Accrington Stanley could take a significant step towards safety in League Two should they beat managerless MK Dons when they welcome them to the Crown Ground on Tuesday.
Accrington succumbed to a 2-1 defeat against Harrogate Town on Saturday and are fourth last in 21st place with 33 points, while their opponents are in 17th place with 39 points but lost 1-0 against Colchester United on March 1.
Match preview
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The hosts were arguably unfortunate to concede twice against Harrogate considering they did not concede a single big chance and faced just two shots on target, but they failed to create any big chances of their own.
In fact, Accrington have been kept from scoring in six of their past 11 matches, scoring just five goals in that time.
The Reds are currently seven points ahead of both 23rd-placed Morecambe and 24th-placed Carlisle United, who occupy the league's two relegations spots, but they boast the advantage of a game in hand over Morecambe.
Head coach John Doolan will be alarmed by his side's form given they have only triumphed once in their last eight outings, drawing twice and losing on five occasions.
Accrington are also without victory in their four most recent games at home – being held to a stalemate two times – and have scored just one goal in that period.
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As for the visitors, they managed to hold out against promotion hopefuls Colchester United until the 87th minute, when the victors scored a penalty to win the match.
The defeat proved to be former boss Scott Lindsey's final game in charge, and having picked up just nine points from the last 48 on offer, it is little surprise that he was dismissed.
MK Dons have provided no clarity on who will take over from Lindsey, but regardless of who leads the side out against Accrington, they will hope for a repeat of the team's 2-1 victory in the reverse fixture on October 22.
The away side are winless in six matches, losing five of those games while failing to score on three occasions.
MK Dons have also not achieved victory in their past six outings on the road, succumbing to defeat five times.
Team News
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Accrington managed to beat Tranmere Rovers 1-0 on February 25, and they may field a similar starting XI on Tuesday.
Devon Matthews and Benn Ward could be trusted to protect goalkeeper William Crellin, while Liam Coyle, Alex Henderson and Conor Grant may start in midfield.
As for MK Dons, defenders Nathan Thompson, Jack Sanders, Sam Sherring and Laurence Maguire are unlikely to feature, so expect Callum Tripp, Luke Offord and Charlie Waller to appear in a back three.
Daniel Crowley and Liam Kelly are probable candidates to be stationed in midfield behind an attack consisting of Joe White, Alex Gilbey and Danilo Orsi-Dadomo.
Accrington Stanley possible starting lineup:
Crellin; Love, Matthews, Ward, Quirk; Henderson, Coyle, Grant; Whalley, Hunter, Woods
MK Dons possible starting lineup:
Trueman; Tripp, Offord, Waller; Nemane, Crowley, Kelly, Patterson; White, Gilbey; Orsi-Dadomo
We say: Accrington Stanley 1-0 MK Dons
Without a head coach in place for Tuesday's match, MK Dons may be somewhat disorganised and could be vulnerable defensively.
It is difficult to see Accrington winning comfortably at Crown Ground given their poor record at the stadium recently, but their home support could buoy them to victory.
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Lewis Nolan
