Peterborough United will be aiming to end a winless run of five league games when they host Milton Keynes Dons on Thursday evening.

The visitors, meanwhile, could climb out of the relegation places by securing a third successive victory.

Match preview

Having been relegated from the Championship last season, Peterborough will be disappointed by the start they have made to life back in League One.

Thirty-one points from their first 17 games looked like putting the Posh in an automatic promotion race, but just one point from their last five fixtures has seen them drop to eighth in the table.

Grant McCann did at least relieve some of the mounting pressure on his managerial job by putting an end to their losing streak with a 1-1 draw away to Charlton Athletic on Boxing Day, with Jonson Clarke-Harris cancelling out Miles Leaburn's opener.

However, if they are to achieve their minimum expectations of securing a top-six position, Peterborough surely need to return to winning ways sooner rather than later.

Another team who would have had aspirations of returning to the Championship at the end of the current campaign is MK Dons, who missed out in the playoffs last season after finishing third during the regular season.

However, a disastrous start to the season has instead seen them become embroiled in a relegation battle, leading to Liam Manning losing his job as manager earlier this month despite enjoying a remarkably successful debut campaign at the club.

Former Leeds United Under-23s head coach Mark Jackson has been chosen as Manning's successor, with the 45-year-old coming out on top in his first senior game in charge after a scrappy 1-0 victory over Forest Green Rovers on Boxing Day.

Having defeated Portsmouth in their previous league game, there are clear signs of recovery in Milton Keynes, and they will fancy their chances against an out-of- sorts Peterborough this week as they look to move above the dreaded dotted lines in the table.

Team News

Having put an end to their four-match losing sequence, McCann may be tempted to reward the same starting XI which claimed a point away to Charlton last time out.

Clarke-Harris will almost certainly lead the line as the 28-year-old looks to add to his impressive goalscoring tally of 13 goals in 21 league starts this season.

MK Dons, meanwhile, will likely name an unchanged side, too, with Daniel Harvie featuring from left wing-back after scoring the decisive winner against Forest Green on Boxing Day.

Jackson may be hoping for a little more discipline from his team after seeing them receive four yellow cards in his first game in charge, although that was at least a sign that his players were fighting for their new boss.

Peterborough United possible starting lineup:
Blackmore; Kent, Edwards, Watts; Ward, Fuchs, Taylor, Burrows; Poku, Mason-Clarke; Clarke-Harris

MK Dons possible starting lineup:
Cumming; Tucker, O'Hora, Jules; Watson, McEachran, Johnson, Harvie; Holland; Eisa, Grigg

We say: Peterborough United 1-1 MK Dons

The visitors are unquestionably in better form heading into this match, having seemingly put their early season woes behind them.

As such, we expect an entertaining encounter, with both teams unlikely to be too perturbed by gaining a point should the match be heading into that direction.

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

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