AFC Wimbledon will provide as tough a test to Oxford United on Sunday as their recent games with sides who were playing in the Sky Bet Championship last season, says Michael Appleton.

Boss Neal Ardley (pictured) saw his side lose their opening three matches in League One, but have suffered just one defeat since and won at Charlton Athletic last month.

The Addicks were the last team to visit the Kassam, drawing 1-1 with United, who went on to win 2-0 at Bolton Wanderers last weekend.

Appleton rates the challenge posed by Wimbledon as highly as the clashes with two of the division’s biggest names.

He said: “They will be feeling really good about themselves and will be coming to win the game, as they have done this season at different places.

“We’re under no illusions how difficult the game is going to be.

“The players will go in with the same frame of mind as they did at Bolton and at home to Charlton.

“We know it will be equally as tough.”

The Dons were seen as outsiders to win the play-offs in May, but not with Appleton.

He said: “You could tell they were getting stronger as the season went on.

“They had an edge because of the form but also the physical presence they had in the team.”