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League Two
May 26, 2025 at 3.01pm UK
Wembley Stadium
W

AFC Wimbledon
1 - 0
Walsall

Hippolyte (45+2')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Preview: AFC Wimbledon vs. Walsall - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: AFC Wimbledon vs. Walsall - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Monday's League Two clash between AFC Wimbledon and Walsall, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

AFC Wimbledon and Walsall will battle for a place in the third tier when they lock horns in Monday's League Two playoff final at Wembley.

The Dons saw off Notts County to seal their place in the final, while the Saddlers got the better of Chesterfield in the semi-final stage.


Match preview

Wimbledon secured their playoff spot via a fourth-placed finish after they won 20, drew 13 and lost 13 of their 46 matches this season.

After finishing the campaign with a 1-0 victory over Grimsby Town, the Dons went on to repeat the scoreline in both legs of their playoff semi-final tie against Notts County.

Riley Harbottle scored the decisive goal in the away leg, before Josh Neufville's early effort proved enough to clinch a 1-0 victory in last Saturday's return fixture at Plough Lane, leaving Wimbledon just one game away from ending their three-season stay in the fourth tier.

The Dons have fond memories of their last appearance in the League Two playoff final in 2015-16, when they recorded a 2-0 victory over Plymouth Argyle to secure promotion at Wembley.

Their recent run of three consecutive clean sheets has demonstrated why they finished the regular season with the league's best defensive record, with just 35 goals conceded in 46 matches.

However, they may be slightly concerned by the fact that they failed to score more than one goal in any of their last 10 matches, although they have at least found the net in all five of their EFL playoff matches in the club's history.

Walsall have experienced a turbulent campaign because they appeared to be running away with the League Two title at one point of the season.

After 24 matches, the Saddlers were sitting top of the table with a 12-point lead over second place, but the loan recall of their top goalscorer, Nathan Lowe, contributed to a significant drop-off in form in the final four months of the season.

Walsall still appeared to be on course to seal automatic promotion with a 1-0 win over Crewe Alexandra on the final day of the season, only for Bradford City to score a 96th-minute winner against Fleetwood Town to clinch third spot and send the Saddlers into the playoffs.

Mat Sadler's side showed great character to respond to that disappointment with back-to-back victories in their semi-final clash with Chesterfield, claiming a 2-0 away victory before sealing a 2-1 win in the second leg following goals from Charlie Lakin and Levi Amantchi.

The Saddlers, who are looking to end their six-year wait for League One football, are set to appear in a playoff final for the first time since beating Reading in extra time to win promotion to the second tier in 2001.

League Two's highest scorers can draw inspiration from the fact that they took four points off Wimbledon this season, picking up a 1-0 away win in November, before rescuing a 1-1 draw in March's home fixture.

AFC Wimbledon League Two form:

Walsall League Two form:


Team News

The hosts are unable to call upon experienced defender Sam Hutchinson, who underwent heart surgery after he fell ill following the final game of the regular season against Grimsby Town.

Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson will likely stick with the same lineup that started both semi-final legs against Notts County.

Forward Matty Stevens has top-scored this season with 20 goals in 55 competitive matches, although he will be looking to end a 10-game goal drought when he features up front on Monday.

As for Walsall, they are likely to be without the services of defender Priestley Farquharson and forward Ellis Harrison.

Oisin McEntee and Jack Earing are doing their best to recover from their respective injury issues in time for Monday's final.

Lakin and Amantchi may have to settle for spots on the bench despite scoring as substitutes in the second leg against Chesterfield, with Sadler likely to select the same lineup for a third consecutive game.


AFC Wimbledon possible starting lineup:
Goodman; Harbottle, Lewis, Johnson; Tilley, Smith, Reeves, Hippolyte, Neufville; Browne, Stevens

Walsall possible starting lineup:
Simkin; Okagbue, Williams, Allen; Asiimwe, Chang, Stirk, Gordon; Hall, Jellis; Matt


We say: AFC Wimbledon 1-2 Walsall

Monday's final is an intriguing battle because it sees League Two's highest scorers face the division's best defence, and we ultimately believe that Walsall's firepower will come out on top, especially as we feel that they have the ability to outscore a Wimbledon side that failed to score more than one goal in any of their last 10 matches.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.




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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CDoncaster RoversDoncaster4624121073502384
4Walsall4621141175542177
5AFC Wimbledon4620131356352173
6Notts County4620121468491972
7Chesterfield4619131473541970
8Salford City4618151364541069
9Grimsby Town46208186167-668
10Colchester UnitedColchester461619115247567
11Bromley461715146459566
12Swindon TownSwindon461517147163862
13Crewe AlexandraCrewe461517144948162
14Fleetwood TownFleetwood461515166060060
15Cheltenham TownCheltenham461612186070-1060
16BarrowBarrow461514175250259
17Gillingham461416164146-558
18Harrogate TownHarrogate461411214361-1853
19MK Dons461410225266-1452
20Tranmere RoversTranmere461215194565-2051
21Accrington StanleyAccrington461214205369-1650
22Newport CountyNewport461310235276-2449
RCarlisle UnitedCarlisle461012244471-2742
RMorecambe46106304072-3236
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