Preview: Queens Park Rangers

All you need to know ahead of the Saturday's clash at Loftus Road...

5 January 2018

MK Dons will be looking to reach the Fourth Round of the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday when they take on Queens Park Rangers.

Robbie Neilson’s side started 2018 with a defeat at the Kassam Stadium on New Year's Day. After overcoming Peterborough United with just nine men two days prior, the men from MK1 were the victim of some sharp finishing from Oxford United.

Attention now turns to the Third Round of The Emirates FA Cup as the Dons make the journey to the capital. The cup tie will serve as a much-needed break from Sky Bet League One action for Neilson's men who will be hoping to cause an upset this weekend.

Kick-off is at 3pm.

Currently playing their football in the Sky Bet Championship, Queens Park Rangers occupy 17th place in the division - six points above the relegation places. The Hoops have endured an indifferent season so far, however, they do come into the tie in good form after their 2-1 win over Cardiff City last Monday.

At the helm is the charismatic Ian Holloway, who is amidst his second spell as manager of QPR. The 54-year-old also enjoyed a stint with the London-outfit during his playing days where he featured over 140 times.

Holloway's side is full of talented individuals with the likes of Alex Smithies, Nedum Onuoha, James Perch and Jamie Mackie all boasting Premier League experience. Elsewhere, QPR have a number of experienced Football League players with Luke Freeman, Matt Smith and Alex Baptiste all representing The Rs.

MK Dons were unable to build on the spirited victory over Peterborough United as they fell to a 3-1 defeat at Oxford United.

Wes Thomas put the U’s ahead on 15 minutes but Alex Gilbey’s header drew the Dons level soon after.

Oxford, however, restored their lead in first-half stoppage time through Gino van Kessel before fellow striker Jonathan Obika sealed the victory with a 58th-minute goal.

Goals from Matt Smith and debutant strike partner Paul Smyth saw Queens Park Rangers come from behind to book an important Sky Bet Championship victory over Cardiff City at Loftus Road.

Robbie Neilson: "It's an opportunity to go and impress. We'll go there looking to put on a performance for the fans that are coming down.

"It’s about winning football matches and we haven’t been doing that. We have to keep working hard to turn things around."

Ian Holloway: "The Emirates FA Cup is a magnificent competition. It’s been belittled in recent years because the Premier League is seen as the be all and end all nowadays.

"It’s a fantastic competition though because it involves our whole country. Whoever you play; wherever you play – it’s the Emirates FA Cup!"

The Dons will have Joe Walsh available for selection once again after he missed the defeat to Oxford United through suspension, however, Osman Sow will be unavailable for the clash as he serves the second match of his three-game suspension.

Robbie Neilson will be looking to reintroduce both Callum Brittain and Aidan Nesbitt to the squad should they be deemed injury free. Finally, Ike Ugbo will be hoping to make his debut for MK Dons after completing his loan move from Chelsea earlier this week.

Both Joel Lynch and James Perch will be looking for minutes this weekend, the duo featured in a behind closed doors friendly for QPR this week. Former Dons striker, Jamie Mackie, however, will miss the tie after undergoing surgery on a back problem.

QPR also welcomed back Eberechi Eze from his loan spell at Wycombe Wanderers this week. The young forward impressed during his time at Adams Park and could be in line for his debut this weekend.

James Linington will be the man in the middle this weekend – the first time he has officiated the Dons this season.

The Newport official took charge of the Dons’ 2-0 defeat with Brighton in the Emirates FA Cup last season, a game in which he produced two yellow cards.

In total this season, Linington has booked 146 players and sent off four.

His assistant referees are Mark Dwyer and Lee Venamore Hyde while the fourth official is Nicholas Kinseley.

Dons wins: 2
Dons wins at the Loftus Road: 1
Last Dons win: 2-0, 5 Mar 2016 (Stadium MK)
Biggest Dons win: 4-2, 26 Jan 2013 (Loftus Road)

Draws: 1
Draws at the Loftus Road: 1
Last draw: 1-1, 07 Jan 2012 (Loftus Road)

QPR wins: 2
QPR wins at the Loftus Road: 2
Last QPR win: 3-0, 24 Oct 2015 (Loftus Road)
Biggest QPR win: 3-0, 24 Oct 2015 (Loftus Road)

Result
QPR win – 3/4
Draw – 11/4
Dons win – 7/2

First goalscorer
Matt Smith – 4/1
Idrissa Sylla – 9/2
Eberechi Eze – 11/2
No goalscorer – 11/1
Chuks Aneke – 7/1
Kieran Agard – 7/1
Alex Gilbey – 20/1

Scorecast
Matt Smith to score first and MK Dons to win 2-1 – 80/1

Sky Bet tip
MK Dons to win and Both teams to Score – 7/1

*all odds correct at the time of writing

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Supporters living outside the UK can watch the match LIVE with an iFollow MK Dons Season/Monthly Pass or by purchasing a Match Pass – click HERE for more information!

iFollow MK Dons will have also live commentary of the game for UK-based fans – click HERE to sign up for as little as £4.49 for a month.

Supporters can also stay in touch with the Dons via mkdons.com’s Match Centre, which can be accessed by visiting the home page from 1pm.

There will also be full coverage on the Club’s social media channels – Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat!

