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REACTION: MK DONS 3 NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Dons manager Paul Ince: "The first half display was awesome to be fair, it should have been six or seven and that's no disrespect to Northampton.
"It's never easy when you go into the second half three up, subconsciously you can start to relax and get a bit sloppy. You can't afford to do that.
"But, saying that, it was a fantastic effort after changing six players and to perform the way we did, especially in the first 45 minutes, is a credit to the lads."
FULL-TIME: MK DONS 3 NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Dons progress into the Area Semi-Finals with a fairly routine win, the only surprise was that they didn't turn first-half dominance into a more handsome result.
Aaron Wilbraham's fantastic opener gave them the lead on six minutes, the big striker swivelling majestically to volley home Lewis Gobern's cross, before Sam Baldock raced clear to make it two on the quarter-hour.
Baldock's penalty, awarded after he'd been taken out by Cobblers 'keeper Chris Dunn, put the result beyond doubt and only Dunn's heroics prevented it getting ugly before the break.
The Cobblers made a much better fist of it in the second period, Steve Guinan pulling a goal back on 51 minutes, but they were never able to seize control.
Dons march on to the next round with a sixth straight home win.
FULL-TIME: MK DONS 3 NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
90mins - Three minutes to be added at the end of this one, with the Dons in possession and looking to close things down.
87mins - McCracken becomes the latest Dons player to be cautioned after pulling back Mulligan halfway inside the Dons half. Home side just getting a little careless with the ball in these closing stages and could do with avoiding the grandstand finale that a Northampton goal would create.
83mins - Carrington's corner from the left is smashed clear on the volley by Guttridge, but Sol Davis' header sends it back towards the edge of the box. Easter controls well but his left-foot shot is well off target. Attendance of 8,886 at stadiummk tonight, including 2,245 from Northampton.
79mins - First test for Wilbraham in the Dons defence as Gilligan drops a free-kick into the penalty area. It's Wilbraham himself who heads away, but Northampton keep the pressure up until Akinfenwa is whistled for a tug on McCracken.
77mins - A familiar chant goes up around the Cowshed as Jabo Ibehre prepares to come on. It's an interesting one, with Darren Powell the man making way, and Aaron Wilbraham of all people is going to slot in at centre-half.
74mins - Loose touch from Darren Powell as he shows too much of the ball to Mulligan and is forced to foul the Northampton striker 35 yards from the Dons goal. Unsurprisingly a booking and a dangerous free-kick, but Guttridge's effort is far too high and Gueret barely gives it a glance on its way over.
73mins - Ince has moved Baldock to the right flank and Puncheon to the left, with Easter moving up front and Leven partnering Carrington in central midfield. Northampton now have Holt at centre-half but Easter outmuscles him down the right, delivering a tempting ball that Baldock shows great desire to get on the end of, his header just within Dunn's reach.
70mins - Dons to make a double change of their own, and it's an impressive duo of replacements. Chadwick departs to be replaced by Peter Leven while leading scorer Jermaine Easter replaces Gobern.
67mins - It's a double change for Northampton with Guinan making way for the huge Akinfenwa, while Dean Beckwith comes off to be replaced by Michael Jacobs. Akinfenwa is a big, bustling centre forward that will need some looking after.
65mins - Northampton fans are lifted by a burst from Holt down the left, who rides challenges from Howell and Carrington before pulling a ball back from the goalline that pinballs around the Dons box before Puncheon smashes it away. Visitors are ready to bring on Adebayo Akinfenwa.
63mins - Booking on the way for Lewis Gobern, who slides into a challenge on Holt on the Northampton left. Never looked like one he could win and the Dons winger will have to watch his step from here on.
58mins - Break in the play while Andy Holt gets treatement for a head injury, having been involved in a collision with Darren Powell. Looks like there's some blood involved as Holt is changing his shirt, but the damage doesn't look lasting.
55mins - The goal has stirred the Dons and they're setting about regaining the three goal lead. Carrington plays a nice one-two with Baldock on the edge of the box but sees his shot deflect wide for a corner. Taken short to Gobern, but his cross to the far post is too deep.
51mins - GOAL! MK DONS 3 NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1 - STEVE GUINAN
Now there's a wakeup call. Free-kick awarded against McCracken for a foul on Mulligan out on the Northampton right, Guttridge whips the ball into a crowded penalty area and Guinan climbs highest to guide the ball beyond Gueret from six yards.
46mins - Paul Ince will not be happy about that. His likely instruction at the break will have been 'don't concede an early goal', but the Dons give away possession inside their own half and Liam Davis rifles a shot goalwards that Gueret does well to block low to his left.
