AFC Wimbledon vs Oxford United. Sky Bet League One.
Kingsmeadow StadiumAttendance4,592.
Friday 9 March 2018 13:32, UK
AFC Wimbledon will monitor striker Joe Pigott ahead of the Sky Bet League One match against Oxford.
Pigott was sent home from training earlier in the week after feeling unwell. Centre-back Darius Charles (hip) and defender Will Nightingale (knee) are stepping up their rehabilitation as they close in on a first-team return.
Ghana forward Kwesi Appiah continues his recovery from a hamstring problem, having not played since before Christmas.
Caretaker boss Derek Fazackerley looks set to take charge of the team again, with the appointment of a new permanent manager seemingly no closer after both Steve McClaren and Karl Robinson distanced themselves from the vacancy.
Ivo Pekalski, who is stepping up his rehabilitation from a cruciate knee ligament injury, played more than an hour in the Oxfordshire Senior Cup defeat at Oxford City, but the midfielder will not be rushed back into first-team action. Midfielder Rob Hall (calf) and Joe Rothwell (hamstring) also both continue their recovery.
The Dons have lost nine of their last 13 matches against Oxford in the Football League (W2 D2).
Oxford's 2-1 defeat at Kingsmeadow in this league fixture last season was their first in the Football League, having won four of the previous five visits (D1).
AFC Wimbledon have won four of their last six home League One outings (L2), double the amount of victories than in their first 11 this season (W2 D3 L6).
Oxford have only picked up one win from their last eight league away trips (D4 L3) - however, that victory was in South London against Charlton at the Valley.
Only Bury and Northampton (9 each) have failed to score in more home league matches this season than the Wombles (7).