March Blog

MK Dons 1-1 Preston North End

So we went into March 13th in league on 46 points and a very busy month and what better way to start than watching the Chairman having a right rant and rave before the Preston game.

I wont go on to much about what he said as he said it later on Three Counties radio but to be amongst the three or four fans he tested his speech on was quite surreal.

Pete had he alluded to read or been told things people were posting on "your forum" which was odd as he said it to me and I don't post on forum's let alone run one lol Pete was actually quite livid he had had words with an employee of club and that seemed to have got his back up I said how lucky we were Martin's injury happened when McLoughlin had returned and he said what a good keeper MacKenzie was ! I said but the majority of fans would not know that and besides Gary had by then been sent on loan so point was rather a mute one.

He avoided the Harley question saying he had gone back and had a neck injury which I knew was not the full story and asked was Wright still at club as no one had seen him for weeks then one of us mentioned he had applied for the Swindon job Pete just said "has he" then went on about Southend and Swindon and we should not compare MK Dons to them (none of us had) as he had seen them go up and down league's and he was trying to build stability I did not find him aggressive but more annoyed and passionate but I was alone and everyone else thought he was aggressive.

I was just playing devils advocate and was merely asking what everyone else seemed a bit wary to ask directly and was surprised at his demeanour I had not seen him so angry and he admitted he made a mistake by saying at the start of the season we would get promoted and it put too much pressure on the team who could not handle it the, whole thing was quite odd and his wife Bernie eventually got him inside the hotel entrance.

The game itself was a bore draw between two poor teams Preston did not play a registered striker and just had one man at the front and they seemed to come for a draw we just seemed to follow their lead.

Officials were terrible and I can remember writing about the useless Mr Bates before quite why he is still a referee is a mystery.
Teams lined up
MK Dons (4-2-3-1) McLoughlin, Otsemobor who has gone into hopeless mode (Bowditch 68), Kay, Williams, Lewington (c) Potter, Lines, Powell, Chadwick who signed a new 2 year deal that morning, Chicksen M.O.T.M for his goal, Lowe who would have been M.O.T.M for work rate but missed a sitter (McLeod 90 quite why he was brought on so late only Robbo knows).

Subs not used: Doumbe, Flanagan, Baldock, Rasulo. Booked Lewington silly booking for petulant behaviour, Powell
Goal by Chicksen on 2 mins then followed 88 mins of pure torture.

Preston North End: Rudd, Buchanan (Robertson 81), Huntington, Wright, Connolly, Hayhurst, Welsh (c), Wroe, Holmes (Garner 89), King, Beavon (Monakana 77).

Subs not used: Stuckmann (GK), Beardsley, Mousinho, Proctor.

Goal: Hayhurst 7 proving once again you are never more vulnerable than when you score.

Referee Tony Bates as I said once before appropriately named (Master Bates) !1 out of 10 just for finding the ground.
Attendance was 8,412 (678 of them)


MK Dons 3-0 Doncaster Rovers

Next up was the game with top of the league Doncaster and we were all probably a bit nervous I thought we might get a draw but was not very optimistic after Saturday's display.

But as usaul I was wrong and we played as well as I can remember this season Chadders went off injured after 37 mins
which whilst upsetting meant we almost went two up front (although Lowei did fall back a bit) it was as close as we'll see to 4-4-2 and Izale got his much anticipated goal three minutes later.

We had started the game looking a bit shaky with passes going astray but had looked better as the Izale goal loomed and after that we were in control of the game.

Second half we pushed forward and Powell who had that day extended his contract made it two nil with a rocket of a shot.

Doncaster never looked like getting back into it and with seven minutes of normal time remaining to great applause from the crowd Gleeson made his return and with his second touch scored a thunderous goal that had the home fans
in football heaven, three scorers and each could have stolen the headlines post match.
The teams lined up
MK Dons (4-2-3-1) McLoughlin, Chicksen, Kay, Williams, Lewington (c), Potter, Lines, Powell, Chadwick (McLeod 37), Bowditch (Doumbe 74), Lowe (Gleeson 82).
Subs not used: Flanagan, Baldock, Rasulo.

Goals by McLeod a much needed one on 40 Powell who signed new contract on 56′ and returning from injury Gleeson on 83

Doncaster Rovers (4-4-2) Woods, Quinn, McCombe, Jones (c) (Griffin 46), Spurr; Cotterill, Harper, Lundstram, Husband (Bennett 63); Coppinger, Hume (Paynter 67).

Subs not used: Maxted , Wakefield, Sinclair, Howieson, Bennett.

Booked McCombe and Cotterill

Referee who was pretty okay was Keith Stroud from Hampshire 8 out of 10.

Attendance was 6,804 with 453 away fans.
More importantly we now had fifty points the first magic figure of season albeit a month late.

Sheffield Unt 0-0 Dons
Next up was an away trip to Sheffield and the much fancied for promotion team who were second in the league when we arrived.

The game was a hard fought battle with both sides cancelling each other out and most of us were happy with a point on the day.
Not a game for the football purists but a point well earned and the mood amongst fans had certainly lifted, the return of Bamford after his injury was a boost the gloss slightly taken off by the injury to Powell on the day but Gleeson got some more match time and Doumbe playing enabled Chicksen to move further up field which on reflection was probably a good move as Doumbe had a good game and coped well with Kitson who I think would have eventually got the better of Chicksen.

Bamford got booked for diving after being tripped when it should have been a penalty but the referee missed one for United so I guess it all balanced out.
Teams lined up
Sheffield United: Long, Maguire, Hill, Flynn, Doyle (c), McDonald, Kitson, Collins, Robson (Poleon 83), Murphy (Forte 62), McMahon.
Subs not used: Coyne (GK), Westlake, Higginbotham, Ironside, McFadzean.
Booked: Maguire

MK Dons 4-2-3-1 McLoughlin, Chicksen, Kay, Williams, Lewington (c), Lines, Potter; Powell (Doumbe 32), Smith (Bamford 58), Bowditch, Lowe (Gleeson 68).
Subs not used: Otsemobor, McLeod, Flanagan, Baldock.

Referee was Boyeson who let the game flow but missed a few decisions and therefore just a 7 out of 10.

Attendance was a massive for League one 17, 936 with 385 Dons faithful.

Dons 2-3 Shrewsbury
After the draw at United Tuesday nights game took on a must win status amongst the fans as that would keep us up with a shout of play off's baring in mind we still had two games in hand on most teams.
The Shrews have had a bit of an up and down season and as we were at home I thought we should win this one but true to form this season it did not go that way.

Within twenty minutes we were two goals down both goals coming after the defence fell asleep and the two chances Shrews got they scored.
Robbo then took Doumbe off (who was the one defender not at fault)this despite most of us scratching our heads proved to be a good move as within eight minutes we pulled one back.

Second half Lowe got his second and we put Shrews under a lot of pressure for the whole of the second half but could not find the net.
Then in what was probably the stupidest thing I have seen this season we conceded an own goal under no pressure.

McLoughlin came running out of his goal and Kay either not hearing him shout or Ian did not shout (which I thought)played the ball into his own net.

We continued to pile pressure on but could not get an equaliser, in the final moments Alan Smith had his effort at goal turned over the bar by the Shrews keeper.

And for even the most optimistic fan that was the play off hope gone with MacKenzie and Flanagan out on loan and no scout (other than chairman's son)it does look like the towel had been thrown in and money saving is the order of the remaining season.
Teams lined up
MK Dons (4-2-3-1) McLoughlin Doumbe (Gleeson 38), Kay, Williams, Lewington (c) Potter, Lines (Smith 83), Bowditch, Lowe, Chicksen, McLeod (Bamford 54).

Subs not used: Otsemobor, Flanagan, Baldock.

Goals by Lowe on 27 and 47 minutes and my M.O.T.M.

