April Blog

Brentford Players arrive at S:MK
MK Dons 2-0 Brentford

Jake Bidwell signing autograph,

So the first game of the month saw us pitted against Brentford.

I was pretty confident about this one as we have been good against teams above us and I thought we could win this and the play off hope would be very much on again.

Uwe Rosler had said before the game he was going to change his team but that Robbo would play the same team he played at Hartlepool (like we had choice with the injuries) Uwe also said he was not going to prepare as Brentford's record against the Dons meant he didn't have to prepare.

It was not the prettiest game to watch and football wise Brentford were probably the better side but we got lucky with the Bee's shots getting blocked by Don's limbs being in right place at right time , we were having a good defence day and the two shots we had were well struck and went in Bamford had his effort saved but other than that those three attempts were all I can remember us having.

Brentford huffed and puffed but the Dons defending all over the field was resolute in what was a pretty scrappy game and Uwe must have wished he had prepared and kept his mouth shut McLoughlin made some good stops and tipped a certain goal over the top the one's he spilled came to one of ours and that was how the game rolled.

And for once the luck went our way the officials got most calls right or in our favour and a pretty cold day was made brighter and warmer.
Teams lined up
MK Dons 4-2-3-1 McLoughlin, Otsemobor, Kouo-Doumbe, Williams, Chicksen sponsor M.O.T.M , Potter, Gleeson (c) Bamford my M.O.T.M (Smith 79), Lines, Bowditch (Chadwick 62) Lowe (Powell 59).
Subs not used:Baldock, Alli, Galloway.
Goals: Bowditch 14, Gleeson 85

Brentford Moore, Forshaw, Craig, Dean, Douglas (c), Donaldson (German 67), Trotta (Wright-Phillips 46 who put us under pressure without killer blow ), Logan, Forrester (Saunders 71), Diagouraga, Bidwell.
Subs not used: Gounet (GK), Adeyemi, Hodson, Reeves.
Referee was S Martin from Staffordshire who let play flow and overall was good, 8 out ten.

Attendance was 10,455 with 2,030 away fans which was pretty impressive considering the average gate at Brentford is around 5k, the game was on the Easter Monday so Wrighty was there but the cynics might say he was there to see his son he certainly stood separately from Karl and Mick !
We moved up to 10th on 60 points with 18 points available from remaining games can we reach 72 which is usually enough for play off spot ?

MK Dons 0-0 Crawley Town

So the second of our three home games in a row was against Crawley who had beaten us two nil earlier in the season but sat below us in the table.

I spoke to a few people before the game and most were confident we were going to win I still had my doubts and prefer to play teams above us as I have said before we struggle against teams below us.

Before the game I saw Sam Baldock who arrived with brother George and had a few words with him, I always liked Sam and spoke to him a lot when he was here especially at Woughton funnily enough his older brother is a training Doctor at the same surgery as Dr Cave the club Doctor, and although that is my surgery I have never met him though I have met Dr Cave before, anyway I digress. Sam said the grass isn't always greener referring to his West Ham time I assumed and not his Bristol City tenure.

I asked Sam if he still had the house in Essex but he said it was rented and he had got rid of it, someone joked about him coming here and I said it would have to be on a free loan as Pete doesn't like paying for player's and I doubt we could afford a day of his weekly wage now anyway.
Sam Baldock after joining West Ham photo courtesy of WHUFC

Another Old face returned and we all saw John Gorman as he was presented to the crowd and I wished he was still here, and I think along with injuries to key players at key times John's absence is a factor in our less than brilliant season.

As for the game I thought we totally dominated the first half but let Crawley into it second half, although they had come for a draw we were robbed in much the same way Brentford fans felt they were robbed the game before.
We had three goals disallowed for offside one of which I thought was a wrong call one dubious and one right.
Overall we were much the better team and the few Crawley fans that made the short trip must have been very happy with the point.

We stayed in tenth on 61 points just about keeping any play off hope alive but making the Tuesday night game with Swindon a real must win.
Teams lined up Dons (4-2-3-1) McLoughlin kept another clean sheet Otsemobor pretty dreadful passing at times , Doumbe who I thought was brilliant but will be overlooked in favour of Williams, Chicksen who I didn't think had a good game , Potter, Gleeson was again Captain Powell who is still not fit and missed a tap in (Chadwick looking almost back to his best 60), Bamford again showed so much class and was targeted by Crawley all game , Bowditch who I thought despite a less than great game might nick it for us, Lowe who was again tireless in running for everything and unlucky with the offside decision's.
Subs: Smith, Baldock, Lines not sure why he didn't get a run out and young Rasulo.
Booked very harshly Chicksen
M.O.T.M Doumbe for me
Crawley Town (4-4-2): P Jones, Dumbuya, Sadler, Essam, Clarke, Torres the poor man's version , Walsh, Bulman (c), Adams (Connolly 90), M Jones (Hunt 90), Hayes (Proctor 71).
Subs: Maddison on loan from Sunderland (GK), O'Brien, Elford-Alliyu.

Referee was Darren Bond from Lancashire his first season as a ref and he overruled a bad lino call and on the whole I thought he was above average for this level a 7 out of 10 would have been an 8 but for the bad offside call.
Attendance was a lowly 7,746 with just 390 pretty silent away fans .

MK Dons 2-0 Swindon
Swindon back-room staff arrive.

This was the game a lot were calling our cup final which I thought might be a bit premature, the club were going on about climbing a mountain which I thought a bit silly as we are not in the drop zone trying to get out.
But it was after the Crawley draw a game we needed to win to have any hope of grabbing a play off spot,unthinkable not so long back.

I thought it was probably the best footballing game I have seen at the Stadium this season and credit to Swindon for being part of that. Pictured Darren Ward and Chris Smith arrive.
Wes Forderingham

Swindon named two Rooney's and a Ferguson on the team sheet and with three Tottenham loan players amongst their throng it was perhaps understandable a few of us were nervous before the game.
These games tend to make me happy with a draw but of course that would be no good this time of the season and the play off hope we all still have.

As I said the game was a cracker and Id said during the second half to my mate Peter that one goal will win this so the 2-0 scoreline at the end probably flattered us as I thought it was a very even game.

As a team we showed great character and fight and deservedly Matt Dombe got man of the match by sponsor which unlike last game I did hear over our inconsistent tannoy system.

McLoughlin got a load of stick from the Swindon fans "dodgy keeper" but got his own back by winding them up after our goal and at the end of the game and he kept another clean sheet making Dave Martin's automatic return to the team Id have thought not quite a sure fire thing.

When Doumbe scored the stadium atmosphere went up another notch and stayed that way till the end when on eighty nine minutes Lowe took the ball after a cross from Semi on his chest and slotted the ball into the bottom corner of the goal to cap of a very exciting but tense night.

The teams lined up
MK Dons (4-2-3-1) McLoughlin, Otsemobor,Doumbe, Williams, Lewington who returned to side after injury and showed why he is still first choice LB(c) Potter, Gleeson who limped off with an ankle knock (Lines a very adequate replacement 48) Bowditch, Chadwick (Lowe 63), Chicksen, Bamford (Smith 79 who nearly won a penalty sured things up in last ten).
Subs not used:McLeod, Powell, Baldock, , Kay.
Goals by Doumbe on 58, and Lowe on 89

Swindon Town: Foderingham who despite Swindon fans chants was dodgier than Ian, McCormack (c), Ward, Flint, Byrne, Luongo, Parrett (Adam Rooney 69), Roberts (Collins 63), A Williams, Ferry, ex Don Navarro (De Vita 63).

Subs not used: Bedwell (GK), Devera, L Rooney, Ferguson.

Booked: Fodderingham who was lucky not to be sent off , Flint, Ward, Collins

Referee was Mark Haywood who bottled the sending off, seemed to not know what he was doing or even the rules of the game at times he was from West Yorkshire but as we won and he didn't effect the game too much he gets a 4 out of 10.
The league table as it looked after match.

Played GD Pts results at home
1.Doncaster 43 17 78 who we beat 3-0
2.Bournemouth 43 18 76 who we lost 0-3
3.Yeovil 42 14 71 who we beat 1-0
4.Brentford 41 13 71 who we beat 2-0
5.Sheff Utd 41 16 70 who we beat 1-0
6.Swindon 42 31 68 who we beat 2-0
7.Tranmere 43 12 66 who we beat 3-0
8.Walsall 43 9 66 who we lost 2-4
9.MK Dons 42 16 64
10.Orient 43 4 64 who we beat 1-0
So despite us seeming to do badly against teams below us we have only lost at home to Bournemouth and Walsall.
Our record against the top ten at home is easily play off standard which makes one wonder ...if only.
Losing manager but nice bloke Kevin McDonald




So off to Orient for another of those " cup finals " as every game seems to have become now.
I thought it was strange that although we were still hoping for play off's Orient fans seemed to be very quiet on the subject almost like they had given up on it.

