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Kick off 19:00 (UK)

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20 April 2021 Venue Memorial Stadium Attendance

Kick off 19:00 (UK)

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English Football League - League One

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Match Previews

Preview: Bristol Rovers

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

20 April 2021

MK Dons will look to make it back-to-back Sky Bet League One wins when they take on Bristol Rovers tonight at the Memorial Stadium.

Russell Martin's men moved into the top half of Sky Bet League One with their 1-0 victory over Portsmouth on Saturday and have the opportunity to climb as high as ninth if they secure another three points in Bristol.

The Dons, who have very little to play for while sitting seven points adrift of the play-off places and mathmatically safe from relegation, will still want to end the season in a positive manner, and build momentum ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.

They could also complete a league double over an opponent for the first time this season, following their 2-0 triumph over Bristol Rovers back in December.

Kick-off is at 7pm.

THE OPPOSITION
Bristol Rovers currently sit 23rd in the Sky Bet League One table, six points adrift of safety with only four games left to play.

The Pirates appointed Joey Barton as their third manager of the season in February 2021 - the former Manchester City and Newcastle United midfielder succeeded ex-Dons boss Paul Tisdale, who spent less than three months in charge after taking over from Ben Garner.

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Bristol Rovers have won just two of their 12 matches since the start of March, with the only solace being that both of those victories were at the location of Tuesday's fixture - the Memorial Stadium, where they have won seven games in total this campaign.

Barton's side have scored the second fewest amount of goals in League One this season (40), with only Northampton Town (35) finding the net less. Midfielder Luke Leahy is their top goalscorer with eight goals, followed by Brandon Hanlan on seven.

LAST TIME OUT
Scott Fraser’s first-half penalty saw a dominant MK Dons performance rewarded with a 1-0 victory over Portsmouth at Stadium MK.

Fraser struck home the decisive goal late in the first half, following a foul on Ethan Laird in the area, and that proved to be enough for the Dons to beat play-off chasing Pompey, who were reduced to 10 men for the final nine minutes.

Bristol Rovers, meanwhile, were beaten 1-0 by play-off chasing Lincoln City at the Memorial Stadium.

Anthony Scully's 16th-minute goal was enough for the Imps, against a Rovers side reduced to 10-men after Ed Upson's first-half red card.

FIGHTING TALK
Russell Martin: "We’re under no illusions that it’s going to be tough. They are a different side to the one that came here. It will be tough under a manager who knows this division really well and who will want to make sure they stay in the league."

Joey Barton: "They’re an in and out side as the league table suggests. They dominate possession for most of the games that they’ve played in. They are a side that will give you opportunities but also can play some really good stuff and keep the ball for long periods if you’re not very cohesive in the way you want press them."

TEAM NEWS
MK Dons will be without Ben Gladwin for the remainder of the season after the midfielder underwent minor surgery.

Daniel Harvie, meanwhile, is waiting to learn the extent of the injury, sustained in training last week, that kept him out of Saturday's win over Portsmouth.

The pair join Warren O’Hora, Louis Thompson, Cameron Jerome and Kieran Agard on the sidelines but Jay Bird is back fit after five months out with a knee injury.

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Bristol Rovers have a trio of fresh injury concerns ahead of this evening's match, with Brandon Hanlan, Luke McCormick and Anssi Jaakkola all unable to train on Monday.

Former Dons midfielder Ed Upson won't play as he faces a three-match ban for a red card received in the defeat to Lincoln City.

Alex Rodman, Josh Grant, Sam Nicholson and Abu Ogogo are all sidelined too.

OFFICIALS
James Oldham will take charge of tonight's clash at the Memorial Stadium.

Mr. Oldham has overseen 28 matches this term, including the reverse fixture between MK Dons and Bristol Rovers back in December. He has produced a total of 76 yellow cards and sent off four players.

His assistant referees are Abbas Khan and Leigh Crowhurst, while the fourth official is Lee Swabey.

HEAD TO HEAD
Dons wins: 8
Dons wins at the Memorial Stadium: 2
Last Dons win: 2-0, 26 Dec 2020 (Stadium MK)
Biggest Dons win: 3-0, 1 Jan 2020 (Stadium MK)

Draws: 3
Draws at the Memorial Stadium: 2
Last draw: 0-0, 19 Nov 2016 (Memorial Stadium)

Bristol Rovers wins: 4
Bristol Rovers wins at the Memorial Stadium: 3
Last Bristol Rovers win: 2-0, 28 Oct 2017 (Memorial Stadium)
Biggest Bristol Rovers win: 1-0, 12 Oct 2019 (Memorial Stadium)

ELSEWHERE IN SKY BET LEAGUE ONE
Swindon Town v Portsmouth, 6pm
Accrington Stanley v Doncaster Rovers, 7pm
AFC Wimbledon v Oxford United, 7pm
Burton Albion v Lincoln City, 7pm
Northampton Town v Ipswich Town, 7pm
Rochdale v Blackpool, 7pm
Shrewsbury Town v Wigan Athletic, 7pm
Fleetwood Town v Crewe Alexandra, 7.45pm
Hull City v Sunderland, 7.45pm
Peterborough United v Gillingham, 7.45pm
Plymouth Argyle v Charlton Athletic, 7.45pm
 
FOLLOW IT LIVE
Supporters can watch tonight's Sky Bet League One clash with Bristol Rovers LIVE on iFollow MK Dons.
 