Shrewsbury Town (4-4-2): Weale who made a great save to earn the three points, Gayle, Jones, Mambo, Jacobson, Taylor (Parry 87), Summerfield, McAllister, Richards, Eaves (Porter 90), Morgan.

Subs not used: Anyon (GK), McGinn, Goldson, Rodgers.

Goals by Eaves 16, 19 who was pretty decent, Kay O.G was on 68
Referee was David Phillips from West Sussex who I can not remember doing too much wrong other than usual L1 ref trait of missed fouls but gave others a 6 out of 10 Attendance was 6,672 with 233 away fans.


MK Dons 3-0 Tranmere Rovers

Friday before the match I went to Woughton to watch the training and thought we had a new trialist when I asked Mick Harford said he was the referee from Yeovil game ! which I thought was a wind up but on closer inspection it was clear he was not a player.
He was joining in with the training but I was not quite sure why he was here, but I stopped wondering why we get some strange faces at MK a long while back lol

John Motson a familiar face was here again for the game and had brought his son with him and they were treated to a good comprehensive Dons win, not quite as comprehensive as the Doncaster win as I thought Sidibe and Akpa Akpro looked like they might grab at least a goal but overall Rovers passing and finishing were poor and we were on top of the game for the most part.

Of course the win against a top side gave some a hope the play off dream might be alive but personally I think that train has left the station.

We were now 12th in league after 37 games played and have 54pts probably seventeen points from the target needed for the last play off place.

Personally I think we'll finish around 8th or 9th in line with the budget(at start of season) and Robbo will talk about injuries and a good cup run and money that has made the club, the fact we have no scouts or anyone to recruit players after Rae left will be brought up and rightly so, taking pressure off himself and onto the Chairman.

Teams lined up Dons 4-2-3-1 McLoughlin, Chicksen, Kay, Williams, Lewington (c) (Otsemobor 64), Potter, Lines, Bamford (Baldock who Id like to see more of 71), Gleeson (McLeod 71), Bowditch, Lowe.
Subs not used were Doumbe and Smith we again had no keeper on bench.
Booked just Kay
Goals by Lewington who scored with his head 9, Gleeson who ran to Rovers fans to "celebrate" this was in response to a Rovers fan tweeting "I hope you break both legs" 43, Potter headed in after another rebound of bar on 50

Tranmere Rovers Fon Williams (c), Holmes, Black, Taylor, Palmer, Harrison (Bell-Baggie 63), Bakayogo (Stockton 81), Power, Gibson, Sidibe, Akpa Akpro.
Subs not used: Mooney (GK), Amoo a former loan player here, M Kay, O'Halloran, Corry.

Referee was Oliver Langford from the West Midlands an eight out of ten.

Attendance on family fun day was 9,682 with 601 away fans.

Crewe 2-1 Dons

So next up a trip to Crewe a game I thought we would lose as we struggle against teams lower than us in the league and seem to go all cocky after a win and I got the call right.
With only four players on the bench we looked a forlorn and down to bare bones team, hardly a team with between 6th(Winkelman quote) and 9th highest budget in league depending on who you believe, its bigger than Crewe's anyway for what its worth I think its the 9th with the players out on loan.

Again we lost the game late on after starting brightly with a goal from Bamford the railwaymen got one back just before half time.
Second half both sides pushed for a winner and game got niggly and six minutes before time Pogba got his second and then Kay got himself sent off for a second yellow and the game was lost and Kay got another ban and we had another up hill task for the next game.
Teams lined up
Crewe Alexandra Phillips, Davis, Ellis, Murphy (c) (Turton 59), Pogba, Leitch-Smith (Tootle 85), Mellor, Robertson, Osman, Colclough, Ellington (Aneke 75).

Subs: Martin (GK), Dugdale, West.

Goal were by Pogba on 40 and 84 minutes.

MK Dons (4-2-3-1) McLoughlin, Otsemobor, Kay, Williams, Chicksen (Smith 85), Potter, Lines, Bamford, Gleeson (c), Bowditch (Baldock 64), Lowe (McLeod 69).

Subs: Doumbe only sub not used which I really can not understand after last couple of games he played.
Matt Doumbe who has been needed lately despite not seeming to be in Karls preferred team.
Booked: Kay who is fast becoming more a liability than an asset.

Sent-off Kay who undoes his previous good performances with his stupid temper on 87minutes.

Goal by on Bamford 31

Referee was nice but dim Tim Robinson who made a bizarre booking for a player shouting, poor for both sides a 5 out of ten not one of West Sussex finest.

Attendance was a lowly 3,770 and 143 of the MK Army made the trip.
Goalscorer Patrick Bamford

With the ban of Kay I noticed Flanagan made his debut for the Bees as a substitute that weekend and played the full 90 minutes as Edgar Davids side put an end to their losing streak.

The Dons 21-year-old centre half put in an assured performance and helped Barnet not only pick up a valuable three points but also keep a clean-sheet for the first time since February and I hoped we would recall him.

In other news Dele Alli came on for England's U17s who beat Portugal 1-0.

As we know the Colchester game was postponed due to snow on 23rd March ! and there was us hoping winter was long gone but it gave us a chance to get the injured players fit ahead of

Another academy player Giorgio Rasulo helped England U-16s to a 1-1 draw with Holland and Dele Alli featured again for the U-17s who were beaten by Russia.

Hartlepool 0-2 MK Dons
The last away game of month saw the long trip to Hartlepool who sat at the bottom of the table despite some well known and pretty decent players.

The team stopped and trained at Leeds United training ground on the way to Hartlepool to stretch out the muscles and Karl commented on the radio match day it is nice to train there on a good pitch and I thought he was having a little dig at our training ground which he has mentioned before being hard on players.

On current form Dons fans would probably have been worried playing a team below us in the table but we started well with a brilliantly taken goal by Bamford making it two in two, also on this season's form taking an early goal was a bit worrying.

The Dons continued to press forward with Bamford looking sharp the Poolies did not look to threatening but we never came close to a goal the rest of the first half.
Second half Hartlepool had a man sent off for a boot to the back of Bamford who later was subbed as Patrick got yellow and Karl sensibly subbed him.

Bowditch swung a shot into the net to make it two nil and against a ten man side at the bottom of the league not even the most pessimistic fan could see a loss happening.

And even though we had the odd wobbly moment we got the win and looked forward to Easter Monday's game against Brentford.
We moved up to eleventh with 57 points(helped by Coventry's ten point deduction) 9 off play off's making Monday's game massive.
Teams lined up
Pools: Flinders, Austin, Collins, Hartley, Horwood (Holden 46), Walton, Baldwin, Sweeney (James 24), Monkhouse, Franks, Wyke
Subs Not Used: McHugh, Rowbotham, Hawkins, Rutherford, Boagey
Booked: Horwood (16), Monkhouse (18), Baldwin (90)
Sent Off: Walton (51)

MK Dons: McLoughlin, Otsemobor, Doumbe, Williams, Gleeson, Potter, Bowditch, Smith (Powell 56), Chicksen (Galloway 72), Lowe, Bamford (Chadwick 58)
Subs Not Used: Baldock, Lines
Attendance was just 3,269 with 157 very cold Dons fans Dave Martin and Dean Lewington are still not recovered from injury and Izale McLeod has picked up an injury somewhere, all were missing at Hartlepool.

February Blog

Jonathan Park from BBC Look East and Donovan Blake from ITV Anglia the rival channel Thursday before Barnsley game united on Valentine's day lol.

Dons 0-3 Bournemouth
The first game of the month was against Dorset's finest and a team we know has pots of money and a returning manager who I thought should never have left , at least not when and to the club he left for.

Eddie Howe is one of the bright young managers much like our own but with a promotion under his belt.

I was optimistic before the game but was hopelessly wrong about the outcome.
I thought we did play well for the most part and can not think of any player who had a stinker but for the two obvious culprits.

