In the third part of our series looking at the 2013/14 season we discuss Gillingham, Leyton Orient, MK Dons and Notts County.
Gillingham
Priestfield Stadium – Capacity 11,582
Boro faced Gillingham twice in our promotion winning League Two season, and failed to find victory both times. Away from home Ade Akinfenwa netted on New Years’ Day in a slim victory for the home side and back at the Lamex the game finished 2-2 – Byron Harrison scoring a brace for the Boro.
Gillingham gained a League One place as Champions of League Two last season, wining 83 points form 46 games and finishing 4 points clear of Rotherham in second place.
Head to Head record in Football League:
P: 2 W:0 D:1 L:1 GF:2 GA:3
Leyton Orient
The Matchroom Stadium (Brisbane Road) – Capacity 9,271
In the Football League, every game with Orient has been tight; of the four fixtures played, three have ended 1-0 and the other goalless. Our only other game came in 1996 as non-league Boro knocked Orient out of the FA Cup away from home with a 2-1 victory.
Leyton Orient were close to glory last season but fell just three points short of a Play-off place. Their seventh-placed finish probably exceeded expectations, but gives them a sloid platform to build from next season.
Head to Head record in Football League:
P:4 W:2 D:1 L:1 GF: 1 GA: 2
MK Dons
Stadium:MK – Capacity 22,000
MK Dons have quickly become one of our local rivals with teams in our division around the area sparse. The first time the teams met came in the FA Cup in 2010 when Boro stood in the way of an MK Dons / AFC Wimbledon reunion by defeating the former on penalties after a 0-0 draw at the Lamex and subsequent 1-1 draw at Stadium:MK in the replay.
In the league we’ve met four times and had some memorable victories; a 4-2 win at home came in Mark Roberts’ last game in charge during his first spell as caretaker manager and last season we left their place with all three points after a wonderful strike from Lucas Akins.
For MK, it was a disappointing 12/13 campaign with the side 13 points short of automatic promotion and 4 off the Play-offs. Karl Robinson’s side will certainly be looking for more of a promotion push next year.
Head to Head record in Football League:
P: 4 W: 2 D: 0 L: 2 GF: 5 GA: 5
Notts County
Meadow Lane – Capacity 20,300
place and 9 points from the Play-offs.thNotts County away was perhaps one of the highlights of a tough 12/13 campaign for Boro – the fixture came as Stevenage remained unbeaten in the league and after going behind Lucas Akins netted from the spot and Robin Shroot scored deep into added time to secure all three points. Boro came out on top at the Lamex last season too, with Sam Hoskins and Marcus Haber scoring in a two-nil win. County ended the season in 12
The season previous produced two defeats in the league, but a victory in the FA Cup to secure a tie with Totteham Hotspur in the Fifth Round.
Head to Head record in Football League:
P: 4 W: 2 D: 0 L: 2 GF: 4 GA: 4
Next up we will look at Oldham Athletic, Peterborough United, Port Vale and Preston North End.