Founded: 2004
Nickname: The Dons
Honours:League One Runners-up (2014/15) League Two Champions (2007/08) Promotion (2018/19) EFL Trophy Winners (2007/08)

MK Dons, formed in 2004 from the ashes of Wimbledon FC, began playing their football at the National Hockey Stadium under the guidance of Stuart Murdoch, but poor results would lead to his dismissal in November of the same year and the appointment of Danny Wilson in his place.

The experienced Wilson was in charge during the Dons’ most turbulent spell as a Club, escaping relegation from League One on the final day of the season thanks to Gareth Edds’ 84th minute winner against Tranmere Rovers.

Chairman Pete Winkelman was swift to appoint Tisdale’s successor – recruiting from within, with experienced defender Russell Martin trusted with the responsibility of guiding MK Dons to safety.

Martin made an immediate impact at the helm, bringing back a familar style of attractive football to Stadium MK as well as improving the results. His side climbed out of the relegation zone at the start of the New Year and pulled away enough to secure their League One status on a points-per-game basis at the end of a curtailed 2019/20 season.

Storylines – MK Dons

As we build-up to Saturdays game v MK Dons at Stadium:MK, we look at some storylines leading up to the game…

Ipswich 0 Northampton 0 – League One

The official moved his head towards the Irishman in the final moments of the match and then briefly appeared to square up to the 32-year-old, before being ushered away by Northampton’s Lloyd Jones.

Judge, who had protested after being penalised for simulation, was then shown a yellow card, the fifth booking of the match.

In the third minute of stoppage time, Ipswich’s Flynn Downes was sent off for violent conduct in an ugly end to the match.

Lowly Northampton defied the odds to secure a draw, but will be frustrated they only came away with one point instead of all three.

It lifted the Cobblers up two places, but they remain inside the relegation zone on goal difference. Ipswich, who finished with 10 men, moved up a place to 11th but are four points off the top six.

Ipswich keeper Tomas Holy had to gather a shot from Sam Hoskins and then hack clear after Troy Parrott’s loose pass was seized on by Mark Marshall.

Holy smothered Jack Sowerby’s effort and Luke Matheson blocked an effort by Hoskins while, with the half drawing to a close, Peter Kioso hit the post and Marshall pulled his shot wide.

James Norwood, who came on as a 71st-minute replacement for Ipswich, forced Northampton keeper Jonathan Mitchell into his first save of the game and to heap further misery on a woeful Ipswich, Downes was sent off in stoppage time.

Hull 1 MK Dons 0- League One

Scott Fraser’s 80th-minute penalty, awarded by referee Declan Bourne for a handball off Matt O’Riley’s fierce hit, was the defining moment of a tight game which further disrupted City’s push for promotion from the third tier.

Hull have now failed to score in their last three league games, with Russell Martin’s enterprising side the latest team to cash in.

MK Dons played with adventure from the outset and created the best chance of the first half when Matt Ingram brilliantly kept out Will Griggs’ rising half-volley at the back post.

The Tigers had wasted a good chance before that after Keane Lewis-Potter’s first touch let him down when through on goal.

Mallik Wilks should also have done better with a wayward strike over the crossbar after 24 minutes.

Dons goalkeeper Andrew Fisher later needed to be alert to tip over Greg Docherty’s goal-bound drive on the hour.

The visitors understandably became more conservative once Fraser scored, although Hull should have equalised late on when centre-back Jacob Greaves headed over inside the six-yard box.

Northampton 0 MK Dons 0 – League One

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.

REWIND – Northampton 1 MK Dons 0

Played	Won	Draw	Lost	F	A
17	3	4	10	16	30

Biggest Win over MK Dons	20/02/18 – 2-1 – Jimmy Floyd – PTS Academy
Biggest Loss over MK Dons	19/01/16 – 3-0 L – Jimmy Floyd – Stadium:MK
First-Ever Game	19/08/08 – 1-0L – Stuart Gray – Stadium:Mk

Played for Both – MK Dons

Ahead of Saturday nights game v MK Dons, we look at players that have played for both the Cobblers and MK Dons. How many can you remember?

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Samuel Barrott will be the man in the middle for Saturday afternoons away trip to Stadium:MK.

The West Riding-based official will travel to Stadium:MK for his 23rd game and his 8th Sky Bet League One game of the 2020/21 season. he current campaign is his first in the EFL as the man in the middle after being promoted to the National List at the end of last season.

His last game of the campaign was a 3-0 win for Lincoln v Gillingham IN League one here he booked 6 players.

So far this season he has booked 58 players and shown red to 4 players. In the 2019/20 campaign he was in charge of 17 games booking 44 players sending of 2 players. In this campaign he was awarded with refereeing the Conference play off Final.

This will be his first Cobblers and MK Dons game. He will be assisted by Leigh Crowhurst and Aaron Farmer and the Fourth Official is Paul Howard.

His latest Cobblers Game

None

His latest MK Dons Games

None

Northampton Town travel to MK Dons on Saturday 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.
Fans overseas will be able to view on Season Passes or by purchasing a match pass.

Due to the BBC’s current travelling restrictions for reporters, there will be no BBC Radio Northampton commentary accompanying the iFollow pictures on Saturday.

On iFollow, viewers will have the choice to watch the game with stadium sound only or with home commentary.

BBC Radio Northampton audio commentary will be available for listeners in Northamptonshire on 104.2 or 103.6 FM and DAB, and for audio only subscribers on iFollow.

BBC Radio Northampton commentating from the iFollow feed from the studio for radio use only. Unfortunately, this would have too much of a delay to be used alongside the iFollow pictures.

MK Dons have won 40% of their last 20 home league games and Northampton have lost 45% of their last 20 away league games.

The last time Northampton won away in the league was 9 games ago against Burton. The last time MK Dons lost a home league game was 2 matches ago against Charlton.

MK Dons last kept a clean sheet at home 4 games ago, and have kept 7 clean sheets in their last 20 home games. Northampton 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.

MK Dons have won 40% of their last 20 home league games and Northampton have lost 45% of their last 20 away league games.

The last time Northampton won away in the league was 9 games ago against Burton. The last time MK Dons lost a home league game was 2 matches ago against Charlton.

Of the 8 league games MK Dons has won at home, they scored first 7 times. Of the 9 away games Northampton has lost, they conceded first 6 times.

Stats	NORTHAMPTON	MK Dons
Games Played	28	28
Goals	20	38
Shots on target	81	116
Shooting accuracy	39.70%	51.80%
Goals conceded	43	33
Clean sheets	6	7
Yellow cards	53	54
Red Cards	3	0