Preview: Peterborough United

All you need to know ahead of today's Sky Bet League One clash...

24 August 2019

MK Dons welcome Peterborough United to Stadium MK this afternoon, looking to secure their third successive home victory.

Paul Tisdale’s men began their 2019/20 campaign in Milton Keynes with a 1-0 win over Shrewsbury Town and followed that up with a 2-1 triumph over Lincoln City on Tuesday evening.

The results have them on six points in the Sky Bet League One table - a positive start to life back in the third tier for the Dons.

If they were to pick up another Stadium MK victory today, it would be the first time since 2012 that the Dons have won their first three home matches of a season.

Kick-off is at 3pm.

THE OPPOSITION
Peterborough United earned their first victory of the campaign in midweek courtesy of a 2-0 triumph at Southend United.

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That away win, coupled with their 2-2 draw at home to Ipswich Town last weekend, has the Posh on four points from their opening four games, after they started the term with back-to-back defeats.

Darren Ferguson, in his third spell with the Cambridgeshire club, boasts a wealth of talent, including a lethal front three consisting of Mo Eisa, Ivan Toney and Marcus Maddison. Eisa and Toney have scored in each of their past two appearances while Maddison provided both assists in midweek.

LAST TIME OUT
First-half goals from Callum Brittain and George Williams earned MK Dons their second victory of the new season at home to Lincoln City.

Paul Tisdale’s men, who now boast six points from their opening three matches, took the lead after just 71 seconds through Brittain, who converted from Kieran Agard’s low cross.

Lincoln equalised nine minutes later through Tyler Walker but Williams put the Dons back in front midway through the first half in fortuitous style - diverting Jordan Bowery’s attempt past Josh Vickers from a prone position.

The Imps threatened in the second half but Tisdale’s side did enough to see out the win and make it back-to-back home successes.

Peterborough United secured a long-awaited three points courtesy of a 2-0 win away at Southend United.

Mo Eisa fired Posh in front seven minutes into the second half after he was picked out inside the six-yard box by Marcus Maddison, providing him with a simple finish for his second goal of the campaign.

Two minutes later, Darren Ferguson’s men had doubled their lead courtesy of Ivan Toney’s neat finish - his second goal in as many games.

Southend hit the crossbar late on but never looked like threatening Posh’s result - their first win of the campaign in all competitions.

FIGHTING TALK
Paul Tisdale: “They’re an established League One team who have been up to the Championship, and they are a top contender in League One this season. They have a manager who knows the club and how they want to play. They have got a really potent and creative strike-force so there is a defensive challenge for us there, for sure. This will be a good test.”

Darren Ferguson: “[MK Dons] are a good side, but we know that if we reach the levels we can, then we will be okay. We will be backed by a good crowd, we always are at MK and it is a game that we are all looking forward too.”

TEAM NEWS
MK Dons will be without Joe Mason for a considerable period of time due to a hamstring injury while Ben Reeves is sidelined with a lower leg issue.

Jordan Moore-Taylor is making progress from his long-term knee problem but is still some way off a return. There is better news regarding Brennan Dickenson, who is back in full training having not yet featured this term.

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Joe Walsh confirmed at Thursday’s MKDSA Fans Forum that he, too, is back in training and could be in contention for a return this afternoon.

Peterborough United don’t expect Nathan Thompson to be involved today at Stadium MK but, otherwise, have a clean bill of health.

Key man Marcus Maddision is nearing full fitness and Darren Ferguson has the option to name an unchanged starting XI if he wishes too.

OFFICIALS
Andy Davies will take charge of this afternoon’s affair at Stadium MK.

The experienced official will referee the Dons for the first time since November 2016 when he oversaw the 2-1 victory over Coventry City. That afternoon, he produced four yellow cards and sent off Sky Blues midfielder Ben Stevenson for two bookable offences.

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So far this season, Davies has booked 11 players in four matches but is yet to show his red card.

His assistant referees are Lee Venamore and Jonathan Hunt while the fourth official is Matthew Lee.

HEAD TO HEAD
Dons wins: 10
Dons wins at Stadium MK: 5
Last Dons win: 1-0, 30 Dec 2017 (Stadium MK)
Biggest Dons win: 4-0, 28 Jan 2017 (Weston Homes Stadium)

Draws: 4
Draws at Stadium MK: 2
Last draw: 3-3, 4 Sep 2018 (Stadium MK)

Peterborough wins: 11
Peterborough wins at Stadium MK: 3
Last Peterborough win: 2-0, 12 Sep 2017 (Weston Homes Stadium)
Biggest Peterborough win: 4-0, 10 Mar 2007 (Weston Homes Stadium)

SKY BET ODDS
Dons win: 13/10
Draw: 23/10
Peterborough: 19/10

Click HERE for more Sky Bet odds!

ELSEWHERE IN SKY BET LEAGUE ONE
Doncaster Rovers v Lincoln City, 12.30pm
Bolton Wanderers v Ipswich Town
Bristol Rovers v Oxford United
Coventry City v Gillingham
Fleetwood Town v Accrington Stanley
Rochdale v Blackpool
Shrewsbury Town v Burton Albion
Sunderland v AFC Wimbledon
Wycombe Wanderers v Southend United

FOLLOW IT LIVE
Tickets for the match are priced at £22 adults, £17 seniors and £7 under-18s while under-12s go FREE with an accompanying adult. Supporters can upgrade to premium seats in the East Centre for a £5 premium while an upgrade to clubRed is just £10 more.

To purchase tickets click HERE, visit the Box Office at Stadium MK or call 0333 200 5343. Tickets will be available to buy right up until kick-off.

