The Dons return to stadiummk this afternoon looking to maintain pressure on the automatic promotion spots by recording their sixth win in seven games.
Karl Robinson’s side moved to within three points of second-placed Preston North End with a 3-0 triumph away at Fleetwood Town on Tuesday evening. The Lilywhites, who drew 2-2 with Gillingham that same night, are in action on Friday against Port Vale.
As well as keeping themselves firmly within the hunt for automatic promotion in Fleetwood, the men from MK1 also took their goal tally for the season to 100 in all competitions – they also tied a club record for league goals netted in a campaign (84) with four games still left to play.
It’s not just up-front where the Dons have been impressing, though, as Robinson’s men have also kept an impressive 23 clean-sheets, which is more than anybody else in English football’s top four divisions except for Shrewsbury Town, who also have 23 to their name.
The opposition
Orient arrive in Milton Keynes today on the back of a three-game winless run – form which has seen them move perilously close to the relegation zone in Sky Bet League 1.
However, Fabio Liverani’s side have recorded some impressive results since the turn of the year, most notably holding Preston to a 2-2 draw at Deepdale and beating Chesterfield 3-2 on their own patch.
In fact, the Londoners have been reasonably strong all season on the road, having won seven and drawn six of their 20 away fixtures. Orient have also proven hard to score against outside of Matchroom Stadium, having only conceded 26 times,which is less than all-but four sides outside the top four.
View from the dugouts
Dons manager Karl Robinson: “It will be a difficult game because Leyton Orient are a good side - they possess real quality with the likes of (Darius) Henderson, (Chris) Dagnall, (Andrea) Dossena and (Jobi) McAnuff.
“They’ve made it hard for their opponents in games recently but we’ve got a game plan and we’re going to look to try and implement that. The players have been working hard at it and they’re excited for the challenge.”
Leyton Orient midfielder Jobi McAnuff: “I’m sure the game will have a real edge to it with both teams competing for things at different ends of the table. From our point of view, it’s about going up there and performing well – hopefully this time getting a result.”
Team news
The Dons are still without the services of Samir Carruthers, who is set to serve the final game of his two-match suspension for receiving 10 yellow cards.
There is better news, though, in the form of Carl Baker, who returned to the bench on Tuesday night and has been in training all week – the 32-year-old had been sidelined with a calf injury.
Dean Bowditch is also available for selection after missing the clash at Fleetwood, but Ben Reeves (calf) is out.
Orient, meanwhile, will assess the fitness of winger Dean Cox (groin), who missed the 1-0 loss to Doncaster Rovers.
Striker Kevin Lisbie is back from a loan spell at Stevenage but has been suffering from an ankle injury, while Adam Legzdins (shoulder) and midfielder Romain Vincelot (knee) are unavailable.
Head to head
The Dons and Orient meet for the 13th time this afternoon, with the former in search of their seventh win.
The men from MK1 may lead the serious but they haven’t beaten the O's since a win 1-0 win at stadiummk in November 2012.
Betting courtesy of Sky Bet
Result:
MK Dons to win – 4/7
Draw – 3/1
Leyton Orient win – 9/2
First goalscorer:
Will Grigg – 7/2
Dele Alli – 5/1
Dean Bowditch – 11/2
Chris Dagnall – 7/1
David Mooney – 15/2
Jay Simpson – 9/1
Scorecast:
Rob Hall to score first and MK Dons to win 3-0 – 45/1
Click here for a full list of odds!
All odds correct at time of writing
As well as keeping themselves firmly within the hunt for automatic promotion in Fleetwood, the men from MK1 also took their goal tally for the season to 100 in all competitions – they also tied a club record for league goals netted in a campaign (84) with four games still left to play.
It’s not just up-front where the Dons have been impressing, though, as Robinson’s men have also kept an impressive 23 clean-sheets, which is more than anybody else in English football’s top four divisions except for Shrewsbury Town, who also have 23 to their name.
The opposition
Orient arrive in Milton Keynes today on the back of a three-game winless run – form which has seen them move perilously close to the relegation zone in Sky Bet League 1.
However, Fabio Liverani’s side have recorded some impressive results since the turn of the year, most notably holding Preston to a 2-2 draw at Deepdale and beating Chesterfield 3-2 on their own patch.
In fact, the Londoners have been reasonably strong all season on the road, having won seven and drawn six of their 20 away fixtures. Orient have also proven hard to score against outside of Matchroom Stadium, having only conceded 26 times,which is less than all-but four sides outside the top four.
View from the dugouts
Dons manager Karl Robinson: “It will be a difficult game because Leyton Orient are a good side - they possess real quality with the likes of (Darius) Henderson, (Chris) Dagnall, (Andrea) Dossena and (Jobi) McAnuff.
“They’ve made it hard for their opponents in games recently but we’ve got a game plan and we’re going to look to try and implement that. The players have been working hard at it and they’re excited for the challenge.”
Leyton Orient midfielder Jobi McAnuff: “I’m sure the game will have a real edge to it with both teams competing for things at different ends of the table. From our point of view, it’s about going up there and performing well – hopefully this time getting a result.”
Team news
The Dons are still without the services of Samir Carruthers, who is set to serve the final game of his two-match suspension for receiving 10 yellow cards.
There is better news, though, in the form of Carl Baker, who returned to the bench on Tuesday night and has been in training all week – the 32-year-old had been sidelined with a calf injury.
Dean Bowditch is also available for selection after missing the clash at Fleetwood, but Ben Reeves (calf) is out.
Orient, meanwhile, will assess the fitness of winger Dean Cox (groin), who missed the 1-0 loss to Doncaster Rovers.
Striker Kevin Lisbie is back from a loan spell at Stevenage but has been suffering from an ankle injury, while Adam Legzdins (shoulder) and midfielder Romain Vincelot (knee) are unavailable.
Head to head
The Dons and Orient meet for the 13th time this afternoon, with the former in search of their seventh win.
The men from MK1 may lead the serious but they haven’t beaten the O's since a win 1-0 win at stadiummk in November 2012.
Betting courtesy of Sky Bet
Result:
MK Dons to win – 4/7
Draw – 3/1
Leyton Orient win – 9/2
First goalscorer:
Will Grigg – 7/2
Dele Alli – 5/1
Dean Bowditch – 11/2
Chris Dagnall – 7/1
David Mooney – 15/2
Jay Simpson – 9/1
Scorecast:
Rob Hall to score first and MK Dons to win 3-0 – 45/1
Click here for a full list of odds!
All odds correct at time of writing