Otsemobor made a catastrophic back pass to Martin after we had decided to not push forward but go sideways then back.

Lowe then had a mad moment and deservedly got a straight red for an outrageous foul.

I spoke to Robbo at Woughton on Monday and he said Jon just did not see Grabban I did not talk about Lowe as enough had been said and written but Robbo said the players were happy and he was grateful to the fans for not turning on him, he seemed upbeat and we had a good chat about injuries the key players missing and how the season was panning out.

I did get impression he was feeling the pressure and when pressed on the money available to him he wouldn't criticize Winkelman and I felt there had been words between them and Robbo may have not had it all his own way, but I'm just speculating rather than going on anything I heard.

Gary Mac was training hard with Simon Crampton it was all a bit technical for me monitoring heart rate and how he was running and what his load ratio was etc and how many kilometres he had covered.

MK Dons lined up 4-2-3-1 Martin, Otsemobor, Doumbe (Smith 69), Williams, Lewington (c) Potter, Lines (Ismail 79) Bowditch, Harley, Chicksen (McLeod 46) Lowe sent off on 44 which really sealed our fate.

Subs not used: Flanagan, Baldock, Alli.


AFC Bournemouth 4-4-2 which seems to work for them ! Jalal,Francis, Cook, Elphick (c) (Ritchie 45), Seaborne; McQuoid (Hughes 79), Arter, O'Kane, Pugh, Grabban (Tubbs 87), Pitman.

Subs not used: Allsop (GK)David James did not travel for those interested , Partington, Fogden, Fletcher.

Goals: Grabban 9, Pugh 45, Arter 84

Referee: Mick Russell was from Hertfordshire
who I thought was okay 7 out of ten.
Attendance was 9,233 with 1,446 away fans considering the number were not that noisy.

We slipped to 10th and are 10pts from top 5 points from play off's.

Oldham 3-1 Dons

So it was off to relegation zone and manager less Oldham without a win in ten I thought if there was an away game we could win on the road it should be here.

But the doubts started when I saw the team selection.
Now I am no expert but I know from years of watching training that injured players usually take a couple of weeks of first team training to get back to match fitness depending on how serious the injury was of course so I was surprised to see Gary Mac start and Powelly to lesser extent.

I was also surprised to see Chadders on bench after only joining team on Monday for training.

Another shock was seeing McLeod on the bench now I was not at Woughton on Thursday or Friday so don't know if he had a niggle but I could not work out why he did not start.

After twenty minutes Barnard (who must be costing Oldham a pretty penny) put the hosts ahead we never looked like we were ever going to win the game as we just did not look very good, but that is a pattern we are getting used to.
Only now we never had that possession and lapse moments we just looked the second best team.

There was a brief moment of hope when Powell another returning injured player scored but the joy was short lived as we proved the old adage never more vulnerable when just scored correct and we conceded five minutes later.

Even the introduction of Chadwick was not enough second half and eight minutes into the half Iwelumo got the winner we pressed a bit and Williams came close and Izale missed a good chance and as before he has divided the fan base and misses like that will not help.

I have yet to make my mind up on Izale this time round but an Oldham fan on twitter Josh who writes a blog and knows his stuff reckoned we were better with Izale ! so I like to keep an open mind although I did think when it was rumoured Izale was coming here how he would fit into Karl's game plan.

After the game Karl apologised to the fans and in an unprecedented move and to the chairman as well.
Oldham Athletic 4-4-2 which like Bournemouth seemed to work for them Bouzanis, Brown (Byrne 90), M’voto, Tarkowski, Grounds; Croft (Furman 69), Wesolowski (c), Baxter, Obita (Taylor 87) Iwelumo, Barnard.

Subs: Cisak, Murray, Millar, Winchester.

Goals: Barnard 22, M’voto 44, Iwelumo 53 which prompted a comment Dons must be shit if he scored !

MK Dons 4-2-3-1 Martin, Otsemobor, MacKenzie, Williams, Lewington (c) Potter, Lines (McLeod 55); Powell, Harley (Chadwick 46), Bowditch, Smith (Chicksen 67).

Subs not used: Doumbe, Baldock, Flanagan.

Goal: Powell 39

Referee: D Whitstone (Northamptonshire)

Attendance: 4,094 (185 away)

I laughed when some of our fans said they predicted this up to a year ago(we were comfortably in play off spots with a lower budget) as I also remember some also predicted relegation and gloom three years ago when Robbo was appointed lol but we can all say we did when we did not or even just be doom and gloom and hope it comes true eventually.

Point is we all have views on what went wrong or is going wrong I think it is a combination of other teams doing better than expected also in an open division teams are somehow finding money to strengthen as they believe they have a decent chance this season more than other seasons and Robbo wont be given more money and has in fact had the budget cut during this season, having had to get rid of contracted players to bring in loan players.

We know Karl has not been given money from the FA Cup run but we also have to question the players Karl has brought in to replace those he has released ?

We also have to look at those around him and what they actually do when Karl is not at Woughton when manager type work at the Stadium means he is not there full session ?

We do not have a tiny budget probably about eighth start of season(although it is now 9th or 10th),others above us have a smaller budget put it that way.

So have events just conspired against us ? injuries at wrong time to key players ?
Is the squad now too small with release of Jay and Jabo and Charlie? Are the replacements not as good ?

Is Pete's obvious desire to complete stadium work effecting the team or has Pete decided this year is not our year and has stopped anymore funding ?
So many if and buts and conjecture ! Of course the stadium has to be completed this year to keep the council happy as part of the agreement but could Pete have done more ?

The more I look at what I write the more I realise I have not got a clue what if any of the reason's for the current plight are ! other than its probably a bit of all of them.

Doncaster 0-0 Dons

Next up was a trip to Doncaster and a game we needed to win to keep in with a chance of the play off's , who would have believed that play off's are now the dream and automatic is pretty much forgotten about.

The pitch was not a great help to our passing style ! thanks to the egg chasers and away fans have been moved this season to the corner rather than behind the goal due to low away attendances at Doncaster.

Pretty much all our players had the chance to score or so it seemed but the elusive goal never came (for either team) as the game played out to a nil nil affair.

Not a bore draw by any means but the game led to Robbo saying how did we not win that.

Donny were second in the table so a draw away from home was probably a good result but the game was there to be won on the night and we again missed chances the performance was much improved though and I had to think we seem to be a one man team with Chadwick returning and once more most fans choice for M.O.T.M Potter a close second McLeod had a good game but did not do what he was brought in to do which is score but he was not lazy, a criticism often labelled at him.

Doncaster played a lot of long ball (hoofball) and relied on long throws but could not out muscle us and Gary Mac and Williams coped well with the hoof.

Referee was David Webb who played advantage let game flow and was not card happy an 8 out of 10 Attendance was 6,423 with 180 Dons not the 13 fans @awaydays stated whilst showing a stand we did not sit in lol. Teams lined up
Doncaster Rovers: G Woods, Quinn, Spurr, McCombe, Jones (c), M Woods (Sinclair 70), Griffin (Harper 46), Cotterill, Coppinger, Husband, Paynter.
Subs: Maxted, Sinclair, Martis, Harper, Bennett, Wakefield, Fowler.
Booked: Woods

MK Dons: (4-2-3-1) Martin, Otsemobor, MacKenzie, Williams, Lewington (c), Potter, Harley, Powell, Chadwick (Chicksen 74), Bowditch, McLeod.

Subs: Doumbe, Smith, Chicksen, Flanagan, Baldock, Lines.Booked: MacKenzie


The FA Cup fifth round the furthest we have progressed as MK Dons.
MK Dons 1-3 Barnsley

The excellant keeper Luke Steele,Barnsley players arriving Bobby Hassel poses for picture.


So it was time for another historic day as we played in the fifth round of the FA cup the furthest we have come since becoming MK Dons in 2004.
Of course as Wimbledon we won the competition in 1988 as many of our fans remember, and it still annoys me when people forget those fans that despite the troubles of Wimbledon FC stayed loyal and followed the club even when the name change was forced upon them.

Sadly the team did not seem to have the same passion for the day and first half we were awful letting Barnsley not only into the game but gifted them goals as well.

To be fair we were caught cold for the first when Dagnell scored on three minutes but the second from Harewood a former FA cup winner was due to bad defending from the normally reliable Lewington who Harewood just seemed to skip right past.

The third we had gone three at the back chasing an equalizer but the whole defence just stood there waiting for the linesman to flag which he of course did not as he had not kept up with play all game and was awful but the back line should have played to the whistle not what they thought !
Bowditch scored a lovely goal to make things 2-1 and got the crowd rocking in what was a pretty good day noise wise from the home fans Barnsley brought a good crowd and made a good lot of noise and I found them to be a nice bunch generally.

But despite a good second half the poor first half meant we had no realistic chance of getting back into the game against a rejuvenated and in form Barnsley side.

Alan Smith got sent off after just having been announced as M.O.T.M which I also would have agreed with although Chicksen was close but only a sub so hard to give it to him.

I spoke to one of our more knowledgeable fans Lew who like me clapped Smith as he received his M.O.T.M award as he felt like me it was a yellow at best and even Delap agreed it was not an elbow to the head as the hopeless referee said ,an appeal will be lodged but I'm never confident as the FA rarely go against a referee's decision.(Karl agreed apparently and never lodged one)

Teams lined up
MK Dons (4-2-3-1) Martin,Otsemobor, MacKenzie, Williams, Lewington (c) Potter, Harley (Chicksen 46) Powell, Chadwick, Bowditch (Lines 68) Smith.

Subs not used Doumbe, Flanagan, Alli, Galloway, Rasulo.

Booked: Chadwick, Williams

Sent-off Smith 90 Goal by Bowditch on 62 was well taken

Barnsley Steele made an amazing save to deny Smith(c), Wiseman, Cranie, Kennedy, Golbourne, Hassell (Delap 70), Perkins still a menace and close call for M.O.T.M, Etuhu (O'Brien 58), Mellis, Dagnall who was my opposition M.O.T.M, Harewood (Scotland 46).
Subs not used: Alnwick (GK), Foster, Cywka, Rose.
Booked: Mellis Goals: Dagnall 3, Harewood 19
Referee was Mike Jones from Cheshire who let him self down with the red 6 out of 10
Attendance: 14,475 with 3,702 away fans.

Izale McLeod (with parka on)sat just in front of Luke Ashmead and behind Steve Claridge
doing co-commentary as he was cup tied.

We now have to concentrate on our league form and put a run together as this looks like being quite a low points needed for play off season and others will drop points around us.

We are 12th in the league and have two away games ahead of us at opposite end's of the country Carlisle on the 23rd and Portsmouth on 27th and are probably the two most important games so far this season in terms of how the season will be defined, or so it seems ahead of these games to myself and many or our fan base.

Ahead of the Carlisle game we got news Alex Rae had not learn't by his past mistake's and had once again given up his job to join Paul Ince at Blackpool with no sightings of Ian Wright of late, it had the feel of either rats leaving a sinking ship or else cut backs being made already as the club feel the season is already over.
Fact is we were as close to the relegation zone as the play off places.

The stats after the game showed we had 53 percent possession and so it was pretty even but again a game of two halves with us having best of the first and the Cumbrians the second whether it is down to fitness I don't know but we are worse second half this season. Robbo made some changes and at last gave Chicksen a start and was duly rewarded with a goal from Adam.

Carlisle had changed their keeper and Collin was on the bench where he was joined by our own Martin after thirty nine minutes and thankfully after many games without one he had a keeper on the bench.

McLoughlin fresh back from Walsall stepped in and we went into half time one goal to the good.

More bad news was to follow when Gary Mac went off injured to be replaced by Doumbe but it was a corner given away by Kay who has been pretty decent till his red and subsequent ban that undid the goal by Adam and the battle to keep the Cumbrians at bay.

Mixed responses from the fans there as to blame with some saying Ian should have come out shouting for ball others saying Kay should have left it to Keeper
either way the resulting corner was headed down by O'Hanlon and Beck who had only been on pitch six minutes dispatched the goal and two points were lost.

This now meant the Pompey game on Tuesday was a must win and those two points lost need to be made up putting more pressure on the manager and players alike.
Teams lined up:
Carlisle United: Gillespie, Simek, McGovern, Livesey who lost a lot of blood after a clash with Lewie (Murphy 69), Noble, Loy (Beck 80), Thirwell (Symington 46), Miller (c), Berrett, Mutsoe, O’Hanlon. Goal 86 mins by Beck

Subs not used: Collin, Welsh, Cadamarteri, Potts,

Booked: O’Hanlon well he was a Don

MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin (McLoughlin 39); Chicksen, MacKenzie (Doumbe 77), Kay, Lewington (c) Potter, Lines; Chadwick, Williams, Harley (Powell who did not start as he was not fit according to Robbo 64) Lowe.

Subs not used: Otsemobor, McLeod, Baldock, Rasulo.

Booked: Potter

Goal: Chicksen on 36 and was the M.O.T.M so he'll probably be dropped next game !

Referee: Kevin Wright

Attendance: 4,283 with 179 away fans.
We had now played 31 games were 14th in league and had 45 points and seemed to be slipping away from the play off pack and nearer the relegation dog fight !

And so the Robbo out calls came from a wider selection of the fan base and those that never really liked him or are just the doom and gloom type were having a great time mainly to themselves as most of us ignore them for various reason but mainly because we don't think its all down to Robbo.

Point is a loss or even a draw was to most of us the end of the play off hope. Mathmaticaly possible perhaps but I thought that a loss means there is more wrong than I see at the training ground or hear from those I trust who often pick up reliable tit bits.

The game was a huge disappointment for the reason's that 1.We should have beaten Portsmouth 2.There was no passion from the team 3.Play off's can be forgotten 4.We are nearer the relegation zone than the play off zone.
Pompey have some good players amongst the team but they are on short contracts and really have nothing to prove and can hardly know each other.

The few positives I could see were that Chicksen was not dropped as I thought he might be McLoughlin started a game which might stop him moaning and we took a reasonable number of fans a long way on a Tuesday night.
Teams lined up
Portsmouth (4-4-2) Eastwood; Moutaouakil (Webster 65), Rocha, Gyepes, Butler; Wallace, Ertl (c), Racon (Reed 65), Walker (Harris 74); Agyemang remember him ?, Connolly
Subs not used: Smith (GK), Keene, Akinde.
Booked: Gyepes, Wallace, Ertl
Goal: Connolly 22

MK Dons (4-2-3-1) McLoughlin; Chicksen, MacKenzie, Kay, Lewington (c); Potter, Williams (Otsemobor 65); Powell, Chadwick, Harley who was injured (Lines 56); McLeod (Lowe 56).

Subs not used Doumbe, Flanagan, Baldock, Rasulo.

Booked: Potter

Goal: Williams goal to save our blushes was on 27

Referee Keith Hill can not be blamed for another woeful performance came from Hertfordshire.

Attendance was which despite Pompey's woe's is pretty decent at this level 9,815 267 were Don's fans.

March is an incredibly busy month and I am now looking at getting to fifty points rather than anything else, another season in League One is not what most of our fans thought we would be praying for but on current form and the way we are playing its the best we can hope for. I suspect there will be more twists and turn's in March but February has been an awful month and one I'll certainly be glad to see the back of

January Blog

Notts county 1-2 Dons
We started the New Year in 7th place in the league on 39 points and twenty five games played and I was hoping we could manage a draw at Notts County.

What happened was we got three points and moved up to sixth and back in the play off's on 42 points and the first goal of season the fifty to safety is nearly upon us though we are really looking beyond that and Auto.

At this stage I was still confident of play off's but dreaming of Auto's though like most fans that changes depending on results lol.

So the year had started well but what was encouraging was the defence held up, particularly in the later stages of the second half when we came under a lot of pressure Kay gave away a penalty after tripping Judge and the menace that is Campbell-Ryce slotted home the penalty.

Kay was again immense and got forward as well as being the rock in defence we are getting used to.
Only downside was Bowditch going off injured and we hoped it was not a bad injury.

This was a great win on the road after two defeats at home, the pitch was not great and we had not had the rest Notts had but we showed great character and deserved the win.
Before the game we had signed on loan from Brighton Ryan Harley as I mentioned in last months blog, Ryan's debut started well with a pin point cross to Potter which Darren duly dispatched
The teams lined up
Notts County: Bialkowski, Kelly (Showunmi 90), Bishop (c), M Smith, Liddle, Judge, Hughes, Campbell-Ryce (Zoko 79, Boucaud, Stewart, Iwelumo (Arquin 46).
Subs: Spiess, Mahon, Labadie, Bencherif.
Goal: Campbell-Ryce (pen) 56
MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin; Chicksen, Kay, Williams, Lewington (c); Potter, Harley; Powell, Bowditch (A Smith 45), Balanta (Kouo-Doumbe 65); Lowe (MacKenzie 90).
Subs: McLoughlin, MacDonald, Alli, Ismail.
Goals: Potter 6, Powell 13
Referee: Graham Salisbury was from Lancashire another eight out of ten.
Attendance: 5,325 with 311 away fans.

Before the Notts game and the days following the talk was about Izale McLeod and the strong rumour he was coming back.

When Portsmouth announced he had been released the rumours turned into reports of sightings and then by 2nd January it was when are the club going to announce it.

I knew he has been at Woughton and on Thursday the third I went over to Woughton to find out that players were at stadium training so I headed over to the hotel where the players had finished the session and were heading off to Northampton.

I spoke to Izale and he confirmed he was cup tied but waiting to see if his five yellows would stop him playing in the next league game I think he was hoping that the cup game would count as his one game ban.

Lewie ribbed Izale and said he got booked for diving and he'd have to stop that here I said I cant believe Izale would dive ! and thought back to Lewie in last game when it looked rather like he went over easily in the Penalty area lol Izale seemed a lot more chatty than when he was here last when I think he was quite shy and I never found him arrogant back then as I have heard some say.

I said the coffee shop (in Oxley Park he owns with wife Laura) should get a few more fans in and he asked if I had been there and if I liked it I said I had and did and it was nice talking to him again.

In so many games I have written how we dominated games but lacked the finish and Izale will hopefully get on the end of those killer crosses from Bowditch and Powell etc.

Next up was our reward for beating AFC and it was a return visit to Sheffield Wednesday a team we know well from last season so not the journey into the unknown some might have hoped for.

Patrick Bamford was expected to miss the final game of his loan spell and reports he will be out for five weeks probably means we wont see him again, Ibra Sekajja and Angelo Balanta returned to Crystal Palace and Queens Park Rangers respectively.

We had good news and as I hoped Zeli Ismail loan was extended (or rejoined whatever you prefer)until the end of the season including play off's.

The game itself was not the greatest to watch but there was always that excitement of snatching a goal and getting to fourth round, we had the most procession and out sung the home fans for the most part but again we did not get the all important goal.

Smith was the M.O.M. and we have to do it all over again at S:MK we played a sixteen year old and a fifteen year old due to our growing injury crisis and both did well.
Teams lined up
Sheffield Wednesday: Bywater, Buxton, Taylor (c), Antonio, Maguire (Johnson 68), Mattock, McCabe (Semedo 87), Sidibe (Madine 55), Prutton, Llera an ex Don.
Subs: Davies, Johnson, O’Grady, Corry.

MK Dons: Martin,Doumbe, Kay, Williams, Lewington (c); Potter, Harley, Ismail (Deli Alli still just sixteen 67), Smith (MacKenzie 71), Chicksen; Lowe and 15 year old Rasulo 90.

Subs: McLoughlin, Galloway.

Referee was Michael Oliver who was okay 7 out of 10.

Attendance was 11, 463 with 1,185 very noisy Dons fans.

Dons 1-1 Bury

Frustrating,annoying,disappointing were the words (amongst some stronger) I would use to describe the performance against Bury who sat second from bottom before the game.

It all looked great early on when Dean Bowditch hit an early goal and we looked dominant before the goal and just after.

I really have know idea what went wrong afterwards and I have had a day to think about it! We seemed to not suit the formation I would not blame Izale as he had a reasonable game although did miss a tap in from a cross I thought he would get something on, to me the subs were brought on too late I thought Smith would have been better sitting behind Izale and Zeli should have come on earlier to make the runs down wing to feed Izale.

As the second half went on I could feel the eqauliser coming and Steven Schumacher duly proved me right with a sweet volley that Martin could not near.

Captain Dean Lewington was presented with a trophy before the game to mark his 400th league appearance but I think like the rest of us he will prefer to forget that game.

We named seven substitutes although no keeper was amongst them and we learnt Ian had gone on a months loan to Walsall I knew Burns the academy keeper had hurt his thumb and we were lucky Martin was not sent off after what looked to me a foul on last man luckily the worst ref this season saw it otherwise and penalised the Walsall player.

Martin made a superb tipping save which prevented Efe Sodje’s header from finding the roof of the net.

Sodje seemed to keep Izale quiet and was Walsalls M.O.M for me Powell was booked for diving which was harsh as he was tripped we again missed chances Kay’s shot was cleared off the line by some last gasp Bury defending and McLeod’s deflected looping effort struck the upright before rolling across the goalmouth.

John-Lewis (remember him)broke free on goal but sent it wide later on and Schumacher also missed a chance.

As Robbo said after the game "a case of two points dropped".

Dons: Martin, Lewington, Williams, Potter, Bowditch M.OM though tired toward end, Chicksen, McLeod (Smith brought on to late 78), Lowe, Powell (Ismail like Smith too late 78), Harley who looks better every game , Kay. Unused subs: Otsemobor, Doumbe, MacKenzie, Smith, Alli, Rasulo.

Goal by Bowditch on 15.

Booked: Powell, Bowditch.

Bury: Carson, Skarz, Worrall, Schumacher, John-Lewis, Sodje good game Walsall m.o.m , Hughes, Hopper (Jones 55), Thompson, Ebanks-Landell, Soares (Carrington our former player 90). Unused subs just Dibble, Wylde on a bench of just four.

Ref was terrible and named Fred Graham made a bad game worse with his petty pulling free kicks back missing the bleeding obvious and generaly bad decision making 3 out of ten as he was bad for both teams.
Att: 7,384

Losing manager Dave Jones signing autograph for an MK Dons fan !

So after the brief intermission of a league game it was back

to FA Cup action and the replay with Sheffield Wednesday.
We had snow in MK the day before but not a great deal and we had heard the undersoil heating was getting its first workout so the game was not in doubt.

The game was quite an entertaining one with Llera providing the comedy.
At MK Dons we are usually happy to see returning players but Miquel bucked that trend by the most ridiculous act's of diving,cheating and failing to bully Alan Smith (who made him look more a muppet than he was)why Llera has decided to bring these tricks to his game I have no idea but it was awful to watch.
The Owls brought a strong side and wanted the win but the Dons defence held firm got some luck and kept a clean sheet.

John Gorman was again here to watch and is in far better health than when he left us last season and he must have been pleased with the youngsters like Powell and Chico who played well.

