The next part of our season rewind takes us back to January, a month where the Dons’ FA Cup campaign took centre-stage.
Saturday 1st January: Notts County 1-2 MK Dons – npower League 1
MK Dons bounced back from two successive defeats to beat Notts County 2-1 and give themselves the perfect start to 2013.
Darren Potter headed home new signing Ryan Harley’s free-kick early on before Daniel Powell prodded in a second on 13 minutes to give the Dons a two-goal lead.
The Magpies, though, pulled a goal back after the break from the penalty spot after Shaun Williams fouled Alan Judge – Jamal Campbell-Ryce the man converting from 12-yards.
County striker Lee Hughes then wasted two golden opportunities to equalise late-on as Karl Robinson’s side held on for an important three points.
MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin; Chicksen, Kay, Williams, Lewington (c); Potter, Harley; Powell, Bowditch (Smith 45), Balanta (Kouo-Doumbe 65); Lowe (MacKenzie 90).
Subs not used: McLoughlin, MacDonald, Alli, Ismail.
Goals: Potter 6, Powell 13
Booked: None
Sent off: None
Attendance: 5,325
League position: 6th
Saturday 5th January: Sheffield Wednesday 0-0 MK Dons – FA Cup Round 3
MK Dons earned an FA Cup replay against Championship strugglers Sheffield Wednesday after a goalless draw at Hillsborough.
Despite the difference in Leagues, Karl Robinson's side had a number of chances to win the third-round tie, with striker Shaun Williams going closest in the 85th minute.
The Dons started brightly and threatened early on when Lowe broke clear and forced goalkeeper Stephen Bywater into a save.
The Dons midfield was running the game, but the Owls could have gone ahead when Chris Maguire's cross just evaded the onrushing Kieran Lee, before the same player brought a save out of David Martin moments later.
Sidibe had the first chance of the second half, but the on-loan Stoke striker decided to pass rather than shoot when well placed.
The match lacked a spark, but MK Dons took control in the closing stages with Harley having a long-range shot deflected behind before firing over from six yards with 10 minutes remaining.
Williams also went close to winning it for the visitors, forcing Bywater into a good save, before going even closer when his shot hit the post.
MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin; Chicksen, Kouo-Doumbe, Kay, Lewington (c); Potter, Williams; Ismail (Alli 67), Smith (MacKenzie 71), Harley; Lowe (Rasulo 90).
Subs not used: McLoughlin, Galloway.
Goals: None
Booked: None
Sent off: None
Attendance: 11,462 (1,185 away)
League position: N/A
Saturday 12th January: MK Dons 1-1 Bury – npower League 1
MK Dons were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw at home to Bury in their first home game of the calendar year.
The Dons bossed the opening stages and deservedly took the lead when Dean Bowditch cut inside from the left to curl home.
Shakers captain Steven Schumacher then pulled his side level by hooking a bouncing ball over his shoulder in from 15 yards.
Both sides had chances to win it in the second half; Lenell John-Lewis firing wide for the vistors while striker Izale McLeod, making his ‘second debut’ for Club, missed from six yards.
MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin; Chicksen, Kay, Williams, Lewington; Potter, Harley; Powell (Ismail 79), Lowe, Bowditch; McLeod (Smith 78).
Subs not used: Otsemobor, Kouo-Doumbe, MacKenzie, Alli, Rasulo.
Goals: Bowditch 15
Booked: Powell, Bowditch
Sent off: None
Attendance: 7,384
League position: 6th
Tuesday 15th January: MK Dons 2-0 Sheffield Wednesday - FA Cup Round 3 replay
MK Dons reached the fourth round of the FA Cup for the first time in their history after goals from Shaun Williams and Dean Bowditch helped them to a 2-0 replay victory over Sheffield Wednesday.
Despite an even first half, it was the Dons who took the lead courtesy of Shaun Williams’ penalty following Lewis Buxton’s foul on Dean Bowditch.
Bowditch then doubled the Dons’ lead in the second half when his free-kick on the left-hand touchline, was embarrassingly for the visitors, allowed to bounce in untouched.
Karl Robinson’s side should have added a third late on when Williams found an unmarked Lowe 10 yards from goal but the striker mishit his effort.
The reward for the Dons was a clash away at Premier League Queens Park Rangers, who beat West Bromwich Albion in their third-round replay.
MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin; Otsemobor, MacKenzie (Kouo-Doumbe 72), Kay, Lewington (c); Potter, Williams; Powell (Alli 88), Smith, Bowditch (Chicksen 78); Lowe.
Subs not used: Harley, Ismail, Rasulo.
Goals: Williams (pen) 28, Bowditch 75
Booked: Kay
Sent off: None
Attendance: 6,786
League position: N/A
Saturday 26th January: QPR 2-4 MK Dons – FA Cup Round 4
The Dons provided a memorable Cup upset as they cruised past Premier League side Queens Park Rangers to book a place in the last 16 of the England’s most prestigious competition.
Karl Robinson’s side stunned the hosts when, after just four minutes, Rangers defender Armand Traore sliced into his own net from a corner under pressure from Dean Lewington.
QPR, who had a strike from DJ Campbell disallowed for offside in the opening minute, then fell further behind when Ryan Lowe pounced on Anton Ferdinand’s mistake to cooly slot past Rob Green.
The Dons were then left rubbing their eyes in disbelief when loanee Ryan Harley tapped home a third from close range after some good work from Lowe down the right flank before Potter, incredibly, made it four six minutes later after some poor QPR defending from a set-piece.
Bobby Zamora’s introduction helped stem the tide as he set up Bothroyd’s close-range header with Fabio’s stoppage-time strike from inside the six-yard box reducing the deficit further on an otherwise landmark day for MK Dons.
MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin; Otsemobor, MacKenzie (Harley 20), Kay, Lewington (c); Potter, Williams; Bowditch (Alli 90), Smith (Lines 75), Chicksen; Lowe.
Subs not used: Kouo-Doumbe, Rasulo, Ismail.
Goals: Traore o.g. 4, Lowe 40, Harley 50, Potter 56
Booked: None
Sent off: None
Attendance: 17,801 (3,000 away)
League position: N/A
Tuesday 29th January: Yeovil Town 2-1 MK Dons – npower League 1
Paddy Madden’s brace condemned the Dons to their first defeat of 2013, just three days after their impressive win over Premier League QPR.
On a rain soaked night with high winds and a very heavy pitch, Madden overcame the elements better than most and scored twice as Yeovil leapfrogged the Dons in the League 1 table.
Madden put the Glovers ahead midway through the first half, sweeping in from Kevin Dawson's pull-back before the Dons drew level when Anthony Kay headed home Ryan Harley's corner.
The defender was then sent off for clashing with Madden off the ball with the Irishman making the numerical advantage count soon after with a nodded finish to secure the points.
MK Dons (4-2-3-1): Martin; Otsemobor (Smith 80), Kay, Williams, Lewington (c); Potter, Harley (Kouo-Doumbe 65); Bowditch, Lowe (Lines 31), Chicksen; McLeod.
Subs not used: Flanagan, Baldock, Ismail, Alli.
Goals: Kay 35
Booked: McLeod
Sent off: Kay 63
Attendance: 3,152
9thLeague position:
