Preview: Coventry City

All you need to know ahead of today's Sky Bet League One fixture at the St Andrews Trillion Trophy Stadium...

11 January 2020

MK Dons face Coventry City this afternoon looking to secure their third straight Sky Bet League One victory.

The Dons beat Portsmouth and Bristol Rovers either side of the turn of the year, making it 10 points taken from their last five matches – the second-best points return in the division over that time.

A key component behind their upturn in form has been their record in front of goal under Russell Martin. The Dons have scored 13 goals in their eight league games since he was appointed, including eight in their past three.

Martin bolstered that attack this week with the signings of Carlton Morris and Ben Gladwin, both of whom could make their debuts today. The boss will be hoping they can both help to maintain that goalscoring form - and their recent run of results.

Kick-off is at 3pm.

THE OPPOSITION
Two spots above MK Dons in the form tabl, due to goal difference, are Saturday’s opponents Coventry City, who have moved to within a point of the automatic promotion places following a run of three wins, one draw and only one defeat in their last five.

Mark Robins’ side are unbeaten in 11 Sky Bet League One matches and boast one of the division’s best defences with only 25 goals conceded all term.

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The Sky Blues have enjoyed the majority of their success at the St Andrews Trillion Trophy Stadium, having taken 27 points from their 12 home matches – the second-best home record in Sky Bet League One.

In Matt Godden, they have a striker in red-hot form – the summer signing from Peterborough United has netted back-to-back hat-tricks in his last two outings to take his league total for the season to nine. Jordan Shipley and Zaine Westbrooke are regular goal contributors from midfield.

LAST TIME OUT
MK Dons made it back-to-back Sky Bet League One victories courtesy of an impressive 3-0 win over in-form Bristol Rovers at Stadium MK.

Rhys Healey opened the scoring with his third goal in as many games before Sam Nombe doubled the lead with a solo effort in the second half.

Substitute Kieran Agard put the finishing touches to the victory late on, as Russell Martin’s men moved out of the bottom three in Sky Bet League One for the first time since November.

Coventry City thrashed Tranmere Rovers 4-1 in their last Sky Bet League One outing, with striker Matt Godden netting a hat-trick for the second successive match.

Godden and Jordan Shipley gave City an early two-goal lead but Connor Jennings pulled one back before half-time.

Tranmere missed a penalty early in the second half and that proved crucial as Godden struck twice more to claim another matchball and secure victory for his side.

FIGHTING TALK
Russell Martin: “We're looking forward to this game. They're a really good side on really good form. They've had a formation change and come across a formation that works well for them. We respect they're a good side but we’re going there to try and win the game.”

Mark Robins: “It’s a tough game. Things have changed for them and Russell Martin has gone in and stamped his style on them, and they’ve picked up some good results. There’s no easy games as we know but it’s a chance for us to continue the good performances and try and get the three points.”

TEAM NEWS
MK Dons could hand debuts to Carlton Morris and Ben Gladwin, who have arrived at Stadium MK this week. Both players are eligible to feature in this afternoon's match and are expected to go into Russell Martin’s squad for the trip to the Midlands.

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In terms of injuries, Jordan Moore-Taylor remains the Dons’ only doubt. Martin expects the defender to return to action ‘in the next game or so’ and it remains to be seen whether that means today.

Coventry City have a clean bill of health ahead of this afternoon’s clash at the St Andrews Trillion Trophy Stadium.

Striker Matt Godden is in fine goalscoring form and is expected to lead the line while former Dons Liam Kelly and Kyle McFadzean will be pushing to play against their old club.

OFFICIALS
Carl Boyeson will be the man in the middle today.

The experienced official last took charge of the Dons back in November 2018 – their Emirates FA Cup tie with Grimsby Town at Blundell Park. That afternoon he produced four yellow cards.

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This season, Boyeson has refereed 17 matches, booked 44 players and given three their marching orders. He has also awarded four penalties.

Wayne Grunnill and Stephen Finch are the assistant referees while Thomas Harty is the fourth official.

HEAD TO HEAD
Dons wins: 4
Dons wins at the St Andrews Trillion Trophy Stadium: 0
Last Dons win: 2-0, 3 Dec 2019 (Stadium MK)
Biggest Dons win: 2-0, 3 Dec 2019 (Stadium MK)

Draws: 3
Draws at the St Andrews Trillion Trophy Stadium: 0
Last draw: 0-0, 19 Oct 2019 (Stadium MK)

Coventry wins: 4
Coventry wins at the St Andrews Trillion Trophy Stadium: 0
Last Coventry win: 1-0, 27 Jan 2018 (Stadium MK)
Biggest Coventry win: 3-1, 30 Nov 2013 (Stadium MK)

SKY BET ODDS
Dons win: 9/2
Draw: 14/5
Coventry win: 4/7

Click HERE for more Sky Bet odds!

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

FOLLOW IT LIVE
Tickets, which can now only be bought at the St Andrews Trillion Trophy Stadium ahead of kick-off, are priced at £20 adults, £15 seniors/under-22s and £10 under-18s while nurses and members of the armed forces can purchase tickets at a discounted rate of £15.

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 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 2pm.

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: Coventry City 1-1 MK Dons

Carlton Morris' debut goal earns MK Dons a point...

11 January 2020

Carlton Morris scored on his debut to earn MK Dons a point at promotion-chasing Coventry City.

