PREVIEW – MK Dons – Cobblers Past

Founded: 2004
Nickname: The Dons
Honours: League Two champions: 2007/08. Football League Trophy: 2007/08

MK Dons’ existence began in 2004 after Wimbledon FC relocated from south London to Milton Keynes in 2004. Subsequently, the club dissolved and MK Dons were born as a result.

Despite just 15 years in professional football, the Dons enjoyed instant success after just four seasons by winning the League Two title and Football League Trophy in 2008 and then gaining promotion to the Championship in 2015.

Northampton 0 Sunderland 0 – League One

Sunderland marked their return to action with a drab goalless League One draw at struggling Northampton Town.

The Black Cats were playing their first match in over two weeks due to an outbreak of coronavirus and were well off their best in a game of few chances.

Nicky Adams flashed a long-range effort wide of the far post early on before Charlie Wyke was also off target when left unmarked from Grant Leadbitter’s free-kick.

Max Power stung the palms of Jonathan Mitchell midway through the half but – despite dominating possession – Sunderland created very little in a dour opening 45 minutes.

Ryan Watson dragged an effort wide in the early moments of the second half and Wyke scooped the best chance of the game over the crossbar following a goalmouth scramble at a corner.

Sam Hoskins and Jack Sowerby had late half-chances for the Cobblers but neither were able to find the net and both sides had to be content with a point.

15/12/20 – Sunderland 1 AFC Wimbledon 1 – League One

Burnley were seconds away from a shock FA Cup third-round defeat by MK Dons before debutant keeper Will Norris inspired a penalty shootout win.

Well-travelled striker Cameron Jerome’s first-half header against the run of play looked to be enough for the Dons.

But the League One side were denied a memorable win when Matej Vydra scored with almost the last kick of the game.

After extra-time, Norris saved two Dons penalties in the shootout and Phil Bardsley scored the decisive spot-kick.

Escaping from the brink of defeat meant Burnley’s new era under American businessman Alan Pace began with a victory.

Clarets manager Sean Dyche named an experienced side including several of his key players, but decided it was the right opportunity to give 27-year-old Norris his chance.

After starting out in non-league with the likes of Royston Town, Braintree and Cambridge, Norris’ ascent to the upper levels of the game has been a steady one.

The 6ft 5in keeper had little to do in the first half, with the visitors barely in the Burnley half before 34-year-old Jerome escaped Ben Mee to score after Scott Fraser’s flick from a left-wing cross.

Burnley looked set to pay the price for not making their dominance count, with MK keeper Lee Nicholls producing a string of superb saves.

MK Dons thought they had been reduced to 10 men in first-half stoppage time after defender Richard Keogh was initially dismissed for being adjudged to have denied a clear goalscoring chance with a handball, only for referee Jon Moss to overturn the decision after watching the incident again on the pitchside monitor.

Keeping their full complement of 11 players proved crucial. MK Dons defended intelligently and resiliently in the second half to frustrate Burnley and leave them seconds away from an upset until Vydra’s intevention.

Although Nicholl denied Vydra in the shootout, it was Norris who stole the show as saves from Ben Gladwin and Lasse Sorensen helped put Burnley into the fourth round for the fifth time in the past six seasons.

Northampton 0 MK Dons 0 – League One – 3 November 2020

Northampton and local rivals MK Dons played out a drab goalless draw.

The visitors dominated the ball throughout the 90 minutes but both sides were toothless in front of goal as the Cobblers kept their first league clean sheet of the season.

MK Dons struggled to convert their stranglehold of possession into clear chances during a largely uneventful first 45 minutes.

Their only shot on target came on the half-hour mark when Carlton Morris saw his effort beaten away by Jonathan Mitchell.

At the other end, Andrew Fisher saved comfortably from Danny Rose.

The game remained goalless at half-time but the hosts nearly broke the deadlock 15 minutes into the second half as Fraser Horsfall planted his free header wide.

Horsfall went closer still when his header crashed against the crossbar while for MK Dons, Regan Poole smacked wide from long range in the nearest they came to scoring a winner.

Played- 16

Won- 3

Drawn – 4

Lost- 9

Regan Poole is in his second season with MK Dons, having arrived on a free transfer from Manchester United ahead of the 2019/20 season.

The versatile young defender, who began his career with Newport County, spent three seasons at Old Trafford while enjoying loan spells with Northampton Town and Newport.

CRAIG HICKS
Stephen Finch and Anthony Da Costa
Fourth Official : Ravel Cheosiaua

Mr Hicks last game was a Sky Bet league Two between Leyton Orient and Southend. The game ended in a 2-0 win for Leyton Orient and Mr Hicks gave 4 yellow cards during this game.

His last Cobblers game was back in November when the Cobblers visited Plymouth Argyle at Home Park when the Cobblers lost 2-1 and Mr Hicks booked Bolger, Watson and Rose for the Cobblers.

Mr Hicks last trip to the PTS Academy Stadium was in 2019 when the Cobblers beat Crewe 4-1 thanks to goals from Scott Wharton (10, 18)Sam Hoskins (pen 24) and Andy Williams.

Northampton Town welcome MK Dons to the PTS Academy Stadium on Tuesday in the last 16 of the Papa John’s Trophy and you can purchase a match pass to watch the game live on iFollow.

A match pass for this game costs just £10 for all UK based supporters and can be purchased here.

Northampton have won 55% of their last 20 home league games and MK Dons have lost 60% of their last 20 away league games.

The last time MK Dons won away in the league was 20 games ago against Blackpool. The last time Northampton lost a home league game was 1 match ago against Charlton.

Northampton last kept a clean sheet at home 6 games ago, and have kept 8 clean sheets in their last 20 home games. MK Dons last failed to score away in the league 1 games ago and have missed the net in 7 of their last 20 away league games.

Of the 11 league games Northampton has won at home, they scored first 11 times. Of the 12 away games MK Dons has lost, they conceded first 12 times.

Northampton have scored 2 goals or more in 10 of their last 20 home games. MK Dons have conceded at least 2 goals in 8 of their last 20 away games.

Northampton have conceded 1 goal or less in 14 of their last 20 home league games. MK Dons have scored 1 goal or less in 17 of their last 20 away league games

Jake Robinson’s wonder goal was enough for Northampton to see off MK Dons 1-0 in the first round of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.The winner arrived in the 11th minute as Robinson grabbed his first goal since arriving at Sixfields last season. Lee Nicholls’ long clearance was headed down by Henoc Mukendi and Robinson hit a dipping 30-yard volley over a stranded David Martin.

Louis Moult went close to doubling Northampton’s advantage when his shot just went the wrong side of the upright. But the Dons hit back and created several good chances – Daniel Powell, Dean Bowditch, twice, Charlie MacDonald and Shaun Williams all failing to find the net.

The visitors picked up from where they left off after the break and it took a smart save from Nicholls to deny Stephen Gleeson before substitute Jabo Ibehre saw a header saved by Nicholls, although Cobblers sub Lewis Wilson should have made the game safe when he fired over after a quick break.

Ibehre missed a late opportunity when he failed to connect with MacDonald’s low cross from three yards as the visitors’ late pressure failed to produce an equaliser.

League Trophy 2003/2004

Looking back on our last long campaign in the League Trophy back in the season 2003/2004 Under Colin Calderwood at Sixfields in this campaign the Cobblers beat local rivals Peterborough at Sixfields.

Interview – Andy Holt

Looking back on our last long campaign in the League Trophy back in the season 2003/2004 UnderI interviewed ex-cobbler Andy Hot, Andy played for the Cobblers between 2004 – 2012 making over 190 appearances scoring over 15 goals.