To purchase a £10 Video Match Pass, click HERE and select Buy A Video Match Pass. Then simply log in to your iFollow MK Dons account and follow the instructions or register for an account, which can be done for free.

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Match Reports

Report: Bristol Rovers 0-2 MK Dons

Dons go back-to-back in Bristol...

20 April 2021

MK Dons made it back-to-back victories thanks to a dominant 2-0 triumph away at Bristol Rovers.

Scott Fraser put the Dons ahead 17 minutes in when he slotted home after Will Grigg’s initial effort was saved.

Grigg then got himself on the scoresheet in the second, as Russell Martin’s climbed to tenth in the Sky Bet League One table.

MK Dons made just the one change from Saturday’s win at Stadium MK, as Josh McEachran replaced Andrew Surman in midfield.

They found themselves behind the Bristol Rovers backline inside the opening 90 seconds but Matthew Sorinola, who put the ball in the net, was flagged for offside.

Sorinola was involved again, on six minutes as he delivered a cross for Will Grigg, whose stabbed effort was deflected wide of goal. From the resulting corner, Ethan Laird fired over.

Bristol Rovers worked their way into the Dons box for the first time two minutes later but McEachran did well to deny Brandon Hanlan. That led to a corner, from which the Rovers striker wasted a terrific opportunity, firing straight at Andrew Fisher from 10 yards.

The Dons were in control, however, and they got a goal to reflect their dominance with 17 minutes played and it was from a familiar source.

After winning possession inside the Bristol Rovers half, Grigg played a one-two with Matt O’Riley before having a shot saved by Anssi Jaakkola. Jaakkola couldn’t hold the effort, however, and Fraser, alert to the loose ball, was able to slam home the opening goal. 0-1.

Martin’s men went in search of a second goal midway through the first half, with Dean Lewington trying his luck from distance – an effort which was blocked by the head of a home defender.

Fisher was forced into action just past the half-hour, getting down well to smother a dangerous low cross from ex-Don George Williams. At the other end, Sorinola went close with a deflected effort which landed just wide of the post.

With eight minutes to play in the half, Hanlan dragged an 18-yard attempt wide for the hosts. Moments later, Laird stung the palms of Jaakkola with a right-footed strike.

Sorinola was having a starring role on the left-hand side and he almost doubled the Dons’ lead late in the first half with a fierce effort which cannoned off the crossbar with Jaakkola beaten.

Early in the second, Luke McCormick threw himself in the way of Fisher’s clearance but, fortunately for the Dons, the ball landed off target. Leahy then went close with a left-footed shot which Fisher saw wide.

Grigg had the visitors first opportunity of the second – a first-time effort from Laird’s cross which was blocked. Sorinola also threatened goal from distance but his attempt sailed over the bar.

With their next effort on goal, on the hour, the Dons were able to double their lead and it was a welcome sight too, with Grigg on the scoresheet for the first time in over a month.

McEachran’s deep free-kick was kept alive at the far post by Jules and a mix-up inside the six-yard box presented MK Dons’ number six with a simple chance to score – one he didn’t pass up. 0-2.

A stunning block from Lewington prevented the home side from reducing the deficit straight from kick-off. The captain almost found himself on the scoresheet at the opposite end, but his low 25-yard drive skimmed just past the post.

Surman replaced Kasumu for the final 19 minutes. Soon after, Bristol Rovers sub James Daly went close to pulling a goal back but fired into the side netting.

Jaakkola prevented O’Riley’s cross-turned-shot from finding the far corner with a smart with less than a quarter of an hour to play. The Dons then made a double change, with Charlie Brown and Jordan Houghton replacing Grigg and McEachran.

Brown was involved instantly, setting up a chance for Laird who was unable to get a shot away deep inside the Rovers box.

Despite threatening, the Dons were unable to secure a greater margin of victory. They did, though, have Fisher to thank for ensuring the advantage finished at two – the goalkeeper securing his fourth clean sheet in six games, and a 2-0 victory, with a stoppage-time penalty save to deny Leahy.

MK Dons: Fisher, Lewington, Jules, McEachran (Houghton 81), Darling, Kasumu (Surman 71), Grigg (Brown 80), Fraser (Sorensen 90+2), Laird, O’Riley, Sorinola.

Subs: Nicholls, Mason, Bird.

Goals: Fraser (17), Grigg (60)

Booked: Sorinola, Kasumu, Fisher

Bristol Rovers: Jaakkola, Leahy, Hanlan (Oztumer 46), McCormick, Kilgour, Ayunga, Harries (Baldwin 46), Walker (Westbrooke 46), Rodman (Daly 70), Martinez, Williams.

Subs: Day, Hare, Tutonda

Booked: Rodman, Martinez, McCormick, Kilgour

Referee: J Oldham

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