mkdons.com details the storylines to follow heading into the Boxing Day clash with Charlton Athletic at Stadium MK...
Continue to build the fortress
Robbie Neilson enjoyed a perfect start to life at Stadium MK, ending the Dons’ run of league games without a home win by securing a 1-0 victory over AFC Wimbledon.
That success was then followed up by an extra-time triumph over Charlton Athletic in the Emirates FA Cup, which means Neilson and his side will be in search of a third straight home win on Boxing Day – something they haven’t achieved since the back end of the 2014/15 season.
The festive fixtures with Charlton and Swindon Town next week are the Dons’ final two home clashes until near the end of January so with over three weeks between games at Stadium MK, Neilson will want his side to give the home support six points to celebrate and enjoy until that meeting with Northampton Town on the 21st of next month.
We meet again, again!
For the third time in as many weeks, the Dons will come up against their former manager Karl Robinson although despite that short amount of time, things have changed aplenty since the first meeting back at the start of December at The Valley.
The Dons, then manager-less, are three weeks into the reign of Robbie Neilson and there is a positive vibe around Stadium MK once again after the recent successes, as detailed above.
They are out of the bottom four and now have eyes firmly on the teams above and chasing down a place in the top-half of the table before then, hopefully, mounting a push for the more lucrative spots.
Charlton, meanwhile, will arrive in Milton Keynes in search of their first win under new boss Robinson who will, no doubt, be eager to claim that first success at his old stomping ground – a place where he won 147 games while sat in the opposite dugout to the one he’ll be taking his place in on Boxing Day.
It all makes for an interesting narrative to follow – typical of football to throw up such an intriguing story on one of the season’s most exciting occasions.
More Boxing Day delight
The Boxing Day fixture is one much-loved by football fans across the country but especially those supporters in Milton Keynes, whose side have a pretty impressive record in the traditional contest.
In 11 previous Boxing Day matches, the Dons have won eight, drawn once and lost just twice.
Memorable festive successes include a come-from-behind victory away at Notts County during which Jemal Johnson scored a 90th minute winner, a 4-1 thrashing of Stockport County and a convincing away 3-0 success at Leyton Orient where Dean Bowditch and Adam Smith both scored stunning goals.
Their most recent Boxing Day win came last season, when Nicky Maynard and a 90th-minute Josh Murphy strike earned the team a 2-1 win over Cardiff City at Stadium MK – that was, in fact, their first ever home win on Boxing Day.
Tickets for the Dons' Boxing Day clash with Charlton are priced at £22 adults, £17 over-65s/under-21s and £7 under-18s, while under-12s can go FREE with a Young Dons membership - Season Ticket holders can also bring two friends for £30.
To purchase tickets click here, visit the Box Office/centre:mk kiosk or call 0333 200 5343.
Robbie Neilson enjoyed a perfect start to life at Stadium MK, ending the Dons’ run of league games without a home win by securing a 1-0 victory over AFC Wimbledon.
That success was then followed up by an extra-time triumph over Charlton Athletic in the Emirates FA Cup, which means Neilson and his side will be in search of a third straight home win on Boxing Day – something they haven’t achieved since the back end of the 2014/15 season.
The festive fixtures with Charlton and Swindon Town next week are the Dons’ final two home clashes until near the end of January so with over three weeks between games at Stadium MK, Neilson will want his side to give the home support six points to celebrate and enjoy until that meeting with Northampton Town on the 21st of next month.
We meet again, again!
For the third time in as many weeks, the Dons will come up against their former manager Karl Robinson although despite that short amount of time, things have changed aplenty since the first meeting back at the start of December at The Valley.
The Dons, then manager-less, are three weeks into the reign of Robbie Neilson and there is a positive vibe around Stadium MK once again after the recent successes, as detailed above.
They are out of the bottom four and now have eyes firmly on the teams above and chasing down a place in the top-half of the table before then, hopefully, mounting a push for the more lucrative spots.
Charlton, meanwhile, will arrive in Milton Keynes in search of their first win under new boss Robinson who will, no doubt, be eager to claim that first success at his old stomping ground – a place where he won 147 games while sat in the opposite dugout to the one he’ll be taking his place in on Boxing Day.
It all makes for an interesting narrative to follow – typical of football to throw up such an intriguing story on one of the season’s most exciting occasions.
More Boxing Day delight
The Boxing Day fixture is one much-loved by football fans across the country but especially those supporters in Milton Keynes, whose side have a pretty impressive record in the traditional contest.
In 11 previous Boxing Day matches, the Dons have won eight, drawn once and lost just twice.
Memorable festive successes include a come-from-behind victory away at Notts County during which Jemal Johnson scored a 90th minute winner, a 4-1 thrashing of Stockport County and a convincing away 3-0 success at Leyton Orient where Dean Bowditch and Adam Smith both scored stunning goals.
Their most recent Boxing Day win came last season, when Nicky Maynard and a 90th-minute Josh Murphy strike earned the team a 2-1 win over Cardiff City at Stadium MK – that was, in fact, their first ever home win on Boxing Day.
Tickets for the Dons' Boxing Day clash with Charlton are priced at £22 adults, £17 over-65s/under-21s and £7 under-18s, while under-12s can go FREE with a Young Dons membership - Season Ticket holders can also bring two friends for £30.
To purchase tickets click here, visit the Box Office/centre:mk kiosk or call 0333 200 5343.