We did not play badly but were often second to the loose balls and a number of our players were not up for the challenge, the usual suspects who I don't need to name.
The consensus of opinion was Doumbe and McLoughlin were the only two who really stood out and either could have been Man of the Match for us.

We like making things hard for ourselves and although it makes for an exciting end of season with play off's still mathematically possible.

I tweeted that the fat lady had cleared her throat and was about to sing, but I was still remaining positive probably in part because so many of our fans had already thrown the towel in (and not just the usual always moaning and critical one's who I always wonder why they bother coming to games anyway).

On the day we were the second best team and Orient deserved the win and really that's all you can say we went three at the back after the first goal chasing a draw but as happens when adopting that tactic we conceded a second to make the scoreline and our performance look worse than we perhaps deserved.

The teams lined up
Leyton Orient: Jones, McSweeney, Sawyer, Vincelot, Cox, Lisbie, J Smith, MacDonald (Cook 70), Clarke (c), Odubajo, Rowlands.
Subs: Butcher, Obafemi,, James, Lee, Vanderhyde.
Booked: Vincelot, Ritchie, Lisbie
Goals by Sawyer on 82, and O's Mr dependable Lisbie on 90

MK Dons (4-2-3-1): McLoughlin M.O.T.M , Otsemobor (McLeod 82),Doumbe, Williams, Lewington (c) Potter, Lines, Bowditch, Lowe (Chadwick 61), Chicksen (Powell 61), Bamford.

Subs: Smith, Baldock, Kay.
Ref was the infamous Andy D'Urso who missed two penalties one for each side, it pains me to have to give him any score but he was not as bad as Haywood so 5 out of 10 (and was okay last game we had him I just don't like him).
Attendance was 4,634 we sold our initial allocation so tickets only available on the day and 648 of the MK Army made the trip.
We slipped back down to 10th as the O's leap frogged us but we had game in hand on them and better goal difference.

Colchester 0-2 MK Dons
So we are now at the stage where we need other results to go our way but we still now have to win every game.
Colchester have their own battle but theirs is to stay in League One and they certainly played like they wanted to, we on the other hand seemed tired but unlike many other games made the chances we got count.

After ten minutes of U's pressure and our old friend Jabo making a nuisance of himself Powell managed to score against the run of play it has to be said with eleven minutes on the clock.

Jabo continued to make his presence felt and he and Massey were part of the onslaught of shots hitting the post going just wide and forcing some great saves by M.O.T.M. McLoughlin the U's came close but we hung on in there.

Bamford made some nice runs but it was not until the last ten minutes when Chadwick was on the field that young Patrick got his reward after a lovely defence splitting pass from the former Man Unt man found future Prem star and he duly despatched the ball for a two nil win.

Colchester manager Joe Dunne bemoaned his sides luck and mentioned the players had cramp but gave their all, but he was also gracious in defeat praising our quality.

Lewington twisted his knee and hobbled off, the same knee that ruled him out for a few weeks not so long back and Chico still has an ankle knock so Williams may be looking at a spot there at left back Saturday when we play Scunnny.

Swindon won their game and look favourites for the last play off spot but we could still do it if they somehow mess up. In other words with two games left it is still possible something many thought would never happen.

Teams lined up
Colchester United Walker the young loan from Chelsea, Garmston, Okuonghae, Sears (M Smith 82), Bond (O'Toole 82), Ibehre who I think we should never have let go, Wilson, Massey good player worth a sniff at should U's go down , White, Wright (Porter 75), Clifford.
Subs: Cousins (GK), Heath, Morrison who we had on loan, Bean.
Booked: White Porter Smith

Dons (4-2-3-1) McLoughlin M.O.T.M Otsemobor, Doumbe, Williams, Lewington (c) (Kay 49) Potter, Gleeson; Powell (Lowe 74), Chadwick (Lines 80), Bowditch, Bamford.
Subs: A Smith, McLeod, Baldock.
Booked Williams, Gleeson, Potter Goals by Powell on 11 and Bamford on 78
Referee was Roger East from Wiltshire who didn't do to much wrong 8 out of 10.
Attendance was a lowly 3,175 and 211 of that were Dons fans and makes you wonder how the U's survive with less than three thousand fans !
We moved up to 7th on 67 pts on 44 games played and have no games in hand we are 4pts behind Swindon both of us have 2 games left Swindon can achieve 77pts we can only get 73pts.
MK Dons 0-1 Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe players arrive as the underdogs.