It was the Dons we love to watch that night and despite the distraction of Blackpool making an approach for Robbo before the game we won 2-0 and face QPR at Loftus Rd end of month.
Teams were
MK Dons (4-2-3-1) Martin, made saves when needed Otsemobor back from injury bit rusty , Kay another strong game, MacKenzie knackered when he went off(Doumbe 71), Lewington (c); Potter, Williams; Powell who really should have gone down after he was tripped in the area but bravely or stupidly ! tried to score, (Alli 88), Smith who won sponsors and my M.O.T.M, Bowditch (Chicksen 78) Lowe.
Subs not used: Harley, Rasulo, Ismail.

Goals: Williams (pen) 28, Bowditch who won pen after his shirt was tugged 76

Sheffield Wednesday Bywater, Buxton, Taylor (c), Semedo, Madine, Johnson (Mayer 13), Mattock, Pecnik (O'Grady 55), Lee was the player who stood out to me (Antonio 62), Corry, Llera.
Subs not used: Davies (GK), Sidibe, Jones, Coke.

Referee was L Collins who was pretty good and not fooled by Llera's antics 7 out of ten as he did miss a clear booking of Semedo who got away with too much I thought.

The next game was an away against Crewe but it was snowed off so back to the FA cup it was.

As we know it was last season all over again as we drew Q.P.R for the fifth round in what was the furthest we have progressed as MK Dons.

Queens Park Rangers 2-4 MK Dons
Last time round it was the fourth round we lost to a Gabbidon goal after a Wright-Phillips' corner but that replay was earnt after we were robbed at S:MK by an offside goal and a penalty not given.

As well as reaching the fourth round as MK Dons we took a record away attendance and in act sold our allocation.
Some fans moaned that the away fan ST and ST holders were not given first dips before tickets went on general sale, but even though I would have benefitted I thought due to the time involved between tickets becoming available and time to the game it was the right decision to go straight to general sale.

The game started in the best possible way when somehow the ball ended up in the QPR net at the time some said Lewie got a touch others reckoned it was an own goal either way the Dons fans were ecstatic QPR then went through a quiet few minutes before getting back into the game.

We were under a bit of presure but soaked it up and Martin made some good saves when Lowe broke free after a Kay pass and slotted ball home to make it two nil and it stayed that way till half time.

Ryan Lowe

The second half started in spectacular fashion when on fifty minutes Lowe got down the byline and made a sweet cross to Harley who mereley had to slot home for the third and the Ryan to Ryan show was really having a great time.

But we were not finished there when Potter found himself through on goal to cooly slot home the fourth and there was an exodus of QPR leaving the ground and an hour had not been played.

Now as you know I dont usauly do match reports as such but this was an historic and cracking game so Im making an exeption for this game so excuse my ham fisted way of doing it.

QPR were not at the races after the second goal and with the fans on there back seemed to get worse yes they had made nine changes but this was a Prem team with some big names and cost a darn sight more than ours and also had the luxury of bringing on Bobby Zamora at four down.

After a great workmanlike performance Smith was replaced by new loan signing Chris Lines with fifteen minutes left and all Dons fans were thinking can we keep a clean sheet as well as go through to the fifth round !

Sadly it was not to be when Zamora found an unmarked Bothroyd who nodded the ball in with seven minutes to go.

Chicksen came close just after that and tried to lob the keeper but he took a knock before his shot and again a lesser player might have gone down in the box.

Zamora and Boothroyd continued to provide us with some scary moments when our academy product Deli Ali was given a run out against the Premiership outfit.

In the dying moments Da Silva got another one back and it was getting to be a nervious time but I was worrried unnecessarily as we went on to win the game and more history was made as we looked forward to the draw for the next round.

QPR (4-4-2): Green; Fabio, Ferdinand, Ben Haim, Traore; Mackie, Fairlin, Granero, Park (c) (Zamora 67); Campbell, Bothroyd.

Subs: Murphy (GK), Derry, Hill, Onuoha, Ephraim, Mbia.

MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin; Otsemobor, MacKenzie (Harley 20), Kay, Lewington (c); Potter, Williams; Bowditch (Alli 90), Smith (Lines 75), Chicksen; Lowe.

Subs: Kouo-Doumbe, Flanagan, Rasulo, Ismail.

Goals: Lewington 4, Lowe 40, Harley 50, Potter 56

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral) Attendance was 17,081 with a record Dons away crowd of 3155

Thanks to @mkdan for picture


In other news we said goodbye to fan's favourite Jabo Ibehre (who scored on his return to Colchester) and also to Jay O'Shea.
Charlie McDonald also left the club to go to Orient (where Jabo was rumoured to be a target).
We welcomed to the club on loan Ryan Harley from Brighton and Chris Lines from Sheffield Wednesday who we seem to have a lot of ex players from.

Yeovil 2-1 Dons
So it was back to the bread and butter of the league and a trip to Yeovil Id call them a bogey team but we seem to have so many of them I just wont bother.
There was a late pitch inspection as it had been raining heavily but the match was on.

We were now outside the play off's spots but with games in hand but a loss would mean even if we won the games in hand we would still be outside them.

The conditions helped neither team but Yeovil coped better and went a goal ahead when on loan Paddy Madden scored mid way through the first half Kay made it level after he converted a header from Harley.

Kay then went from hero to villain when he was sent off second half after a spat with Madden who then went on to score after what was seen by many to be a controversial red card.

Yeovil held on despite some pressure from the Dons but really it was another two points thrown away and the Auto spots can be forgotten and the play off's also are looking a bit dodgy as well.

Dons manager Karl Robinson told BBC Three Counties Radio:"I got told by an official today that I'm too honest and my players are too honest.
"Shaun Williams almost got his leg broken in the middle of the park, jumped back up and hobbled around. There wasn't even a booking for it.
"Izale McLeod got punched - twice. Luckily for us we've got fantastic video footage of all the incidents.
"I need to make sure there's some charge on my battery for when I phone the PGMO (Professional Game Match Officials) - whatever their job is - but you have a go at them and you get yourself done." Karl was not a happy man but I doubt anything will be done and I think he is feeling the pressure despit the good cup run he knows if promotion is not acheived this season his budget next will be cut and I think it will be bye bye Karl.

Yeovil: Stech, Ayling, McAllister, Webster, Upson, Hayter (Appiah 59), Foley, Madden, Burn, Dolan (Edwards 59), Dawson. Unused subs: Hinds, Blizzard, G.Williams, Stewart, Young.

Dons: Martin, Otsemobor (Smith 80), Lewington, S.Williams, Kay, Bowditch, Lowe (Lines 30), Harley (Doumbe 64), McLeod, Potter, Chicksen. Unused subs: Flanagan, Baldock, Alli, Ismail.
Attendance was 3,152 with 99 peed of wet and cold Dons faithful.

The rest of us are left wondering why it has all gone so wrong despite the players we have who I think are in the main as good as any in League one and many could fit in a championship side.

We all have our theories and some say we are too good for the league I can not quite see that but understand what they mean as the Football we play at times looks on another level.

But we dont play it for the whole game and shut off at times also we get caught by counter attacks after we have kept possession for long periods and do try to play the ball into the net, this coupled with fact we dont seem to be able to adapt to league one type football and fact we had strikers missing gift passes and chances means we are now a mile away from where we thought we would be.

December Blog

Man of the Match Dean Lewington


AFC V MK Dons 2-1 Sunday 2 December 2012
The first game of the month was the much anticipated match against the team from Kingston upon Thames formed in 2002 after the FA had given permission but not made mandatory the move to MK. AFC were started by over two thousand fans of Wimbledon FC who protested at the moves announcement.

The game was as we thought full of inaccurate articles in the press and media with dates of the AFC formation changed and a general MK Dons bashing was the easy lazy journalistic view of the whole move to Milton Keynes by Wimbledon FC in September 2003.

