By Steve Manning
The Big Match Preview with Fleetmaster Group – Fleet Driver Training Solutions.
Lincoln City v MK Dons
LNER Stadium, Tuesday 28th February 2023, kick off: 7:45pm.
Matchday: 34 of 46
Team and Player Statistics:
Lincoln City: Position – 15 of 24
Pld 31 W 8 D 16 L 7 gf 30 ga 32 gd -2 Points: 40.
Top League Scorer: Ben House – 8 goals.
Top Assist Provider: Jack Diamond – 3 assists.
Previous result: Imps drew 1-1 away to rock bottom Forest Green Rovers.
Milton Keynes Dons: 22 of 24
Pld 33 W 8 D 5 L 20 gf 26 ga 54 gd -28 Points: 29
Top Scorer (season): Mo Eisa, 8 goals.
Top Scorer (League): Mo Eisa, Will Grigg & Bradley Johnson, 5 goals each.
Previous result: The Dons lost 1-0, at home to Ipswich, despite dominating much of the game.
Head to head:
Imps wins: 4 Drawn: 4 Dons wins: 7 Imps goals: 22 Dons goals: 24
Last meeting:
Stadiummk, 14/01/2023, 3pm k.o.
MK Dons 0 Lincoln City 0
Ipswich Town in review:
The Dons fell to an agonising and narrow 1-0 defeat at home to promotion chasing Ipswich Town.
The Dons started brightly on the front foot of this contest, as winger Jonathan Leko watched Luke Woolfenden clear his effort on goal off the line, before Town keeper Christian Walton pulled off a double save to keep out Sullay Kaikai.
That seemed to inspire the Tractor Boys, as Ipswich captain Sam Morsy fired the visitors in front after 26 minutes, unleashing a 20-yarder that flew past Jamie Cumming in the Dons goalmouth.
After the restart Cumming was called into action again, saving an effort from Morsy, to deny him his brace, and a rebound from that effort from Nathan Broadhead.
Cumming was the man of the moment throughout the second half – denying Ipswich striker George Hirst as the Blues threw everything but kitchen sink at him.
The Chelsea man went onto deny Wes Burns, Conor Chaplin, and Leif Davis and Ipswich relentlessly knocked on the door seeking to put the game to bed.
Josh McEachran cleared Nathan Broadhead’s goal bound effort as Dons managed to keep the score somewhat respectable.
How Lincoln could line-up:
Mark Kennedy likes to employ a 3-4-3 wingback formation. A system some of the Dons players have knowledge of.
Possible Imps starting XI:
Rushworth; Eyoma, O’Connor, Roughan; Poole, Plange, Erhahon, Sørensen; Diamond, House, Vernham.
How Dons could line-up:
There is little scope for change right now, with injuries dictating the shape of the team. Expecting MJ to persevere with the maligned 4-2-3-1 formation.
Possible Dons starting XI:
Cumming; Watson, Tucker, Jules, Harvie; McEachran (c), Maghoma; Leko, B. Johnson, Kaikai; Eisa.
One’s to Watch:
Jack Diamond – Attacker: Diamond is enjoying his football, and is proving a real asset for Mark Kennedy’s Imps. He possesses great deadball skills, and is known to be deadly from range.
Cannot be afforded any opportunity to pull the trigger.
Jonathan Leko – Attacker: Leko has already shown an eye for goal since coming into the side.
His 20-yard piledriver at Hillsborough, has had social media in a frenzy and how the travelling contingent would love a repeat from the no.12.
Score Prediction:
Lincoln City 1 MK Dons 1
Draw specialists Lincoln offer a great chance for a share of the spoils.
Thanks for joining me for this mid-week Big Match Lincoln City preview, safe travels all of you who will be at Sincil Bank for the game.
Until Next Time, SM.