Before the Scunthorpe game I spoke to Karl and Mick Harford also to Damien Doyle who is to all intents and purpose the first team coach with Alex Rae gone and Wrighty never here. The subjects covered were players who would be going players we have got lined up to replace them, the pre season in Ireland, the touchy subject of budget, the new kit cropped up as well and although not the same kit supplier it is from same stable as our current kit.

I also had a good chat with Alan Smith and asked him about badges his first response was what swimming badges so I said yeah the 100 metre breast stroke have you done it yet ! Alan has not got any he and said he thought a lot of manager's haven't and agreed you probably only need the amount Karl has if you get into Europe but said he would probably do the fast track Irish course as he was interested in coaching or management Id asked as I thought he would make a good coach or manager and still being young the younger players would have seen him play and he would have the respect that comes to ex players that have played at the highest level much as Ince did his first time here.

Mick was off to watch an under 21's match in Romford between West Ham and Wolves and we agreed this season was now out of our hands and we needed Swindon to mess up it was probably the longest conversation I have had with Mick and we talked about Zeli Ismail other games on that night amongst other things.

Also ran into Charlie Burns the academy keeper who has not been offered a pro contract and it was reported he was free to find another club but when I asked him if he had anything planned he said he had couple of things lined up but was hopeful of being offered a third year academy position I wished him good luck.

Hakeeb Adelakun
But I have gone off on a tangent again back to the game with Scunny who were in real need of a win to avoid relegation and our last two opponents of the season are also Swindon's but we could have done with getting Scunny after them really.

The reason I say that was that I knew it would be no push over and they would be fighting hard for the win to give themselves a slim chance of safety I seemed to be one of a few who thought it would be a tough game of those I spoke to, and the low turnout of travelling fans meant most of the Iron fans thought the same.

As with a lot of the teams below us this season we struggled to break them down despite being the better team although we were not great Scunthorpe were poor and looked like a relegation zone team.

The game like the Crawley game summed up our season to the extent we dominated the game but never scored only this time we somehow managed to give a goal away as well.

About the time Hawley scored just before half time we had all heard Swindon were winning meaning we were out of play offs whether we won or not and Id joked that maybe the players knew the score there as they seemed to be playing like the season was over.

How we did not score is beyond me we hit the post a couple of times and shots were just wide but that is how the season has been just not to be Karl was livid after the game and gave his "players wont be here next season " speech and "they had let the fans down" etc but frankly we'd heard it before and since most are out of contract and Gleeson who is in contract is going it was a pretty unremarkable statement.

Winkelman was said to be not happy but I have little sympathy there as I thought he could have helped Karl out
a bit more this season when the injuries to Gleeson and Chadwick happened and MacKenzie going to Blackpool was not the action of a chairman really going for promotion.
But Karl had his budget start of the season and chose to have a smaller than most size squad, less players on a bit more money was the way he saw it.

I can remember Mick Harford saying to me 22 was a player in each position as cover and would be the size of the squad, I thought then its not big enough as we included kids in that as well.
Teams lined up
MK Dons (4-2-3-1) McLoughlin, Otsemobor (Lowe 62),Doumbe M.O.T.M(Lines 82) , Kay, Williams, Potter, Gleeson; Powell, Chadwick (McLeod 82), Bowditch; Bamford.
Subs: Smith, Baldock, Galloway.
Booked: Williams

Scunthorpe United: Slocombe, Ribeiro, Mirfin, Reid (c), Ryan, Duffy, Godden (Alabi 77), Collins, Newey, Hawley, Forde.
Subs: Johansen, Grella, Gibbons, Adeakun, Howe.
Booked: Reid Goal: Hawley 41
Referee was James Linington from the Isle of Wight did nothing wrong as I saw 9 out of ten.

Attendance was 9,752 and the sort of figure we take away to Scunthorpe was all they brought here ! a surprisingly low and silent 276 considering the importance of the game for them.

