By Steve Manning
Venue: Stadiummk (capacity: 30,500 for football)
Competition : Carabao Cup – Round 4
Previous rounds: MK Dons
R1 South – Sutton United (H) w 1-0
R2 South – Watford (A) w 2-0
R3 – Morecambe (H) w 2-0
Previous rounds: Leicester City
R1 South: Bye
R2 South: Stockport County (A) d 0-0 Leicester City won 3-1 on penalties.
Round 3: Newport County (H) w 3-0
Last competitive meeting:
28 th February 2009, npower football league 1 – MK Dons 2 Leicester City 2.
Head to head record:
Dons wins: nil – Drawn: 1 – Foxes wins: 1 – Dons goals: 2 – Foxes goals: 4
Pompey in review:
Brad Johnson and Jack Tucker, two players who have divided opinion lately amongst the Dons fanbase, came up trumps as the shock result of the day was played out on the island City of Portsmouth, on Saturday afternoon.
Dean Lewington signed off as interim boss with a 2-0 victory over Pompey, to cut the gap to Cambridge in 20th place. It meant Dons stopped a 7 game winless run, and ease fears of another relegation to League Two for the 23/24 season.
The next Head Coach could be in place by Boxing Day, but who that is remains to be seen.
How Dons could line-up:
David Martin – formerly Leicester City keeper – will be on the touchline against the Foxes. Brad Johnson will be helping out as the MK take to the field. Do not expect many changes from Saturday’s win. 3-4-3 again.
Possible Dons starting XI:
1. Jamie Cumming;
5. Warren O’Hora (c), 4. Jack Tucker, 33. Zak Jules;
22. Henry Lawrence, 7. Matt Smith, 6. Josh McEachran, 21. Daniel Harvie;
19. Louie Barry, 10. Mo Eisa, 11. Nathan Holland.
How Leicester could line-up:
Brendan Rodgers’ favoured formation is a 4-2-3-1, they’ve started to play better football since the start of the season. Expect a lot of frenetic attacking football from the visitors.
Possible Foxes starting XI:
12. Danny Ward;
2. James Justin, 6. Jonny Evans (c), 3. Would Faes, 33. Luke Thomas;
42. Boubakary Soumaré, 25. Wilfred Ndidi;
17. Ayoze Perez, 26. Dennis Praet, 7. Harvey Barnes;
9. Jamie Vardy.
Ones to watch:
Mo Eisa – MK Dons: a huge game under the lights – a game made for big game Mo. Eisa will be keen to impress his new incoming gaffer by putting on a masterclass against Premier league opponents at Stadium MK.
Mo. Scores. Goals.
Harvey Barnes – Foxes: no stranger to Dons fans, he has since gone on to represent England at senior level, after leaving MK1. Stopping Barnes is likely to help keep the score respectable, Barnes is equipped to step up and take this game by the scruff of its next.
Score prediction:
MK Dons 0 Leicester City 3
Enjoy the tie you Dons, another game where there are no expectations on David Martin and Brad Johnson. A win would be a great morale booster.
Match Odds supplied by Oddschecker:
Dons win: 17/2 Draw: 4/1 Foxes win: 1/3
Foxes to win by 3-0 scoreline? 7/1
Thank you for reading this Carabao Cup big match preview ahead of the Leicester City clash. Enjoy the game if you are going, safe travels to you all.
Finally a very Merry Christmas from myself, enjoy the festivities too.
Until Next Time, SM.
