Preview: Wycombe Wanderers

All you need to know ahead of today's Sky Bet League One fixture at Stadium MK...

1 February 2020

MK Dons welcome Wycombe Wanderers to Stadium MK this afternoon, looking to make it back-to-back home wins this week.

Martin’s men picked up a crucial three points on Tuesday evening, coming from behind to beat Rochdale 2-1 at Stadium MK and move six points clear of the bottom three in Sky Bet League One.

They also moved to within one point of Dale, who lie 18th, and just two adrift of 17th-placed Accrington Stanley, two teams which they could leapfrog with a victory today.

Only three teams have picked up more points at home over the last five games than MK Dons. Martin’s side have won four and lost just one at Stadium MK, scoring nine goals and conceding just three times.

The Dons will be out to extend that run this afternoon. Kick-off is at 3pm.

THE OPPOSITION
Wycombe Wanderers will arrive at Stadium MK occupying a spot in the Sky Bet League One automatic-promotion places.

Gareth Ainsworth’s side have enjoyed a terrific campaign to date and proven extremely difficult to beat – losing just six games all campaign, which is the tied for the second fewest amongst teams in the division.

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Away from home, they have had their struggles of late, having not won on the road since November 17, picking up just a single point since then. They have, though, picked up some impressive results on their travels in 2019/20 – drawing with Ipswich Town and beating Rotherham United.

In terms of goals, striker Adebayo Akinfenwa is tied with defender Joe Jacobson with seven scored in the league. Fred Onyedinma has found the net four times while former Don David Wheeler has scored three.

LAST TIME OUT
MK Dons came from behind to beat Rochdale 2-1 at Stadium MK and move six points clear of the bottom three in Sky Bet League One.

Dale opened the scoring through Ian Henderson but Carlton Morris headed home a corner five minutes into the second half to restore parity.

The game looked to be heading for a draw until the 93rd minute when referee Charles Breakspear awarded the Dons a penalty, which was converted by Rhys Healey to secure the points.

Wycombe Wanderers also enjoyed a 2-1 success in midweek, beating Blackpool at Adams Park.

The Chairboys raced into a two-goal lead thanks to Nick Freeman and Alex Samuel.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall pulled one back on his Blackpool debut from 20 yards to set up a nervy finish, but Gareth Ainsworth's Chairboys held on to move up to second in Sky Bet League One.

FIGHTING TALK
Russell Martin: “It will be a good game on Saturday. Wycombe have exceeded everyone’s expectations this season. They are really good side and it will be a tough game for us. We’re looking forward to it.

“It’s an important home game for us. We’ve been good at home and we got a big win here on Tuesday. We need to build on that now and make sure we pick up three points this weekend.”

TEAM NEWS
MK Dons hope to have Conor McGrandles back from injury after the midfielder was forced to miss Tuesday’s win over Rochdale because of a knock to the foot.

Joe Mason was also missing in midweek and while the striker isn’t expected to be sidelined for too long, he is unlikely to face Wycombe Wanderers.

Wycombe Wanderers should recall defender Giles Phillips, who is available again following suspension.

Forward Fred Onyedinma and defeder Jack Grimmer remain on the treatment table, though, and likely won’t make the short trip to Milton Keynes.

OFFICIALS
Darren Handley will take charge of today's match at Stadium MK.

The Lancashire official has refereed 24 games this term, producing 88 yellow cards and eight red cards.

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He last umpired the Dons back in February 2017, booking three players during a 1-0 victory over Oldham Athletic.

The assistant referees are Nicholas Cooper and Matthew Lee while the fourth official Gregory Read.

HEAD TO HEAD
Dons wins: 4
Dons wins at Stadium MK: 2
Last Dons win: 4-3, 26 Nov 2011 (Stadium MK)
Biggest Dons win: 3-1, 16 Dec 2006 (Stadium MK)

Draws: 3
Draws at Stadium MK: 1
Last draw: 1-1, 24 Mar 2012 (Adams Park)

Wycombe wins: 3
Wycombe wins at Stadium MK: 2
Last Wycombe win: 2-1, 12 Nov 2019 (Stadium MK)
Biggest Wycombe win: 3-2, 17 Aug 2019 (Stadium MK)

SKY BET ODDS
Dons win: 6/4
Draw: 21/10
Wycombe win: 7/4

Click HERE for more Sky Bet odds!

ELSEWHERE IN SKY BET LEAGUE ONE
Accrington Stanley v AFC Wimbledon
Bolton Wanderers v Tranmere Rovers
Bristol Rovers v Coventry City
Fleetwood Town v Doncaster Rovers
Ipswich Town v Peterborough United
Oxford United v Blackpool
Portsmouth v Sunderland
Rochdale v Shrewsbury Town
Rotherham United v Burton Albion
Southend United v Lincoln City

FOLLOW IT LIVE
Tickets are priced at £22 adults, £17 seniors and £7 under-18s while under-12s go FREE with an accompanying adult.

To book 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 from the Box Office.

Can't make today's match? Not to worry, you can listen to live commentary on iFollow MK Dons for just £2.50 - click HERE to purchase a Video 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 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 along with full reaction from Russell Martin and a player. Highlights will be available three hours after full-time.