8.06pm - SECOND HALF KICKS OFF
Northampton get us restarted with an absolute mountain to climb if they're to stay in the 2009/10 Johnstone's Paint Trophy. Dons are attacking the Cowshed in the second period.
HALF-TIME: MK DONS 3 NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0
Three goals in 20 first half minutes send MK Dons into half-time with a strangle-hold on this game and a foot in the Area Semi-Finals of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
Skipper for the night Aaron Wilbraham opened the scoring after just six minutes with an incredible strike - pulling down a Lewis Gobern cross on the turn before crashing an unstoppable angled volley past Chris Dunn for a goal the big striker will never forget.
Sam Baldock, into the side ahead of Jermaine Easter's international absence this weekend, doubled the lead 10 minutes later when he raced in behind a static defence to slot number two.
The young front-man then made it three from the spot after being taken out by Dunn as he chased Luke Chadwick's pass in behind.
It's three already, it could have been more, how the visitors will begin to prepare for the second half Ian Sampson only knows.
HALF-TIME: MK DONS 3 NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0
45+2mins - Great perseverance from Mulligan down the left, holding off McCracken for several seconds while support arrives from his Cobblers team-mates before pulling a low ball into the box. Guinan threatens to reel it in before Carrington steps in, blocking his progress before Gueret gathers the loose ball.
42mins - Careless play from Northampton inside their own half, Puncheon seizing on a loose pass and sliding Chadwick in to his right. Brilliant recovering challenge from Hinton prevents Chadwick getting a shot off. Resulting corner from Gobern is punched by Dunn as far as Chadwick again, but his dipping volley is pushed out by the Cobblers 'keeper.
41mins - Some debate between Puncheon and Baldock as to who will take the free-kick, with Puncheon eventually pulling rank and hammering his shot fairly comfortably over the bar.
40mins - Here's the first booking as Gobern's burst forward is brought to an abrupt end by Rodgers. A yellow card and a dangerous free-kick eight yards outside the Northampton box.
34mins - Dons on the attack again as Davis does well down the left, crossing into the box where Rodgers spoons his clearance, Baldock heads the loose ball down and Carrington's goalbound drive is blocked by Beckwith.
31mins - Guttridge whips the resulting corner to the near post, Holt peels off the post to turn a header goalwards but Gueret stops it instinctively before the whistle goes for an offensive foul anyway.
30mins - Well when it's not your night . . . Davis hammers the free-kick goalwards, it deflects off the wall to leave Gueret helpless, but bounces just wide of the far post.
29mins - Northampton respond well with a good spell of pressure near the edge of the Dons box, Guinan and Mulligan both having shots blocked before Chadwick climbs on Gilligan to concede a free-kick right on the edge of the box.
26mins - GOAL! MK DONS 3 NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0 - SAM BALDOCK (PEN)
No mercy from the Dons striker, who steps up confidently and smashes the ball past Dunn into the roof of the net. Not reached the half-hour yet and Dons should be out of sight. Kanyuka's night is over though, as Chris McCready comes on to replace him.
25mins - Looked worrying for Kanyuka for a moment as paramedics raced onto the pitch, but the Northampton defender is on his feet, which can only be a good sign. Waiting game for Baldock, who looks primed to take the penalty as Kanyuka eventually departs on a stretcher.
22mins - PENALTY TO THE DONS
Dons given a golden chance to make it three as Baldock races in behind onto Chadwick's flick over the top, beating both Dunn and Kanyuka to the ball in the air but being taken out by the Cobblers 'keeper. Penalty given and Kanyuka, who was also battered by his goalkeeper, is in need of treatment.
19mins - Carrington exchanges passes with Chadwick in midfield before dropping a ball over the top of Kanyuka, but this time Baldock is offside.
16mins - GOAL! MK DONS 2 NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0 - SAM BALDOCK
Baldock's big chance comes as he bends his run perfectly to spring the offside trap, racing onto a ball into the inside right channel and barely breaking stride before tucking it comfortably past Dunn. Dons fans chant 'EASY, EASY' and Northampton have some work to do.
15mins - First moment of any concern for the hosts as Mulligan races in behind the Dons defence. 'Keeper Gueret gets out to tackle him, but he's out of his ground if Guinan can lob the rebound over him. Dons scramble back to prevent any immediate danger and Guinan's shot is caught by the retreating Gueret.
13mins - Northampton must be sick of the sight of Aaron Wilbraham. The big Dons striker scored both winners against the Cobblers in two 1-0 wins in League 1 last season, now he's back haunting them once more. He didn't score in the pre-season game, but he didn't play either!
