Big preview. Big game.
Milton Keynes Dons
Sky Bet League 1
The Lamex Stadium, Stevenage, SG2 8RH
Saturday 22nd March 2014
Kick-off: 15:00
Weather forecast: 8°c, chance of rain
Referee: Frederick Graham
TICKET NEWS:
Advance tickets are still on sale at www.borotickets.co.uk until 4pm on Friday. Tickets are cheaper in advance and demand is high so save yourself some money and a seat/space!
LAST TIME WE MET:
TEAM NEWS:
Jon Ashton has been ruled out with a return for next Saturday’s game against Port Vale being most likely for the skipper. Unfortunately Roarie Deacon will need ankle surgery following the injury he picked up against Preston and Jo N’Guessan is also still out due to an ankle problem.
VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM:
With no Tuesday night game this week, the gaffer was glowing about the positive impact it's had on the squad.
He told us, "It has been a week of rest. I think psychically and mentally the players needed to have the foot taken off the gas so to speak, and we've done that. They've had a bit of extra rest time just to get themselves away from football, get their bodies rested, get their minds clear.
"They've worked really hard, Saturday-Tuesday is virtually a seven day occupation. They needed the time out and freshness which that brings.
"They were excellent our there this morning, the brightness and freshness was there for all to see. I didn't do too much out there this morning, I tried to just keep them fresh and energised and leave a lot in the tank for the weekend."
To watch his full interview, sign into your Boro Player account and read our interview with John Mousinho here.
Meanwhile MK Dons boss Karl Robinson spoke to their club website about facing Boro:
“They have quality in their side all over the pitch but obviously they have deficiencies as well. It’s my job to exploit the deficiencies and dilute the strengths.
“It’s a difficult place to go and play. Our results over recent years haven’t been overly exciting. It was probably one of our worst performances of the season there earlier on in the season in the JPT. I think we need to make sure we go there and settle a few scores.”
BETTING:
Boro are great value for the win on Saturday – 9/5 with Sky Bet, the official league sponsors. As usual Francois Zoko is favourite to score the first goal at 5/1 whilst Lucas Akins and Darius Charles are 7/1.
You can get odds of 4/1 on a Stevenage win AND for both teams to score - if you’re expecting a high scoring game, it might be a good bet.
Sign up to Sky Bet through any of the attached links to help the club earn extra revenue. Join now and get a free matched bet up to £30!
RECENT FORM:
MK Dons’ play-off push came to something of a halt at the weekend with the loss to Peterborough. Two quick-fire goals from Assombalonga won Posh the match and it opened up a six point gap over MK for the final play-off spot. Prior to the defeat, MK had won two on the road which had the Milton Keynes fans dreaming of the Championship next year.
KEY MAN:
One of the club's biggest success stories this season has been the rise of teenage winger, Dele Alli. Paper talk has linked Alli with a host of Premier League clubs but MK have made it clear he’s not for sale. He’s firmly established himself in Karl Robinson’s first team at only 17 years of age and the Milton Keynes manager claims that he’s “one of the best 17 year-olds in the country”. Boro fans will remember him for his goal in the 4-1 rout back in September but he made headlines only a couple of weeks ago when he scored his first professional hat-trick against Notts County.