mkdons.com details the storylines to follow heading into this Saturday’s Sky Bet League One fixture at Stadium MK…
Dan’s first win…
Dan Micciche is yet to pick up a win as MK Dons manager, something he’ll be looking to put right against Charlton this weekend. He’s certainly got the Dons playing attractive football, however, it’s the three points that have been missing.
The Dons were unlucky to lose against Coventry and Portsmouth, while in away games against Walsall and Oldham they were undone by a single goal. If Micciche can convert the performances into wins, his side will begin to escape the relegation zone.
Karl Robinson…
This weekend will be the third time that Karl Robinson has returned to Stadium MK since his departure from the Club in October 2016. He first visited MK1 as an opposition manager for an Emirates FA Cup replay in which his Charlton side were defeated 3-1.
On Boxing Day in 2016, Robinson’s side were 1-0 winners over the Dons thanks to an Ademola Lookman first-half goal. With both sides looking very different on paper since their last fixture at Stadium MK it’ll certainly make for interesting viewing this Saturday.
Robinson also has history with current MK Dons manager, Dan Micciche. The duo worked closely together and built a working relationship during Dan’s academy days. There will be no time for friendships on the touchline this weekend with Micciche eager for his first win.
Former Faces…
Robinson isn’t the only Charlton man that’ll come up against his former Club this weekend.
Ben Reeves signed for Karl Robinson’s side in the summer after spending four years with MK Dons. The midfielder featured over 130 times for the Dons, scoring 32 times.
Elsewhere, midfielder Jake Forster-Caskey, who turned out 23 times during two separate loan spells at Stadium MK, made his move from Brighton Hove Albion to Charlton Athletic in January 2017.
Injury situation
On Thursday, the Dons revealed the devastating news that midfielder Alex Gilbey will be sidelined for the remainder of the campaign and beyond after undergoing knee surgery.
He joins Joe Walsh and Scott Golbourne on the long-term injury list although there is hope that the latter may return before the end of the season.
While Micciche can't now rely on those three players, he will be hoping to get the likes of Chuks Aneke, Peter Pawlett and Osman Sow back as quickly as possible.
Will they make it back before the weekend? That all important team news will be revealed at 2pm on Saturday.
Finding the net…
With just one goal in their last four games, MK Dons will be looking to put their finishing woes behind them and get back to goalscoring ways this weekend. In his pre-Charlton press conference, Micciche said, “We're creating chances, which is the hardest thing to do in football. I back our front players and it's only a matter of time before they start putting them away."
He added, "If you look at the changes we're creating, I don't think there's another team in the league doing that. I think it's positive from that point of view."
With the likes of Kieran Agard, Ike Ugbo, Chuks Aneke, Marcus Tavernier, Aidan Nesbitt and Robbie Muirhead but to name a few, to call upon, it’s only a matter of time before the goals start flowing.
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Tickets for Saturday's clash with Charlton at the Stadium MK are priced at £22 adults, £17 seniors/under-21s, £8 for under-18s, meanwhile, under-12s go FREE with a Young Dons membership.
To book tickets click HERE, visit the Box Office at Stadium MK/centre:mk or call 0333 200 5343.
Tickets will be available to buy right up until kick-off.
