Notts County vs AFC Wimbledon Preview

The League Two play-offs kick off on Saturday, with four teams vying for the one additional promotion spot which will see them catapulted into the third tier of English football.

The first of the two-legged semi-finals sees Notts County host AFC Wimbledon. The two sides finished the regular season separated by just one place and point, with Notts County ending the campaign in sixth, and Wimbledon crossing the line just in front of them.

With both sides winning their home fixtures against each other, Notts County will be hoping that pattern continues, as to carry a lead into the away second leg has shown countless times to be psychologically crucial.

As the crucial play-off phase of the League Two season begins, here is everything you need to know about both sides ahead of kick-off.

Where to Watch

This game will be shown on Sky Sports Main Event, with kick-off scheduled for 12:30 on Saturday.

Key Statistics

• Notts County are the fourth highest scorers in the league this season, notching 68 en route to clinching a play-off spot.
• However, they have won just one of their last six league games, a run off form they will have to turn around if they are to seize a place in League One next year.
• Wimbledon conceded a league low 35 goals across the 46 game regular season, a record they will look to maintain throughout their play-off campaign.
• They also boast two of the top three goal scorers in the league. Alassana Jatta (19) and David McGoldrick (17) sit second and third behind Bromley’s Michael Cheek (25).

Notts County Preview

Notts County Predicted Lineup (3-4-2-1): Alex Bass (GK); Jacob Bedeau, Matty Platt, Rodney McDonald; Jodi Jones, Matthew Palmer, George Abbott, Kellan Gordon; David McGoldrick, Conor Grant; Alassana Jatta.

Since their first ever demotion from the Football League in 2018/19, Notts County have bounced back superbly. After spending three seasons in the National League rebuilding, they achieved promotion at the fourth time of asking, and just two seasons later, find themselves on the brink of promotion back into the third tier, where they haven’t played since 2015.

Deservedly so - it has been rare that other teams have been able to match County’s goal scoring power, and had they not faltered at the end of the season, they could well have sealed an automatic promotion spot.

But now in the play-offs, they must make sure they are focused on the task at hand. Some players may have been ready for their holiday’s but they need to make sure their minds are 100% on the games ahead.

AFC Wimbledon Preview

AFC Wimbledon Predicted Lineup (3-5-2): Owen Goodman (GK); Ryan Johnson, Joe Lewis, Riley Harbottle; Josh Neufville, Alistair Smith, Sam Hutchinson, Jake Reeves, James Tilley; Mathew Stevens, Marcus Browne.

Wimbledon have proved to be a formidable task for any opponent this season. With such a water-tight defence, they were always going to be in the mix for promotion this season, and simply needed to ensure they had enough punch in attack to drive home their credentials.

Like Notts County, they could also have booked themselves a ticket to League One without the need to go through the play-offs, but one win in their last five put paid to that, form which saw them finish five points behind third place.

Now, faced with Notts County, Wimbledon will know they are in for a fight. Both sides are very closely matched, and picking a winner here, whether you are a fan or a neutral, is no easy task.

Notts County vs AFC Wimbledon Head to Head

Recent Meetings:

• 08/03/2025: Wimbledon 2-0 Notts County.
• 19/10/2024: Notts County 1-0 Wimbledon.
• 09/03/2024: Notts County 0-2 Wimbledon.
• 25/11/2023: Wimbledon 4-2 Notts County.
• 23/01/2016: Notts County 0-2 Wimbledon.

Notts County vs AFC Wimbledon Betting Tip

While Notts County are regular scorers, they have only managed one across two games with Wimbledon this season - so this one does not look likely to be a goal fest. It will be a tight game with few opportunities, and we think there will be under 2.5 goals.

Notts County vs AFC Wimbledon Prediction

Notts County 1-0 AFC Wimbledon

Though their scoring record is not good against Wimbledon, Notts County have already achieved a 1-0 home win against their opponents this season, and given the importance of this game, they will be eager to repeat the feat.