A full match report will be available to view on mkdons.com straight after the final whistle.

***

Tickets for Saturday's Emirates FA Cup tie with Queens Park Rangers are priced from £15 adults, £10 seniors/under-22s, £5 students/under-18s and FREE for under-8s when accompanied by a full-paying adult.

Tickets can now only be purchased from Loftus Road.

Match Reports

Report: QPR 0-1 MK Dons

Cisse’s first Dons goal sends Robbie Neilson’s men through…

6 January 2018

MK Dons pulled off another Emirates FA Cup upset at Loftus Road to secure their place in the Fourth Round.

Ousseynou Cisse scored the decisive goal 15 minutes into the second half as the Dons defeated their Sky Bet Championship opponents in the capital to book their place in Monday's draw.

Callum Brittain returned to the starting XI for the first time in over a month after recovering from injury. He was one of five changes made by Robbie Neilson, who also handed a first start to striker Ike Ugbo - signed on loan from Chelsea earlier in the week.

Ugbo partnered Robbie Muirhead upfront and the Scot forced Nedum Onuoha into conceding an early corner. The QPR defence, however, were able to deal with the delivery in from the left.

Soon after, there was almost an opportunity for Ugbo to have a run through on goal but he was denied by some good defending from Josh Scowen.

QPR had their first chance on goal in the seven minute - a header from Matt Smith which was saved comfortably by Lee Nicholls.

The Dons were left off the hook on the quarter-hour mark when Jake Bidwell and Matt Smith got in each other’s way from Luke Freeman’s cross. Both players were well placed to threaten Nicholls but in the end neither were able to get a header on goal.

Neilson’s men came close to making them pay a minute later but Muirhead’s left-footed drive was deflected onto the post, with Alex Smithies beaten. The ball was cleared away for a throw-in from which Cisse produced a save out of the R’s goalkeeper with a strike from distance.

There was almost another chance for Muirhead on 20 minutes but he was flagged offside after latching onto Ugbo’s through ball - the loanee did well to win possession in the centre circle before sliding a pass through to Muirhead, who had just set off on his run a little early.

QPR were then awarded a free-kick in shooting range but Luke Freeman’s effort was blocked by the wall and his follow-up was sent off target. With their next chance, midfielder Ilias Chair volleyed wide from the edge of the area.

On the half-hour mark, Cisse fired over the bar as the Dons continued to offer a threat to their Sky Bet Championship opponents. The R’s, though, dominated the final 15 minutes of the first half and went close through a Chair effort which just went wide of the left post.

QPR midfielder Scowen forced a save out of Nicholls inside the first minute of the second half - the Dons’ number 1 made a smart stop to keep out the fierce effort.

The hosts kept the pressure on and moments later Jack Robinson wasted a glorious opportunity from 10-yards out before Smith saw a header stopped on the line by Nicholls. Wootton then did superbly to prevent Smith from connecting with a cross from substitute Pawel Wszolek.

Neilson’s men spent the first 15 minutes after the re-start soaking up pressure from the R’s, who were unable to make their early dominance count. Then, on 59 minutes, the Dons made their opponents pay by scoring with their first shot of the second half.

Cisse pounced on a loose pass from Scowen and drove towards the QPR goal. The Malian midfielder then created space with a cool dummy in the area before he curled a superb left-footed shot into the far corner of Smithies’ net. 0-1.

The goal sent the 1,163 Dons supporters into rapture although they did have Ed Upson to thank for maintaining the lead on 64 minutes as he cleared off the line from Freeman’s deflected shot.

QPR threw men forward in search of an equaliser but the men from MK1 remained dangerous on the counter and they almost doubled their lead with 16 minutes to play but Muirhead could only find the side netting from a tight angle.

Moments later, Nicholls kept out a header from Smith before Freeman saw his shot deflected wide of the target. Paul Smythe headed over from the resulting corner.

At the other end, substitute Agard saw a curling shot saved by Smithies with three minutes remaining - a goal which would have almost certainly secured victory.

Seven minutes of added time were awarded but the Dons were able to survive and secure a confidence-boosting success and a in the Fourth Roud.

Starting XI: Nicholls; Brittain (Ebanks-Landell 79), Wootton, Walsh, Williams (c); Cisse; McGrandles, Upson; Aneke; Muirhead (Agard 77), Ugbo (Thomas-Asante 90+1).

Unused subs: Sietsma, Kasumu, Nombe, Seager.

Goal: Cisse (59)

Booked: Muirhead, McGrandles, Wootton, Nicholls

Attendance: 6,314 (1,163 away)

Referee: J Linington

Milton Keynes Dons

Standings

Preview: Queens Park Rangers

McGrandles pays tribute to teammates following QPR victory

Boss hopes to build on Cup triumph

Highlights: QPR

Gallery: QPR

Report: QPR 0-1 MK Dons

McGrandles pays tribute to teammates following QPR victory

Boss hopes to build on Cup triumph

Highlights: QPR

Gallery: QPR

Standings

Fixture News

McGrandles pays tribute to teammates following QPR victory

Boss hopes to build on Cup triumph

Highlights: QPR

Gallery: QPR

Fixture News

McGrandles pays tribute to teammates following QPR victory

Boss hopes to build on Cup triumph

Highlights: QPR

Gallery: QPR