By Steve Manning
The Fleetmaster Group – Fleet Driver Training Solutions.
The Big Match Preview Morecambe.
Stadiummk, Saturday 25th March 2023. Kick-off: 3pm.
EFL League One – Matchday: 38
Team & Player Statistics
Milton Keynes Dons – Position: 20
Pld 37 W 10 D 6 L 21 gf 33 ga 54 gd -21 Points: 36
Top scorer: Mo Eisa – 6 goals (L) / 9 goals (S)
Top assist provider: Dawson Devoy, Mo Eisa, and Conor Grant – 3 each
Previous result:
Dons moved out of the bottom four after Sulley Kaikai’s early finish proved enough to beat their hosts and relegation rivals Accrington Stanley 1-0.
Morecambe – Position: 22
Pld 37 W 6 D 13 L 18 gf 35 ga 61 gd -26 Points: 34
Top scorer: Kieran Phillips – 7 goals.
Top assist provider: Dan Crowley – 4 assists.
Previous result:
Morecambe snatched a late draw against Liam Manning’s Oxford United, 1-1 the final score.
Head 2 head:
Dons wins: 6 Drawn: 1 Morecambe wins: 1
Dons goals: 18 Morecambe goals: 6
Last meeting: 8th November 2022, EFL Cup – Stadiummk.
MK Dons 2 Morecambe 0.
Accrington in review:
MK Dons continued their mini revival with victory over relegation rivals Accrington Stanley, who they leapfrogged to move out of the bottom 4 in League One.
Sierra Leone International Sullay Kaikai scored early on for the Dons, inside 9 minutes – a lead that they would not relinquish in this six-pointer. The Dons started the brighter, and Jack Tucker saw his goal bound effort cleared off Stanley’s goalline shortly before Kaikai had found the net.
A nice one-two exchange between Conor Grant, and Kaikai ended with the former Wycombe man beating two players, and forcing the ball home from the tightest of angle’s for his second strike of the season.
The Dons were relentless in their mission to pick up back to back wins, and continued to press their hosts, Maghoma, and Eisa testing both Toby Savin, and Stanley’s defence before the break.
It took the home side 57 minutes to muster a shot on target, Tommy Leigh stinging the palms of Jamie Cumming as he kept out Stanley Top scorer’s effort. As the second half wore on Cumming would deal with a multitude of goalmouth scrambles, as Accrington desperately to no avail searched for a much needed equaliser.
Young Max Dean should have scored with about 15 mins on the clock, this effort was well blocked by Stanley custodian Savin’s legs.
This result has breathed new belief into the side, and finally some momentum.
How Dons could line up:
Jackson has switched his preffered formation on various occasions throughout the season. With injured players now returning this could be more settled – 3-4-3 is my prediction.
Possible Dons starting XI:
Cumming; Tucker, Lewington, Stewart; Watson, Robson, Devoy, Harvie; Grigg, Eisa, Grant.
How Morecambe could line up:
I expect Morecambe to match Dons in a like for like 3-4-3 formation.
Possible Morecambe Starting XI:
Ripley; Simeu, Rawson, Bedeau; Love, Shaw, Weir, Gibson; Crowlry, Niasse, Mayor.
Ones to watch:
Jamie Cumming – Goalkeeper: time and again this season the inevitable consistently good cog in this stuttering Dons team has been the no. 1.
His performance in the past few weeks though have marked him out as my go to one to watch, and that bar remains high.
Dan Crowley – Attacker: The Shrimps no.8 is currently his team’s assist king, pacy and talented his ability to drift in from the right side can cause difficulties to opposition defences.
Score Prediction:
MK Dons 1 Morecambe 0
A win against another relegation rival
Match Odds supplied by talkSPORT Edge
Dons win: 31/40 – Draw: 13/5 – Morecambe win: 4/1
Thanks again for joining me ahead of the action on Saturday afternoon!
Enjoy the game!
Until Next Time, SM.
