By Steve Manning
Venue: Stadiummk (Capacity: 30,500 for football)
Competition: League One – Matchday: 19 of 46
Form: The Dons – Position: 21 st .
Pld 18 W 4 D 2 L 12 gf 17 ga 28 gd -11 Pts 14
Top League Scorer: Will Grigg – 5 goals
Top Assist Provider (League): Louie Barry & Dawson Devoy – 2 assists each.
Previous result:
Dons lost out on a trip to Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup third round as they fell to Pompey at Fratton Park 3-2. The second round proving a step too far for Liam Manning’s men this time around.
Form: The Brewers – Position: 22 nd .
Pld 19 W 3 D 5 L 11 gf 25 ga 40 gd -15 Pts 14
Top League Scorer: Victor Adeboyejo – 8 goals
Top Assist Provider (League): Sam Hughes and Terry Taylor – 3 assists each.
Previous result:
Burton thrashed Chippenham Town 6-1 at home to progress through to the third round of the FA Cup.
Head to head:
Dons wins: 4 Drawn: 1 Brewers wins: 2 Dons goals: 7 Brewers goals: 7
Last meeting:
25 th January 2022 – EFL League One – Burton Albion 0 MK Dons 1.
Pompey Cup defeat review:
A brace of Colby Bishop penalties helped to dump Liam Manning’s out of sorts Dons outfit out of this year’s FA Cup at the second round stage.
Dons started the contest on the back foot as Pompey imposed themselves on the Cup tie. Darragh Burns put himself about the pitch and his endeavours paid off when he put the MK ahead. His darting run had him breach the home defence and finish with a chipped shot over Josh Griffiths.
That lead lasted just three minutes as Hackett-Fairchild,and Mingi combined with the former latching onto a stunning through ball to level proceedings for his fourth goal of the season.
Jay Mingi was then fouled by Josh McEachran ten minutes before half-time .. up stepped Colby Bishop from the spot to send Dons loanee Jamie Cumming the wrong way, and the game had turned in Pompey’s favour.
Pompey thought they had wrapped up proceedings after veteran Brad Johnson upended Reeco Hackett-Fairchild in the penalty area, Bishop dispatching his second of the afternoon from 18-yards out.
Sudanese striker Mo Eisa pulled a goal back in the 62nd minute, to give the Dons some new found hope of forcing a replay – after Conor Grant had squared in the box – however the hosts clung on until the end of the game to book a glamour tie against Tottenham Hotspur in North London for the
third round of the FA Cup.
How Dons could line up?
No big changes to how Liam sets up this side expected. Could persist with a back 4 against fellow strugglers Burton here.
Possible Dons starting XI:
Jamie Cumming;
Tennai Watson, Warren O’Hora, Zak Jules, Daniel Harvie;
Brad Johnson, Josh McEachran;
Darragh Burns, Will Grigg, Louie Barry
Mo Eisa.
How Brewers could line up?
Dino Maamria has taken over from Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink, and the Tunisian has made the Brewers defensively stronger.
Possible Brewers starting XI:
Ben Garrett;
Tom Hamer, John Brayford, Adrian Mariappa, Cameron Borthwick -Jackson;
Terry Taylor, Deji Oshilaja;
Jonny Smith, Davis Keillor-Dunn, Bobby Kamwa;
Victor Adeboyejo.
One’s to watch:
Tennai Watson – Dons: Tennai has come back from injury into a poor Dons side, this is his chance to really stake a claim here to become undroppable. Watson will be aiming to keep Burton winger Bobby Kamwa quiet and if he wins that battle it could be a very good afternoon for The Dons.
Bobby Kamwa – Burton: Winger Kamwa possesses bags of pace, and the attacking flair to cause Dons damage on Saturday. He cannot be given time or space on the ball, any such luxury and opportunity to get the ball into Cumming’s area could cause the Dons defence problems. Dealing with his crosses is going to be key for Manning’s men.
Score Prediction:
MK Dons 2 Burton Albion 1
A Dons win against struggling Burton is not just required, it’s essential if the club are to avoid being sucked into the fight against relegation.
Match Odds supplied by Oddschecker:
Dons win: 27/20 Draw: 9/4 Brewers win: 2/1
Dons to win 2-1: 15/2
There is no two ways about it, the murmurs are getting louder, and louder. Liam Manning needs to start winning games again and fast. If you are making your way to the game, then I again wish you safe travels.
Enjoy the game, and COYDs!
Until Next Time, SM.