We went back down to 9th with 67pts and Bournemouth were promoted as champions.
Part of Scunthorpe's steadfast defence Christian Riberio

On the Monday after Scunthorpe I saw Izale his wife and child at Next and wondered why he was not training so I made a quick trip to Woughton and only Bowds Powell Bamford Williams and Gleeson were training along with a few of the youngsters I saw Chico who said he should be fit for Saturday but it had the feel of an end of season session, where the rest of the squad were I have no idea ! Harford was taking the session and I just felt well this was a wasted journey ! Chelsea TV were there filming Bamford but I lost interest and left.


So the last game of the season was upon us and it was really just about pride for both teams.

I always think the last game is a bit sad as we know we wont see some players again in Dons colours and the season has been shorter this year starting later in August and finishing in April rather than May so I have felt a bit cheated this season as well.

The game was no classic typical end of season stuff and our two scorers may well be gone next season Bamford will return to Chelsea and Lowe is being linked with other clubs.

Adam Faiers completed his epic journey to cycle to every game raising thousands of pounds for S.E.T. and charity so well done to him.

We played Rasulo and Alli for a bit in the second half and unless they are poached we will be seeing more of them next season, along with Flanagan who has helped Gillingham to the L2 title and lately tried to help Barnet unsuccessfully avoid relegation.

Im sure a couple more of the youngsters will start to feature Hickford and Forrester would be my bet.
Teams on the day were :
Stevenage: Day, Gray, Charles, Dunne, Haber, Akins (N'Guessan 58), Roberts (c), Freeman, Ball (Tansey 69), Mahon, N'Gala.

Subs: Arnold (GK), Grant, Hoskins, Ehmer, Smith.

MK Dons (4-2-3-1): McLoughlin, Otsemobor, Doumbe, Kay, Williams, Potter, Gleeson (c) (Rasulo 80), Powell, Chadwick (Lowe 66), Bowditch, Bamford (Alli 71)

Subs: Smith, McLeod, Galloway who will hopefully feature more next season , Lines.

Booked: Gleeson, Kay no surprise there

Goal: Bamford 34, Lowe 77

Attendance: 3,801 there were 843 of the MK army
Stevenage:
Day, Gray, Roberts, N'Gala (Ehmer 5), Charles, Akins (N'Guissan 57), Dunne, Mahon, Freeman, Haber, Ball (Tansey 70)
Subs not used:
Arnold, Grant, Hoskins, Smith

Ref was Mr Phillips bit nit picky but okay 7 out of 10

We finished season 8th with 70 points
Picture courtesy of www.mkdonsset.com The great and much missed John Gorman.

John Gorman leaving last season due to ill heath and retirement I think has been a considerable factor in this season's under performance I banged on about how much he did with the players during and even after training had finished, his extra work with the youngsters like Powell was sadly missing this season and it has shown in the performance's , he was no yes man and he and Karl had some good ole ding dongs but he was respected and excepted he was no2 the whole camp seemed a happier place with him here.
Daniel Powell who benefited from John's one to one coaching.
John was replaced by Mick Harford not everyone's choice ! with Wright and Rae sharing the first team coach role.

Wright to my mind has been a complete waste of time and I have seen him maybe three times since September at training this has all happened during the season and has had an unsettling effect.

Rae buggered off to be with Ince at Blackpool but by then he was scouting more than coaching and was replaced in that role by the Chairman's son who whilst a nice guy is not an ex professional footballer and therefore has no contacts in the game this whilst amusing to our detractors is also not a good way to run the club in my opinion.

We had key players injured this season for longer than a team would expect in a season, and this has cost us games and points , we have played a lot of games with no keeper on the bench and in these days of seven on the bench that was a stupid risk to take for so long ,the suspensions early in the season also meant we were playing catch up Kay has missed nearly a quarter of the season suspended or getting match fit after which is another factor in the poor season .

I also think getting rid of Jabo to free up a wage was a bad move he did not score many but he was a menace and our win rate when he played was better than when he did not freeing the wage to bring in Izale seems even sillier now as Izale missed more sitters than he scored and can not play as lone striker.

We made 800 thousand pounds I'm told from the FA Cup run and that to me was over and above what we budgeted for and I think some should have gone to Karl to strengthen the squad ,this to me is like winning a bit on the lottery you don't expect it so spend it !

