AFC Wimbledon face a critical away test against Sheffield Wednesday this Saturday as they look to close the gap to the League One top seven. The Dons, currently 12th with 12 points from nine games, are three points behind their seventh-placed hosts at Hillsborough. The match kicks off at 3pm on Saturday, with Wimbledon seeking to end a run of four league games without a win.
Henrik Pedersen's Sheffield Wednesday side are unbeaten in eight matches across all competitions but have drawn their last three league games. They needed a late penalty to secure a 2-2 draw at Huddersfield Town last weekend, a match where defender Liam Cooper played through injury. "The bloodied and bruised centre-back was okay," manager Pedersen confirmed afterwards.
Wimbledon's recent form
AFC Wimbledon's own form has been mixed, with a 2-1 defeat at Plymouth Argyle last time out preceded by three consecutive league draws. Their last victory came against Doncaster Rovers in mid-September. Top scorer Jayden Stockley, who has four goals this season, netted the opener at Home Park before a late Plymouth winner.
The Hillsborough challenge
Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Joe Lumley will be aiming for a third consecutive home league clean sheet. "Goes into this one looking for his third home league clean sheet in a row," analyst Steve Ellis noted. The Owls have failed to score in their last two league outings at Hillsborough, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the contest. This sets up a clash between a home side struggling to score on their own ground and an away side that has shown a tendency to concede late.
AFC Wimbledon are expected to field a similar side to the one that started at Plymouth, with Josef Bursik in goal and a back five featuring Andy Yiadom and Steve Seddon. The full squad list is available on our squad page. Following this fixture, Wimbledon's next match is a home encounter against Charlton Athletic on Tuesday night, providing a quick turnaround as they handle a busy schedule.