10mins - Could have been three in the opening 10 minutes as Davis bursts forward from left-back, plays a one-two into the box with Baldock and then freezes with the goal in sight, shooting straight at Dunn when well placed. Northampton are all over the place.
8mins - Puncheon nudges clear from a Northampton corner and the break is on, white shirts pouring forward against two Northampton defenders. Puncheon goes left to Chadwick, who slides in behind the breaking Gobern. His dinked finish beats the out-rushing Dunn but is cleared off the line by Kanyuka.
6mins - GOAL! MK DONS 1 NORTHAMPTON TOWN 0 - AARON WILBRAHAM
Clockwatch kids you not, there may never have been a better goal scored inside stadiummk. Aaron Wilbraham opens the scoring with a frankly stunning effort, pulling down Gobern's cross from the right while spinning away from Beckwith and hitting the dropping ball flush on the volley, across Chris Dunn and into the top corner. Breathtaking.
3mins - Big chance for Sam Baldock to stake his claim for Easter's starting berth at Charlton on Saturday. The young striker has been short on opportunities this season, but will relish the chance to get at this Northampton defence tonight.
Even start as both sides look to establish themselves. Northampton are in the expected 4-4-2, with big Steve Guinan leading the line alongside Gary Mulligan.
7.00pm - KICK-OFF
Referee Kevin Wright gets the game underway, the Dons kicking off in all white and defending the Cowshed in the first half. Northampton are in their change strip of all sky blue.
7.58pm - The early kick-off time has again captured the imagination of supporters tonight, with a big attendance expected. At least 1,500 away fans have packed into the away end in the north stand, while the Cowshed is also boasting a near full-house.
Aaron Wilbraham leads the Dons out for the first time in his career, deputising for the suspended Lewington for tonight's game. There's a noticable winter bite in the air as we prepare to get started, but the cheer that greets the announcement of the home side shows the fans will need little warming up.
6.53pm - TEAM NEWS - Wholesale changes for the Dons tonight, but it's hardly a weakened team for boss Paul Ince. Dean Lewington is suspended so Sol Davis comes in at left-back while Martin Devaney's injury sees Lewis Gobern retain his place wide on the right, ahead of Luke Howell at right-back. Jason Puncheon and Mark Carrington come in for Stephen Gleeson and Peter Leven in central midfield while Sam Baldock partners Aaron Wilbraham in attack.
Jermaine Easter is given permission to be among the substitutes by the Welsh FA ahead of joining up with the Wales squad on Wednesday.
Northampton make three changes to the side that beat Fleetwood in the FA Cup on Saturday. Liam Davis, Patrick Kanyuka and Gary Mulligan are the men coming in, John Curtis, John Johnson and Adebayo Akinfenwa are the men coming out.
MK DONS: Willy Gueret, David McCracken, Aaron Wilbraham, Sam Baldock, Mark Carrington, Lewis Gobern, Jason Puncheon, Sol Davis, Luke Howell, Darren Powell, Luke Chadwick.
SUBS: Stephen Gleeson, Jermaine Easter, Jabo Ibehre, Peter Leven, Dean Morgan.
NORTHAMPTON TOWN: Chris Dunn, Paul Rodgers, Luke Guttridge, Craig Hinton (c), Dean Beckwith, Steve Guinan, Andy Holt, Ryan Gilligan, Gary Mulligan, Liam Davis, Patrick Kanyuka.
SUBS: Simon Brown, Alex Dyer, Adebayo Akinfenwa, Chris McCready, Michael Jacobs.
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Sam Baldock makes his first start of the season for the Dons against Northampton tonight. |
6.47pm - Welcome to stadiummk for derby night in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. As well as a place in the Area Semi-Finals, there's local pride at stake as the Dons host their neighbours from just up the M1, Northampton Town. It's the fourth time the two clubs have locked horns, with the Cobblers yet to break the Dons' 100 per cent record, but they could wipe that miserable run out with a victory tonight.
It's the stage of the competition that starts to mean business - a win tonight would put either club within two rounds of an appearance at Wembley, an appearance the Dons know all about after Paul Ince led them to the Trophy in 2008. Some way to go if they're to repeat that though, and the Cobblers will certainly have plenty to say about it.
Ian Sampson's appointment as permanent manager last month has brought about a real revival at Sixfields, with Northampton losing just one of their last eight as they look to bounce back up from League 2. The Dons are on a fine run of their own though, having won their last five here at stadiummk and they'll be hoping for another win tonight ahead of a crunch trip to Charlton on Saturday.
It should be a spicy local derby watched by a decent Tuesday night crowd. We'll be underway at 7.00pm.