Little mention anywhere of the FA commission report or Sam Hammam the Crystal Palace twelve year ground share or the fans that did actually follow the club to MK.
No surprise the fact was not mentioned anywhere that Wimbledon directors owned MK City back in the eighties and were thinking of moving the club back then when even then Merton council were showing the club they did not want then in the borough.
At least Winkelman finally stood up for himself and said the club was in administration for seven weeks and he wondered why AFC never bought the club.

With the recent outcry over press lies about Hillsborough and phone hacking and the BBC cover up over Jimmy Savile I took the view that I would rather we were not the
darlings of the press and media and also that we are never going to be popular with them but who care's.

MK Citizen

With various AFC trust members and fans working for or friends with the press they are always going to win any media war.
But as residents of Milton Keynes we are used to being knocked and having bad press and I think that may have had a major influence on the sell out of home ends.

What did annoy me though was the vandalism that happened at the stadium and despite MK Dons emailing AFC some of the Kingston clubs officials put it down to rumours.
They also refused to refer to us by our full name(so I wont them).

Picture from MK Citizen

We all saw the pictures of the vandalism and a simple apology for the minority of their fans behaviour would not be seen as a softening of the hatred they have for the people of Milton Keynes but merely a condemnation of vandalism and football hooliganism generally they could have even worded it that way but they chose not to !

The game itself was played in the right way the players were professional and manager Neil Ardley acted with dignity in defeat as did the majority of the AFC fans.
It was a game between near top of league one and near bottom of league two so the 2-1 result was perhaps no surprise.

It was not one of the MK Dons greatest performances and judging by their league place probably one of AFC better one's but we hung on and ground out the win.

It was one of the strangest games I have ever been to, outside before the game the atmosphere was very tense but not that aggressive I have been at more aggressive atmospheres put it that way back in the bad old days of eighties.

I found it more a case of people walking on egg shells I never saw fans of either team talking to each other although not a member I know and spoke to the M.K.D.S.A Chairman John Brockwell who said he had been to the away end and welcomed the AFC fans with no problems and some even shook hands with him ,he was a braver man than me that's for sure.

I was surprised at the amount of fans AFC brought nearly their average home gate and whilst grateful of the money they spent I could not help but think it was hypocritical of them to come after the years they have been calling on other fans of other clubs to boycott us and in fact even persuaded their tenants at Kingsmeadow the FSF to call for boycotts in the National Hockey Stadium days despite FA and FL giving move all clear..
The teams lined up and were watched by former Wimbledon directors Reg Davies and Peter Cork still directors here at MK ,MK Dons 4-2-3-1 Martin a former Wimbledon player, Otsemobor who's heel of god goal will live in our memory for ever, Kay, Williams, Lewington former Wimbledon player(c); Potter, Gleeson who scored a screamer; Bowditch, Chadwick, Balanta (Ismail 66); Lowe (Smith 80).
Subs: McLoughlin, Kouo-Doumbe, MacDonald, Chicksen, Sekajja.
Goals: Gleeson 45, Otsemobor 90
AFC : Sullivan a former Wimbledon player , Osano, Long, Harrison (Strutton 72), Midson, Moore (Johnson 81), Fenlon, Gregory (c), Antwi, Mambo, Ajala.
Subs: Jaimez-Ruiz, Mitchel-King, McNaughton, Djalali.
Booked: Moore, Midson, Ajala
Goal: Midson 59
Referee: Scott Mathieson Attendance: 16, 459 With 3030 away fans.

Brentford 3-2 Dons
The next game up was away to Brentford a team who had been in a good run of form.
It was always going to be tough and after the FA Cup game the team looked out of sorts and we needed all of them to be on form.

Sadly on the day Ishmail had to be subbed early to save him getting sent off.

Balanta and Powell were having bad days Potter didn't seem to get into the game and when Semi got injured we had used all our subs the draw we deserved was not to be and we conceded a last gasp goal.

Lowe got a welcome goal and Gleeson again got on the score sheet Martin made some good saves but the Bee's were quick to punish any loose balls or mistakes we made Donaldson being the pick of the Brentford players and Lewington the M.O.T.M for the Dons.

We slipped down to sixth still in the play off spot and still within spitting distance of automatic spots.

Not a disaster as a point was all most of us thought we'd get but the point would have been easier to take.
The teams lined up
Brentford: Moore, Forshaw (Reeves 77), Craig, Dean, Douglas, Donaldson, Logan, Forrester, Diagouraga (Kiernan 62), Trotta (Hodson 90), Bidwell.
Subs: Lee, Saunders, Dallas, Hodson, Hayes.
Booked: Bidwell
Goals: Donaldson 43, Forrester 71, Donaldson 90
Teams lined up
MK Dons 4-2-3-1 Martin, Otsemobor, Kay, Williams, Lewington (c); Potter, Gleeson; Ismail (Powell 25), Chadwick (Smith 77), Balanta; Lowe (MacDonald 77).
Subs: McLoughlin, Kouo-Doumbe, Chicksen, Sekajja.
Booked: Ismail, Chadwick
Goals: Lowe 15, Gleeson 53
Referee: L Collins Attendance 5833 445 Dons fans

MK Dons 1-0 Hartlepool
This was a game I thought we would win by a good three goals but my confidence was unfounded and we made hard work of it.

The first half we were totally dominant and should have gone in to half time at least two up but one clear goal was disallowed although I thought Lowe's goal looked offside replay's showed he was on.

Hartlepool Manager John " yogi" Hughes who said after game “We wanted to frustrate in the first half and have a go in the second.”

Defender Evan Horwood who limped off early in game.

Defender Darren Holden
The second half Hartlepool got more into the game and were nowhere near as poor as they were in the first and could quite easily have have grabbed a point but Martin again saved any blushes.

Balanta was again not having a good day and the normally reliable Gleeson by his own admission had a bad game Potter missed a sitter and the crosses Bowditch kept putting in nobody could get on the end of any of them Chadwick was the pick of the bunch and got mine and sponsors M.O.M award.

The attendance was 7,164 with just 111 Poolies who had only sold 25 tickets before matchday and had no supporters coach booked to arrive on the day those that bought on the day were most likely localish.

The referee was Roger East from Wiltshire an 8 out of ten Ryan Lowe scored on 16 we had no bookings but Pool had three Antony Sweeney 44 Jack Baldwin 65 the confusingly named Greg Rutherford not the MK Athlete 86 and we move up to 5th 2 points behind Tranmere.
Teams lined up
MK Dons 4-2-3-1 Martin,Doumbe, Kay, Williams, Lewington (c) Gleeson, Potter; Bowditch, Chadwick, Balanta (Ismail 61); Lowe (MacDonald 83).

Subs not used: McLoughlin , Smith, Chicksen, Powell, Sekajja.

Hartlepool United with some very familiar names 4-4-2 Flinders; Richards, Collins, Baldwin, Horwood (Holden 5); Franks (Poole 71), Sweeney, Humphreys, Monkhouse; Wyke (Rutherford 81), Howard.

Subs not used: McHugh (GK), Murray, Johnson, Boagey.

On Wednesday 30th the Dons played in the Berks and Bucks senior cup quarter finals under the control of player manager for the night Alan Smith we comfortably beat Aylesbury Unt 4-0 the goals came from Dan Powell, Charlie MacDonald and two from our England U16 midfielder Giorgio Rasulo and put us in the semi-final with Beaconsfield SYCOB.

Smith was given the role by Karl Robinson who watched from the stands and Alan was assisted by Ian Wright.

The side for this competition will be made up of youth players and more senior squad members in need of playing time although quite why we did not start Sekajja or even give him a run out puzzled me.


Meanwhile at Tamworth the Lambs George Baldock has been scoring goals and getting many accolades from the Lambs supporters who seem keen to extend his loan.

Charlie Collins was an unused substitute during the last match.

Before the Doncaster match I spoke to Jon Otsemobor about his goal in the FA Cup and asked him if was deliberate he laughed and said he knew the ball had pace on it and stuck is leg out to make contact but was not expecting it to go in I told him we called it the heel of god and they were making T shirts he said he had heard and was going to get one.

