Rovers are looking to make it three straight league wins when they take on AFC Wimbledon at the Keepmoat Stadium on Tuesday night.
Darren Moore’s side have already beaten Swindon Town and Rochdale in Sky Bet League One since the turn of the year.
Wimbledon’s recent form
The Dons haven’t won any of their past six league games, stretching back to a home defeat to Crewe Alexandra on December 19. After that, they were beaten 2-0 at Oxford United on Boxing Day, before a 2-1 defeat against Lincoln City at Plough Lane in their first game of 2021.
They have continued to find results hard to come by in recent weeks, with a 3-0 loss against Sunderland followed up by a heavy 4-0 defeat on the road at promotion chasing Portsmouth. They earned a point in their last league outing, battling to a 1-1 draw at home to Crewe.
The man in charge
Glyn Hodges took charge of Wimbledon initially on a temporary basis in September 2019 and guided them to safety last season. Since becoming the manager, Hodges has overseen 60 games, winning 18, drawing 18 and losing 24, giving him an overall win percentage of 30%.
Ones to watch
Will Nightingale
The 25-year-old has been with Wimbledon since the age of eight and has progressed through the ranks to become an integral part of the starting XI.
After making his debut in January 2015, Nightingale won the club’s young player of the year award in the 2016/17 campaign. He was handed the captain’s armband in March 2019 and has retained it ever since – playing a key part in the club retaining their position in Sky Bet League One.
Alex Woodyard
After coming through the system at Southend United, Woodyard spent a few years in non-league before helping Lincoln City back to the EFL in the 2016/17 campaign. After impressing during his time at Sincil Bank, the central midfielder signed for Peterborough United in 2018. He played more than 50 times for Posh but was allowed to leave the club on loan last season, joining Tranmere Rovers in January. He signed for Wimbledon on a permanent deal last summer.
Joe Pigott
The 26-year-old target man began his career with Charlton Athletic before spending time out loan at a number of clubs, including Gillingham, Newport County and Southend United. He signed permanently for Cambridge United in 2016, before departing for non-league side Maidstone United a year later after a successful loan spell.
He averaged almost a goal every other game there before being snapped up by Wimbledon, where he has gone onto become a focal point in attack. He already has 13 goals to his name in all competitions so far this season.
Last time out
The two sides played out a 2-2 draw when they last met back in November, in the first game back at the new Plough Lane. Joe Pigott put the home side in front before Matt Smith levelled the scores with his first goal for Rovers. Pigott scored his second with nine minutes to go and looked to have secured all three points, before James Coppinger’s 91st minute leveller secured a point for Darren Moore’s side.
More ahead of this match
Watch pre-match interviews
