough.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE

Simon Mather referees Posh v Wimbledon on Saturday which might send a shiver down a few spines. He took charge of Posh three times in League One last season, overseeing a 2-1 derby loss at Northampton, a 5-1 thrashing at Lincoln City and the humiliating 4-0 loss at home to Cobblers.

BIG MATCH ODDS

Posh are 6-4 to beat Wimbledon with Sky Bet tomorrow. It’s 8-5 on an away win and 2-1 on the draw.

PLAYED FOR BOTH

Current Posh goalkeeper Alex Bass played a season on loan at AFC Wimbledon from Sunderland in the 2023-44 season, making 44 League Two starts. Recent Posh skipper Alex Woodyard went on to captain AFC Wimbledon.