He also said he did not know much about the rivalry between the two clubs and that Pete Winkelman had talked to the players and told them how the move came about and given the players the history Jon said he remembered Wimbledon but was just a kid when they were in Prem and I felt very old and forget how young these players are and that they probably dont know much about Wimbledon FC as it was so long ago now.



The players were due to leave for Doncaster on Friday afternoon so had a light training session or so it was meant to be but Gleeson picked up a nasty ankle injury
and was carried off leaving myself and another fan to worry about the game twenty four hours longer than most of our fans, it was a nothing looking tackle, well not even a tackle just both players going for loose ball.

The game as we know was postponed due to the rain but it seemed very odd the way Rovers said there was to be no inspection yet the referee turned up early and called the game off at 12.30 just an hour after Rovers official site said the game would be on ! I thought surely the referee must have inspected the pitch to call the game off ? A lot of our fans were rightly peed off as they thought it could have been called off earlier as rain was forecast all day in Doncaster area I'm no weather guru but Id said to mates earlier I thought it would be off looking at forecast early morning.

I was further confused when I read on the Donny site "There was no planned pitch inspection, however when the referee arrived at the ground at his normal time, 11.50am, he went out to inspect the pitch and after consulting both managers decided to call the game off on the grounds of the players’ health and safety due to a rapidly deteriorating pitch with no sign of any improvement in the weather".

As we found out after the Doncaster non game the Gleeson injury was worse than even I thought having seen it happen. Also Chadwick had picked up an injury in an earlier training session that I was not at and both players were reported to be out for weeks and probably not till March.

Personally I think it will be the difference between going up and not as Chadwick is such an inspirational player and on his day Gleeson can be a match winner.

Potter has not lived up to last season's expectations and Williams is better and now more used to being a centre back and a I don't think they will or can fill the voids left by Luke and Gleeson.

My pre match thoughts were proved to be correct and I thought we missed both players in particular Chadder's and Potter and Williams as I thought did not fill the void.
Balanta again was well.. crap, he looked disinterested and I would not be sad to see him go back to QPR.

Powell just does not seem to get the balls that lead him to make those worrying for defender run's Chicksen Lowe Bowditch and my M.O.T.M Kay could not have been the player's Robbo referred to in his comments after the match when he said “It’s easy to pick on certain players but there was a few that weren't at the races today and didn't deserve to wear our shirt, it’s as simple as that and they won’t be again if they continue like that. he went on to say “I’ll make changes on Saturday. We’re a better side than what you've seen today and we've got plenty more gears. This is a bad day at the office and you won’t see that performance on the weekend.”

There was plenty of doom and gloom amongst the fans and I think without Chadwick and Gleeson we will not be in the automatic spots come end of April the team looked disjointed and tired especially after Walsall scored the second goal.

The defence rightly got the blame but it was mistakes and loss of procession in midfield that lead to the fragile defence being put to the test.
Walsall were not a very good team, yes a bogey team for us but one we should have beaten at home Brandy and Grigg took their goals very well but apart from that the saddlers only had about six shots on goal all game and they scored four of them.

A bad day at the office yes but I fear more to come even with Jon Otsemobor and Gary MacKenzie back in defence we move down into 6th place with a game in hand over most others.
Teams for the day Dons (4-2-3-1) Martin, Chicksen who you know will get dropped when Jon is back , Doumbe who seems to be Robbo's whipping boy and out of favour (Smith 73), Kay, Lewington who had a real off day (c), Potter, Williams, Powell (Ismail 59), Balanta (Bamford 46 who again limped off injured and seems destined not to feature much for us), Bowditch, Lowe.

Subs: McLoughlin, MacDonald, Smith, Alli, Sekajja who might as well go back to parent club as he ain't going to get a game for some reason.

Booked: Potter, Smith, Ismail

Goals: Lowe 6, Bowditch 31

Walsall (4-4-1-1): McCarey; Purkiss, Downing, Butler, Taylor; Westcarr (Cuvelier 71), Mantom, Chambers, Paterson; Brandy; Grigg the M.O.M for Walsall.

Subs: Grof (GK) Holden, Hemmings, Bowerman, Benning, Baxendale.

Booked: Brandy, Butler

Goals: Brandy 15, Grigg 25, 43

Referee: Stuart Atwell was from Warwickshire not bad missed a few and was a bit inconsistent 6 out of ten.

Attendance was 8,700 and 354 quiet for the most part away fans.

Winning manager Coventry's Mark Robins.


MK Dons 2-3 Coventry
The next game was against Coventry a team we drew 1-1 against back in October and a team I said back then would not be at the bottom end of the table (as they were back then)come end of season.
Also before the Coventry game I noticed that they had signed one of our academy prospects Leon Lobjoit quite how they managed to do that while in same league as us and without the attraction of being a big Prem club I don't know, but it is worrying that we are losing future prospects to rival teams on a "technicality" as Coventry OS put it.

The game had already sold over three and a half thousand away tickets the day before the match and Coventry had managed to climb the table to within a few points of us since our last meeting whilst we have been less than convincing in our last few games.

Losing to Brentford and Walsall and narrowly beating bottom of the table Hartlepool
I don't think many of us were feeling very confident especially knowing Chadders and Gleeson were out and Jon and Gary were still a week away at least in Gary's case.

As for the game I thought we looked a lot better than the woeful performance on boxing day and probably deserved a draw but two long or hoof balls if you prefer were our undoing along with some poor defending not having seen the replays I will go on memory alone and I thought at the time of the goals Martin was at fault for one could have done better with another but was let down by defence all three times.

Lewie again was at best average Williams looked lost for the third Kay was again my M.O.T.M and must have been fuming at his three teamates.
Chico had another good game but is often to far up field when opposition attack as is Lewie.
Potter seemed to be better but not at his best young Deli was a ray of sunshine on a gloomy rainy day and I again thought he did not look out of place a great prospect if we can hold on to him.

Powell was better, Bowditch guilty of too many wayward passes Ishmail came on to late I thought and when Balanta and MacDonald came on I knew the game was up.
Teams lined up
Dons 4-2-3-1 Martin, Chicksen, Kay, Williams, Lewington (c), Potter, Alli (Ismail 71); Powell, Smith who was solid and got his usaul yellow (Balanta 58 please go back to QPR), Bowditch, Lowe (MacDonald 78).
Subs: McLoughlin , , MacKenzie, Sekajja Ibra Robbo just don't like you mate go back to Palace.

Booked: Smith, Lewington so no surprises there then.

Goals: Powell 15 well taken , Lowe 27 back to his fox in box best !


Coventry City 4-5-1 which looked like our formation tbh: Murphy, Baker (c), Fleck, McSheffrey pretty much did what he wanted(Barton 79), Elliott really good game (O'Donovan 73), Jennings, Christie, Wood, Edjenguele do not mess with the big fella , Moussa who was quality to be fair and his goal was a joy to watch, Adams.
Subs: Dunn (GK), Clarke, Thomas, Cameron, McDonald.
Booked: McSheffrey
Goals: Moussa 27, Elliott 49, 51 from long balls as I remember

Referee: Andy Woolmer who was half decent 8 out of ten from Northamptonshire.

Goal-Don Goal: 1st goal – 14.51; 2nd goal – 26.38; 3rd goal – 37.46; 4th goal – 48.11; 5th goal – 50.16

Attendance was a brilliant 13,660 made possible by the excellant and very loud at times 4,988 Coventry fans.

With the addition of Ryan Harley from Brighton I think we can push on and at least be in contention for the second Auto spot, with the addition of a hungry keen to impress winger/forward (and we need to keep hold of Ishmail) I think there is still hope.
Realisticaly I think it will be play off's again but still a long way to go as they say.
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COYD