As I write we can finish 7th so with the 8th or 9th highest budget not a disaster in monetary investment terms but not where we thought we would be ! but that expectation was made by the bookies the club and in particular the chairman at the start of the season and we as fans got sucked in by the hype.

To me that says we have finished where we perhaps should have and Karl is perhaps not the next big thing but a manager that is still learning.

I think Karl is worth giving another season too whether Pete will back him financially remains to be seen and what the chairman says the budget is may not be the actual player budget so don't be fooled by figures banded about from the club.

The club has made over two million pounds in profit in the last reported figures and Inter MK as we know from the buildings around the stadium and the hotel itself are going to be raking in some serious money next few years we also have the stadium naming to come and some more serious money so the club and its parent company for want of better word, are healthy.

The club seems to many to be coming second to the hotel to the cinema to the developments and whilst I agree the work needs to be complete if it was not for the club there would be none of these things.

I have been fortunate enough to hear both side of the arguments but most fans do not and this has been a constant complaint ..lack of information.

We employ at great cost a commercial director and finance director in fact our set up is more Premier League than League One in that regard yet we as fans are told little of what goes on unless maybe we belong to the supporters club committee which obviously most of us don't, or we happen to know a sponsor or someone in the know, this leads to the silly rumours that often float about that I know to my cost make the chairman angry.

At this level a general manager is often enough and our support is not Premier League in fact it is not even the highest in League One but many fans feel they know as much about this club as the armchair fan does of a big Prem club without the benefit of the papers gossip columns and I think engaging with the wider fan base more would build an even stronger bond between fan and club.

In my own view I think the club is prudently well run but communication and the Official site are poor in fact I rarely use the OS even with the nearly 40mb download speed I get I find it slow to load and full of typo's and errors so don't bother.

Also we really need to sort out the tannoy system I listen to the team selection
outside as it's clearer to hear than in the East stand and if anything has got worse since the cladding went up but Im sure it will eventually be right maybe when the seats go in !!

This season's been an interesting one and it will be even more interesting to see how it has effected the season ticket sales.

I think we hit our level in terms of fans and it will be a challenge for the club to keep the fans we have if we are to stay in the third tier for much longer.

In blog news as you may know I started the blog for the old mk dons forum and a season on the zonemk due to its popularity I kept it going this season under its own steam as Id built up a regular following and did not want to let them down.

I promoted the blog on twitter but I am not really very good at putting up links even so I have still been hitting over seven hundred views a month and have now had nearly eleven thousand views with another six thousand three hundred and thirty five on football speak I can not remember now what figures were from the forums or mk dons online and never got figures from footballprs or mk online or even my number nine feature on the prostate cancer site.

But in all the time I have done the blog it has always far exceeded my hopes and expectations in terms of how many people read it and thanks to everyone of you who has read it and especially those who have tweeted the link or commented on the blog over the years.

It has led me to be asked to write for a lot of other media sources most of which I have declined as this was always about the Dons and our fans.


I have loved and enjoyed doing the blog and will miss doing it as it is a sort of therapy when looking back at what I was thinking at certain times of the season and who I was talking to.
But as I said without feedback I can not gauge whether people find what I find interesting well interesting !

So as they say all good things (or boring crap) must come to an end.
As I get no feedback and few retweets and with no forum to promote the blog on (which is why it was started way back when).

The blog was an alternative to what was back when it started a poorly run Official site (though thats not a lot better now)and a Supporters club that had no one keeping the site up to date or doing much for the younger fans or indeed keeping us ordinary fans informed.

Thankfully those issue's are now addressed particularly the Supporters site and it is now up to date and contains some good stuff article wise and the role of the supporters club is now more transparent and welcoming and not the secret society it was often criticised for seeming to be.

I still think there is a need for Independent sites or blogs but I've done my shift and will leave it to others hopefully some of the younger fans will become more active and vocal although I realise forums and supporters clubs and even club blogging is not really the youngsters thing.

Last close season I was still getting five hundred hits so I will keep putting up Dons news during this close season and next season will keep the site going as a news and information site maybe a stat site well till the hits stop all together than I'll close it lol

Thanks again for reading the blog and to those that promoted it a bigger thank you.
If you ever see me around and you must know if you read the blog where I'm likely to be say hello I don't bite and COYD

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.