mkdons.com details the storylines to follow heading into Tuesday’s clash at Stadium MK...
Three in a row
After making it back-to-back league wins for the first time this season at AFC Wimbledon, MK Dons will be out to secure a third straight success when they entertain Northampton Town on Tuesday evening.
The men from MK1last put three wins together back in the final month of the 2014/15 season, en route to their promotion from Sky Bet League One.
Robbie Neilson’s side will be confident of achieving that feat this Tuesday, given their recent run of form – they have won three out of their last four matches which ranks fifth amongst teams in the division over that span.
“We want to go on a run now,” the Dons boss said after Friday’s win at AFC Wimbledon. “We always aim to get seven points out of nine, but now we can go for nine out of nine.”
The curse of the former player
Everyone knows that when an ex-player returns to face their former club, they are a favourite to get on the scoresheet but how often does that actually occur?
Since the start of the 2013/14 season, 16 former Dons have netted in games against the men from MK1 – that list of players includes the likes of Izale McLeod, Sam Baldock, Stephen Gleeson and more recently Alex Revell and Rob Hall.
Tuesday’s visit of Northampton Town brings with it the possibility of four ex-Dons getting themselves on the scoresheet, with the aforementioned Revell, Academy graduate Daniel Powell, the long-serving Dean Bowditch and former loanee Chris Long all set for a return to Stadium MK.
Can Neilson’s side avoid the curse this week?
Injury boost
What has made the Dons’ recent run of form so impressive is that they’ve done so without the services of a number of key players.
Joe Walsh, Ethan Ebanks-Landell, Ed Upson, Peter Pawlett and Chuks Aneke have all missed time in recent weeks, while the likes of Osman Sow and Kieran Agard are still returning to full fitness after respective lay-offs.
Ebanks-Landell returned to the squad on Friday but will any others in the above list be available for selection come Tuesday night? Boss Neilson will provide an injury update in his pre-match press conference on Monday.
Three in three for Gboly?
Gboly Ariyibi has scored in each of the last two matches and has the chance to do something only two others players have done in the last four years – score in three successive games.
The winger has been in excellent form since arriving at Stadium MK and currently leads the scoring charts with five goals to his name in 11 appearances.
Should he net again on Tuesday then he’d join Benik Afobe and Patrick Bamford as the only players since 2013 to score in three straight games. Other players in the Dons’ history to do so include Izale McLeod, Clive Platt and Charlie MacDonald.
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Tickets for Tuesday's clash with Northampton Town are priced from just £10 adults and £5 under-18s. while under-12 Young Dons (Plus) members can still attend for FREE.
Supporters can upgrade to East Centre for a £5 premium, while a seat in clubRed is a £10 premium on the regular ticket price. Groups of 20 can book tickets at a discounted rate of £10 adults and £3 under-18s.
To book tickets click here, visit the Box Office or call 01908 622988.
