The Dons will be looking to maintain the pressure on, or maybe even move into, the automatic promotion places when they travel to Rochdale today.
Karl Robinson’s side are a point behind second-placed Preston North End with a better goal difference heading into the final two games of the season, meaning they can leapfrog their promotion rivals this afternoon if they better their result – Preston host Swindon Town at Deepdale.
The men from MK1 kept the heat on second spot with a terrific 3-0 victory over Doncaster Rovers at stadiummk in midweek– the team's seventh win in eight games.
Tuesday’s result ensured the Dons have now broken club records for clean-sheets (24 in all competitions this season) and goals (109 in all competitions this season) – they will be hoping to add to both of those totals in their last two games!
The opposition
Rochdale kept their hopes of reaching the League 1 play-offs alive on Tuesday with a 1-0 triumph at home to Leyton Orient.
Dale are five points behind Chesterfield with only two games left to play but, because the goal differences are pretty similar, the Manchester outfit could still finish in the top six if they were to win both of their last two games and the Spireites drop, at least, four points.
Keith Hill’s men will be relying on their home form to earn them one of those victories today – the Spotland club have won 11 games on their own patch this season, scoring 34 goals and conceding just 26.
View from the dugouts
Karl Robinson: “I’ve got so much respect for Keith Hill and for what he’s done there. To get them promoted last year and be challenging for the play-offs with two games to go is a testament to him and his players.
“It’s always a tough place to go and play, and Rochdale are a really good side - it’s going to be a difficult challenge but we’re looking forward to it.”
Keith Hill: “There hasn’t been a sterner test for us all season. They’re in great form with the goals they have scored and players they have – it’s quite frightening really.
“It will be a measure of the squad that players will probably come into the starting 11 and we'll probably play a different system. I have to trust my judgement and play the formula I want to play against MK Dons.”
Team news
Dons have no fresh injury concerns following the win over Doncaster, meaning Ben Reeves (calf) and Joe Walsh (knee) are the only absentees.
Samir Carruthers left Tuesday’s game early with a dead leg but will be fit and available for selection.
Rochdale, meanwhile, will have goalkeeper Jamie Jones back from suspension but midfielder Matty Lund is out after his red card in the same game.
Head to head
The men from MK1 are unbeaten in their last five games against Dale and will be in search of their fifth victory over the Manchester side this afternoon.
The two clubs have met nine times since the first meeting at the National Hockey Stadium back in December 2006 – that day, the Dons won 2-1 thanks to an Izale McLeod strike and own goal from Nathan Stanton.
Betting with Sky Bet
Result:
Rochdale to win – 7/2
Draw – 14/5
MK Dons to win – 3/4
First goalscorer:
Will Grigg – 4/1
Dele Alli – 11/2
Ian Henderson – 6/1
Peter Vincenti – 7/1
Joe Bunney – 8/1
Lewis Baker – 10/1
Scorecast:
Kyle McFadzean to score first and MK Dons to win 2-1 – 115/1
All odds correct at time of writing
Sign up now to Sky Bet and start collecting Transfer Fund tokens to help the Dons be in with a chance of winning £250,000 to spend on signings in the summer, as well as earn £5,000 in cash for yourselves!
The men from MK1 kept the heat on second spot with a terrific 3-0 victory over Doncaster Rovers at stadiummk in midweek– the team's seventh win in eight games.
Tuesday’s result ensured the Dons have now broken club records for clean-sheets (24 in all competitions this season) and goals (109 in all competitions this season) – they will be hoping to add to both of those totals in their last two games!
The opposition
Rochdale kept their hopes of reaching the League 1 play-offs alive on Tuesday with a 1-0 triumph at home to Leyton Orient.
Dale are five points behind Chesterfield with only two games left to play but, because the goal differences are pretty similar, the Manchester outfit could still finish in the top six if they were to win both of their last two games and the Spireites drop, at least, four points.
Keith Hill’s men will be relying on their home form to earn them one of those victories today – the Spotland club have won 11 games on their own patch this season, scoring 34 goals and conceding just 26.
View from the dugouts
Karl Robinson: “I’ve got so much respect for Keith Hill and for what he’s done there. To get them promoted last year and be challenging for the play-offs with two games to go is a testament to him and his players.
“It’s always a tough place to go and play, and Rochdale are a really good side - it’s going to be a difficult challenge but we’re looking forward to it.”
Keith Hill: “There hasn’t been a sterner test for us all season. They’re in great form with the goals they have scored and players they have – it’s quite frightening really.
“It will be a measure of the squad that players will probably come into the starting 11 and we'll probably play a different system. I have to trust my judgement and play the formula I want to play against MK Dons.”
Team news
Dons have no fresh injury concerns following the win over Doncaster, meaning Ben Reeves (calf) and Joe Walsh (knee) are the only absentees.
Samir Carruthers left Tuesday’s game early with a dead leg but will be fit and available for selection.
Rochdale, meanwhile, will have goalkeeper Jamie Jones back from suspension but midfielder Matty Lund is out after his red card in the same game.
Head to head
The men from MK1 are unbeaten in their last five games against Dale and will be in search of their fifth victory over the Manchester side this afternoon.
The two clubs have met nine times since the first meeting at the National Hockey Stadium back in December 2006 – that day, the Dons won 2-1 thanks to an Izale McLeod strike and own goal from Nathan Stanton.
Betting with Sky Bet
Result:
Rochdale to win – 7/2
Draw – 14/5
MK Dons to win – 3/4
First goalscorer:
Will Grigg – 4/1
Dele Alli – 11/2
Ian Henderson – 6/1
Peter Vincenti – 7/1
Joe Bunney – 8/1
Lewis Baker – 10/1
Scorecast:
Kyle McFadzean to score first and MK Dons to win 2-1 – 115/1
All odds correct at time of writing
Sign up now to Sky Bet and start collecting Transfer Fund tokens to help the Dons be in with a chance of winning £250,000 to spend on signings in the summer, as well as earn £5,000 in cash for yourselves!
