MK Dons
nPower League 1
Saturday 26th April 2013
The Lamex Stadium, Stevenage
Kick Off: 3pm
Stevenage entertain MK Dons in the final game of the season this weekend with the hosts looking to put on a show in front of their own fans for one last time in 2012/13.
Weather Forecast: Light rain shower, 9°c
Referee: D Phillips (West Sussex)
Last time we met:
Stevenage closed the gap on League One leaders Tranmere to four points with victory over local rivals MK Dons back in October. The visitors took the lead when Lucas Akins collected Luke Freeman's pass and fired past David Martin from 25 yards following a surging run forward from skipper Mark Roberts. MK Dons had their chances as Dean Lewington's header was saved by Steve Arnold and the Stevenage keeper turned Scott Allan's shot around the post. Akins went close to grabbing a second but saw his shot cleared off the line by Luke Chadwick. Darren Potter then cleared Marcus Haber's header off the line as Stevenage looked the more likely to score in the closing stages.
Team News:
Stevenage should recall Marcus Haber to the starting XI after Dani Lopez’s dismissal at Swindon last weekend. Miguel Comminges and Lee Hills could be given another chance to impress in the full-back positions whilst Matt Ball will be hoping to make his home debut after a sub appearance last week. Sam Hoskins also comes into contention after scoring in the midweek 3-0 reserve win against Southend. Robin Shroot and Jon Ashton are out.
MK Dons are likely to make several changes to the side that lost against Scunthorpe United last Saturday with several youngsters getting a run out. Dean Lewington and David Martin will be rested with Dele Alli, Brendan Galloway and Giorgio Rasulo all likely to feature.
The MK Dons Scout Report
Recent Form:
MK Dons come into this final game in 9th place with 67 points after picking up 18 wins, 13 draws and 14 defeats from their 45 games.
A win for Karl Robinson’s men could see them finish 7th, depending on results elsewhere for Leyton Orient and Walsall however a defeat could see them drop down to 12th.
The Dons have been on a run of five wins in their last 10 games with a draw and four defeats. Victories have come against Tranmere (3-0), Hartlepool (2-0), Brentford (2-0), Swindon (2-0) and Colchester (2-0), the draw was a goalless game against Crawley with defeats coming against Shrewsbury (2-3), Crewe (1-2), Leyton Orient (0-2) and most recently Scunthorpe (0-1).
Their form on the road has arguably cost the Dons a place in this season’s playoffs. Whilst their results at home have been the fourth best in the division, away from home has been much different with just six wins from 22 games. Those victories have come at Bury, Scunthorpe, Tranmere, Notts County, Hartlepool and Colchester.
Possible MK Dons line-up for Saturday (4-2-3-1 formation):
Ian McLoughlin; Jon Otsemobor, Mathias Kouo-Doumbe, Anthony Kay, Shaun Williams; Brendan Galloway, Darren Potter; Dele Alli, Luke Chadwick, Dean Bowditch; Patrick Bamford
Subs from: Giorgio Rasulo, George Baldock, Alan Smith, Izale McLeod, Ryan Lowe, Chris Lines, Daniel Powell, Stephen Gleeson
Key Man:
On loan Chelsea striker Patrick Bamford is impressing many during his loan spell at stadium: mk. The 19-year old former Nottingham Forest youngster arrived at Stamford Bridge on a five-year deal for a fee of £1.5m in January 2012. He did have a loan spell at MK Dons earlier this season but had to return back because of a hamstring injury. However he made such an impression in this short spell of time that following his injury he returned to the Buckinghamshire club until the end of the season and has since scored his first three professional goals against Crewe, Hartlepool and Colchester in recent weeks.