Saturday 25th October 2014, Keepmoat Stadium, League One.
High flying Milton Keynes Dons visit the Keepmoat Stadium for the first time since February 2013, looking to stretch their impressive run of form which has seen them occupy the not-too-unfamiliar play-off positions.In contrast, their opponents Doncaster Rovers are looking to create some stability following disappointing defeats at the hands of Fleetwood Town and Leyton Orient.
Though the Dons have never recorded a win in Doncaster – in their current guise – the backdrop to the clash focusses on the whereabouts of visiting manager Karl Robinson.
The scouser has been in charge at Stadium:MK for over four years and has established not only the football club, but himself as an aspirant force and is heavily linked and often courted by higher ranked teams; the latest of which is Birmingham City.
Rovers did the double over MK Dons in the 04/05 season – recording 1-0 and 3-0 wins – and went unbeaten the following season with a 1-1 draw and a 3-2 win at Belle Vue and the National Hockey Stadium respectively.
Their latest duels yielded a largely forgettable 0-0 during the 2012/13 season and Rovers’ automatic hopes were dealt a blow upon their first visit to the Dons’ permanent home in the return game as the hosts won 3-0 against Brian Flynn’s men.
Izale McLeod and Daniel Powell’s goals either side of half time put Robinson’s men firmly in the box seat before Stephen Gleeson’s effort seven minutes from time put the seal on a humbling away defeat for Rovers – one of only four all season.
Last time out (5th March 2013):
MK Dons 3 (McLeod, 40; Powell, 56; Gleeson, 83)
Doncaster 0
League One
Stadium: MK
Attendance – 6804
Teams – MK Dons – Ian McLoughlin; Adam Chicksen, Anthony Kay, Shaun Williams, Dean Lewington ©; Darren Potter, Daniel Powell, Luke Chadwick; Dean Bowditch, Chris Lines, Ryan Lowe
Subs used – Izale McLeod for Chadwick 35 mins; Mathias Kouo-Doumbe for Bowditch 73 mins; Stephen Gleeson for Lowe 81 mins
ROVERS – Gary Woods; Paul Quinn, Jamie McCombe, Rob Jones ©, Tommy Spurr; David Cotterill, James Harper, John Lundstram, James Husband; James Coppinger; Iain Hume
Subs used – Andy Griffin for Jones 46 mins; Billy Paynter for Hume 56 mins; Kyle Bennett for Husband 62 mins
Head to head league results (in Doncaster):
Rovers – 1
Dons – 0
Draws – 2
Team News:
Rovers – Rovers are likely to include new loan signing Andy Butler in their squad while Cedric Evina, Kyle Bennett and Curtis Main could all be pushing for starts. Rob Jones continues to miss out while it looks likely to be Jed Steer’s final home appearance before his loan ends.
Fancy a flutter? Rovers 11/5, Draw 13/5, MK Dons 13/10
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