Russell Martin’s men found themselves behind after just 51 seconds, courtesy of Sam McCallum’s half-volley, but earned a share of the spoils late on through Morris, who fired home a loose ball in front of the 897 travelling supporters.

The result sees the Dons move up one place in the Sky Bet League One table and maintain their three-point gap above the bottom three.

Boss Martin made one change from the side which beat Bristol Rovers on New Year’s Day, with Joe Mason replacing Sam Nombe up top. Morris and Ben Gladwin, signed in the week, were amongst the substitutes along with Jordan Moore-Taylor following his recovery from a knee problem.

His side, though, made the worst possible start as Coventry broke the deadlock inside the opening 51 seconds. A loose Dons pass out from defence fell kindly to Sam McCallum, who sent a ferocious half-volley past the outstretched arm of Lee Nicholls and into the bottom corner. 1-0.

The Dons almost produced an instant response but Marko Marosi, after being dragged out of his goal, managed to recover and block Alex Gilbey’s ball into the area.

Coventry had an opportunity to double their lead on 11 minutes, after a loose pass from David Kasumu led to a free-kick, five yards outside the edge of the area. Kasumu made amends, however, blocking Jordan Shipley’s effort from the set piece.

There was little in the way of action again until the half-hour mark when Nicholls got across to fingertip away a neat 18-yard strike from Shipley, which looked bound for the bottom corner of his net.

The Dons number one was called into action again, two minutes before half-time, to deny Shipley, who fired over from the resulting corner.

Martin’s men pushed late to reduce the arrears before half-time but weren’t able to test Marko Marosi in the Sky Blyes goal. In a bid to do so in the second period, Martin made a switch at the break, introducing Morris for his MK Dons debut in place of Kasumu.

Morris was involved early, and almost latched onto a Houghton through pass on 48 minutes – the midfielder’s ball, however, skid through to the goalkeeper.

His strike partner, Rhys Healey, then went agonisingly close with a left-footed try which flew just past the post. The in-form forward manoeuvred his way past three City defenders before trying his luck.

Healey threatened again with an effort that was blocked. The ball looped dangerously into the box but Mason, lurking, wasn’t able to pounce and Marosi came away with the ball.

At the other end, Coventry came close to a second through Matt Godden, who was a yard away from connecting with Fantaky Dabo’s low cross at the far post. Liam Walsh then blazed over from a free-kick, conceded right on the edge of the D.

On 62 minutes, Martin brought Sam Nombe off the bench with his second substitution of the game. He replaced Joe Mason up front.

Nombe and Morris were involved in a move down the left shortly after the former’s arrival and it resulted in McGrandles flicking a ball into the path of Brittain, who was just beaten to it by an alert Marosi.

Nicholls had to be on his toes moments later to keep out Godden, producing an excellent one-on-one stop to prevent the lead from being doubled. He replicated that save just 60 seconds later, this time to deny Max Biamou.

The Dons responded with Gilbey drilling in a low left-footed shot that was saved by Marosi. The Sky Bet League One Player of the Month almost produced a moment of magic minutes later, but after a stunning run into the area, he fired just wide from a tight angle.

That was Gilbey’s involvement, as he was forced off and replaced by Ben Gladwin – on for his MK Dons debut.

Before the number 8 could reach the dressing, though, he turned around to see his side draw level – and it was one of the debutants who got the equaliser.

Morris started the move with a driving run forward down the right, before playing in Nombe, who had made a run outside of him. Nombe fired in a low cross which was cleared only as far as Morris, who brought the ball under control before lashing home a debut goal. 1-1.

That set up a frantic final quarter of an hour, which saw both sides have opportunities to grab all three points. There were corners, free-kicks and efforts right up until the final moments, but neither outfit could muster a clear-cut chance to find the net.

A point it was, therefore, for Martin and his men to take back to Milton Keynes. They are back on the road this Tuesday evening, for a tough Sky Bet League One clash with Burton Albion.

MK Dons: Nicholls, Williams, Lewington (c), Walsh, Gilbey (Gladwin 73), Healey, McGrandles, Mason (Nombe 62), Houghton, Brittain, Kasumu (Morris 46).

Subs: Moore, Poole, Reeves, Moore-Taylor.

Goal: Morris (76)

Coventry City: Marosi, Rose, McFadzean, Kelly (c), Hyam, Walsh, Dabo, Godden, Westbrooke (O’Hare 60), Shipley (Biamou 61), McCallum.

Subs: Wilson, Mason, Allen, Bakayoko, Drysdale.

Goal: McCallum (1)

Booked: McCallum

Referee: C Boyeson

Attendance: 6,666 (897 away)

Milton Keynes Dons

Standings

Preview: Coventry City

Carlton wants more after debut goal

Duo make Dons debuts

Russ full of praise for character at Coventry

Extended highlights: Coventry City

Report: Coventry City 1-1 MK Dons

Carlton wants more after debut goal

Duo make Dons debuts

Russ full of praise for character at Coventry

Extended highlights: Coventry City

Standings

Fixture News

Carlton wants more after debut goal

Duo make Dons debuts

Russ full of praise for character at Coventry

Extended highlights: Coventry City

Fixture News

Carlton wants more after debut goal

Duo make Dons debuts

Russ full of praise for character at Coventry

Extended highlights: Coventry City