Match Reports

Report: MK Dons 2-0 Wycombe Wanderers

Russell Martin's go back-to-back at home...

1 February 2020

Second-half strikes from Rhys Healey and Ben Gladwin saw MK Dons beat second-placed Wycombe Wanderers 2-0 at Stadium MK and move nine points clear of the bottom three.

Healey broke the deadlock on 68 minutes, converting from close-range after Carlton Morris flicked on a Jordan Houghton corner.

Both Healey and Morris limped off shortly after but their replacement up top, Ben Gladwin, stepped up to the mark, firing home a superb curling strike to seal the points with five minutes to play.

Russell Martin’s men move up to 19th place in Sky Bet League One. They are nine points clear of the bottom three, and only eight off 12th spot.

Boss Martin made one change to his starting XI for the visit of Wycombe, replacing David Kasumu with fellow Academy graduate Sam Nombe. On the bench, there were returns for Ben Reeves and Conor McGrandles, following respective spells on the sidelines.

Wycombe had two half-chances to start the match but neither Curtis Thompson nor Alex Samuel threatened Lee Nicholls. They then had a corner, on 11 minutes, but that was dealt with by Louis Thompson at the near post.

Chairboys captain Joe Jacobson tried his luck moments later, firing over the bar from 30 yards out. Then Dons then threatened for the first time, with Dean Lewington sending a ball into the area – one which was gathered by David Stockdale.

Houghton had the Dons’ next chance – a left-footed shot which was blocked on its way through to goal. The opportunity arose following some brilliant play down the right from Callum Brittain.

With eight minutes to play in the half, Brittain worked his way inside the Wycombe box but saw his low cross deflected back off him for a goal kick. The visitors then went close through Alex Samuel, who turned a Thompson ball goalwards – Nicholls tipped it over.

The MK Dons number one kept out a looping header from former Don David Wheeler shortly after. Strike partner Nick Freeman then sent a volley into the back of a Dons defender.

It was Martin’s men, though, who would have the final opportunity to break the deadlock before half-time and they managed to find the net – however, the assistant on the far side deemed Nombe to be offside when he converted a loose ball from Morris’ saved shot.

Nombe had the first real sniff in the second half, chasing down a through ball from Healey down the right. He had Morris and Alex Gilbey for company in the area but saw his cross towards them blocked.

Gilbey did have a chance on 66 minutes with a free-kick that was blocked by the wall. That then led to an opportunity for George Williams, who was denied at point-blank range by a superb Stockdale save.

The Dons came away with a corner, though, and from that, they took the lead. The routine led to Jordan Houghton delivering a cross from the left and his ball was flicked on by Morris, into the path of an unmarked Healey, slotted home his second goal of the week. 1-0.

Wycombe made a substitution before the re-start, adding Josh Parker to their attack and he almost had an instant response – however his slight touch from a low cross wasn’t enough to guide the ball past Nicholls.

The Dons were dealt a blow with just over 10 minutes to play when goalscorer Healey was forced off with an injury. He was replaced by Ben Gladwin. Martin also took the opportunity to make a switch in midfield – McGrandles on for Thompson.

Martin was forced into another change two minutes later when Morris when down with an ailment. He had to come off and was replaced by David Kasumu.

Those alterations forced Gladwin into a more advanced role and that tweak worked to perfection, as four minutes from time he fired home his first MK Dons goal to double the lead.

 Picking the ball up with his back to goal, 30 yards out, Gladwin worked his way out of trouble before curling a delightful strike around the arm of Stockdale and into the bottom left-hand corner. 2-0.

That was all she wrote at Stadium MK, despite seven minutes of added time. Another big win for Russell Martin's men at Stadium MK, who travel to Shrewsbury Town in their next outing.

MK Dons: Nicholls, Williams, Lewington (c), Gilbey, Healey (Gladwin 79), Moore-Taylor, Thompson (McGrandles 79), Morris (Kasumu 85), Houghton, Brittain, Nombe.

Subs: Fisher, Walsh, Poole, Reeves, McGrandles.

Goals: Healey (68), Gladwin (85)

Booked: Lewington

Wycombe Wanderers: Stockdale, Jombati, Gape (Bloomfield 87), Stewart, Wheeler, Smyth (Parker 69), Thompson, Freeman, Samuel (Pattison 74), McCarthy.

Subs: Allsop, Mascoll, Phillips, Ofoborh.

Booked: Gape, Smyth

Referee: D Handley

Attendance: 9,699 (1,834 away)

Milton Keynes Dons

Standings

Preview: Wycombe Wanderers

Red Dot Interview: Rhys Healey

Ben’s loving MK Dons stay

Gladwin glee following Wycombe goal

Russ: Work still to do

Report: MK Dons 2-0 Wycombe Wanderers

Red Dot Interview: Rhys Healey

Ben’s loving MK Dons stay

Gladwin glee following Wycombe goal

Russ: Work still to do

Standings

Fixture News

Red Dot Interview: Rhys Healey

Ben’s loving MK Dons stay

Gladwin glee following Wycombe goal

Russ: Work still to do

Fixture News

Red Dot Interview: Rhys Healey

Ben’s loving MK Dons stay

Gladwin glee following Wycombe goal

Russ: Work still to do