EFL League One PREVIEW 30 Aug 2026: Wimbledon look for a first league goal, and Clough opens a testing week against Luton

Two fixtures, both moved to Sunday by cup football, and both with something particular riding on them. AFC Wimbledon host Wigan Athletic at Plough Lane at one o'clock, a game shifted from Saturday because Wimbledon's Carabao Cup tie was played on the Thursday. They lost it three-nil at Fulham, and they arrive still looking for their first league goal of the season, having drawn nothing-nothing at home with Reading and lost three-nil at Huddersfield Town.

Johnnie Jackson rotated heavily for the cup, which should mean a stronger side here, and there is a new option in the squad: Harry Cornick, thirty-one, signed to the end of the season after being released by Bristol City following an ankle injury on loan at Stevenage. He scored thirty-eight goals in two hundred and thirty-five appearances for Luton Town, which makes him the second former Luton forward to matter to this round of fixtures.

Wigan travel under Gary Caldwell having lost at home to Leyton Orient a week ago and at Cambridge United the week before, and having gone out of the cup on penalties at Barnsley. Their summer was busy — Max Power, Sonny Perkins, Connor Barrett, Ryan Trevitt, Finley Burns, Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen, Akeel Higgins and Archie Harris all arrived, with Sam Tickle leaving for Bristol City — and Caldwell has said he wants more before the window shuts on Tuesday. Christian Saydee is still in a medical boot with a calf problem that has proved worse than first thought.

Mansfield Town host Luton Town at two o'clock, the start of what Nigel Clough has called "an unbelievably challenging week": Luton on Sunday, Reading on Wednesday, Bradford City on Saturday, with the fixture moved because Luton went through in the cup. He is without David McGoldrick and Tyler Roberts, neither of whom has featured in the league this season and both of whom he put at two to three weeks away, while Frazer Blake-Tracy and Liam Thompson had not trained. In their absence Clough has named Rhys Oates his most dangerous attacker, a player who scored in the first game and made a goal in the second.

Luton arrive under Jack Wilshere three days after losing two-nil at Chelsea in the cup, and unbeaten in the league, having won four-three at Reading and drawn two-two at home with Notts County. Jordan Clark missed Stamford Bridge and was to be assessed; Nahki Wells and Jake Richards are expected back, with Isaiah Jones, Mads Andersen and Kal Naismith also in contention. Kasey Palmer, signed from Hull City, and Callum Marshall, from West Ham United, have both already scored in the league for them.