Those fans in the UK & Republic of Ireland can listen to live audio commentary on iFollow MK Dons for just £2.50 - click HERE to purchase an Audio Match Pass!

Supporters can also stay in touch with the action via mkdons.com’s Match Centre, which can be accessed by visiting the home page from 2.00pm.

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

Match Reports

Report: MK Dons 0-4 Peterborough United

Day to forget for the Dons...

24 August 2019

MK Dons had an afternoon to forget as they were beaten 4-0 by Peterborough United at Stadium MK.

A stunning Marcus Maddison strike had Posh on their way early before they added to their lead through first-half goals from Ivan Toney and Mohamed Eisa.

Eisa doubled his tally after half-time as the Dons were beaten on their own patch for the first time since early April.

Alex Gilbey came in for his first start since March while Dean Lewington returned to the starting XI as boss Tisdale made two changes to the side which beat Lincoln City in midweek. There were also comebacks for Brennan Dickenson and Joe Walsh – they were on the bench. Conor McGrandles and Regan Poole missed out.

Kieran Agard got behind the Posh backline straight from kick-off but the linesman’s flag denied him an opportunity on goal. The visitors had an early chance of their own through Maddison, who lifted an effort over the bar from midway inside the area.

Posh then forced a corner from which Jordan Bowery blocked an effort by Mark Beevers. They kept the pressure on and it took some quick reactions from Lee Nicholls, racing off his line, to deny Toney from a George Boyd through pass.

It was a bright start from the Cambridgeshire outfit who, in the seventh minute, had two penalty appeals waved away by referee Andy Davies. Louis Reed then fired wide with an ambitious long-range drive.

After riding the early storm, the Dons worked their way into a decent position down the right-hand side. Callum Brittain eventually delivered a ball to Bowery, whose touch let him down inside the penalty area.

Nicholls made a routine save from a Maddison free-kick in the 20th minute but the Dons goalkeeper could do nothing about his follow-up attempt shortly after, as Peterborough took the lead.

The Posh midfielder picked the ball up midway inside the half and fired an unstoppable left-footed shot past Nicholls and in to the net via the apex of the left-hand upright. 0-1.

Tisdale’s men looked for an immediate response but it was Peterborough who grabbed the second goal.

On 27 minutes, the visitors were awarded a free-kick for a foul on Maddison, five yards from the right corner of the area. He picked out Toney with his set piece and the Posh striker headed past Nicholls from six-yards out to double the advantage. 0-2.

Russell Martin headed wide from a corner as the Dons looked to reduce the deficit before half-time. Kieran Agard then had a shot blocked after a neat set-up by Bowery inside the box shortly before Gilbey curled over from the edge of the area.

However, their good work was to be undone with six minutes to play in the half as Posh extended their lead to three courtesy of Eisa, who finished off a neat attacking move with a low finish into the bottom left-hand corner. 0-3.

With their work cut out for them, the Dons went back on the attack. Brittain drilled over within a minute of the re-start. He had another go from the edge of the area moments later but saw that attempt blocked. They weren’t, however, able to pull a goal back before the half-time whistle sounded.
Tisdale made an adjustment during the interval, introducing Rhys Healey from the bench which allowed the Dons to move to a front three.

His side, though, almost found themselves four goals down as Boyd worked his way into the area. Fortunately, his effort was a tame one and Nicholls could save comfortably. Nicholls was called into action again on 58 minutes, diving down to his right to keep out a low drive from Maddison.

The Dons then produced their best attacking move of the game down the left-hand side. Lewington drove forward from the back and his eventual cross was a teasing one but neither Healey nor Agard could get a vital touch to it to turn it home.

Eisa blazed over for the visitors as they continued to threaten before Tisdale made his second substitution – Ryan Harley coming on to replace Houghton in midfield.

Moments after the substitution, Healey headed just wide from a George Williams cross. Williams delivered another ball from the right, this time for Bowery, whose header was off target.

On 58 minutes, Boateng saw a fierce long-range strike blocked by the head of Frankie Kent. Eight minutes later, Healey climbed well to meet a cross from Lewington but couldn’t keep his header down.

Nicholls was forced to tip over a try from substitute Joe Ward at the other end. A minute later, Peterborough had their fourth – Eisa with a right-footed effort into the far corner. 0-4.

Dickenson was brought on following the goal for his first appearance as an MK Dons player. The wide-man, signed from Colchester United in the summer, had missed most of pre-season due to injury.

He looked bright down the left but neither he nor a teammate could do anything about the scoreline. In fact, it was Posh who had chances to add to their lead late on but Nicholls denied them on several occasions.

Starting XI: Nicholls, Williams, Lewington (c) (Dickenson 74), Cargill, Gilbey (Healey 46), Bowery, Agard, Martin, Houghton (Harley 56), Brittain, Boateng.

Unused subs: Moore, Walsh, Nombe, Kasumu.

Booked: Boateng

Attendance: 9,402 (2,100 away)

Milton Keynes Dons

Standings

Preview: Peterborough United

Russ: We will bounce back from humbling loss

Tis: Saturday taught us a lesson

Extended highlights: Peterborough United

Full-match replay: Peterborough United

Report: MK Dons 0-4 Peterborough United

Russ: We will bounce back from humbling loss

Tis: Saturday taught us a lesson

Extended highlights: Peterborough United

Full-match replay: Peterborough United

Standings

Fixture News

Russ: We will bounce back from humbling loss

Tis: Saturday taught us a lesson

Extended highlights: Peterborough United

Full-match replay: Peterborough United

Fixture News

Russ: We will bounce back from humbling loss

Tis: Saturday taught us a lesson

Extended highlights: Peterborough United

Full-match replay: Peterborough United