mkdons.com details the storylines to follow heading into Saturday's Sky Bet League Two clash with Macclesfield Town at the Moss Rose...
Five in a row?
Paul Tisdale’s side will go in search of their fifth straight victory when they take on Macclesfield Town at the Moss Rose.
MK Dons beat Crawley Town 1-0 last weekend to extend their winning run to four games - a run which has also included triumphs over Newport County (twice) and Carlisle United.
This is the Dons’ longest stretch of successive wins since 2015 when they won five-in-a-row between a 3-0 victory over Fleetwood Town and that memorable 5-1 success at home to Yeovil Town, which sealed promotion to the Championship.
Can Tidsale’s side match that run on Saturday?
Ready to pounce
MK Dons’ excellent run of form has kept them within touching distance of the automatic promotion places in Sky Bet League Two.
They are just two points adrift of third-place Mansfield Town while they are now five behind second-place Bury with a game in hand, following the Shakers’ draw with Cheltenham Town in midweek. Leaders Lincoln are seven points ahead of the Dons but do still need to visit Stadium MK.
Tisdale’s team will be hoping to manage their own business at the weekend and be in a position to pounce should one of the sides above them drop points.
Lincoln entertain Yeovil Town at Sincil Bank on Friday evening while both Mansfield and Bury are on the road - the former visit Port Vale with the Shakers taking on Stevenage in Hertfordshire.
Clean sheets racking up
Courtesy of their third shut-out in four games, the Dons have now tallied 15 clean sheets this term.
How does that rank? The Club’s best-ever total is 22 during the 2014/15 promotion-winning season while their second-best tally is 20, which has been achieved twice (2007/08 and 2012/13).
Should Tisdale’s team avoid conceding at the weekend they would move level with the Dons’ clean-sheet total from the 2008/09 and 2011/12 campaigns, which are tied for fourth-best.
Hat-trick hero earned a recall?
David Wheeler was the star of the show in midweek as MK Dons beat Plymouth Argyle 5-0 in a top-of-the-table Central League South clash in Devon.
The Queens Park Rangers loanee scored a hat-trick and won a penalty against the Argyle, and that will do his chances of returning to the starting XI the world of good.
Robbie Simpson and Stephen Walker will also be pushing for playing time this weekend after finding the net against Plymouth while goalkeeper Lee Nicholls also contributed to the win by keeping a clean sheet.
Any defensive re-enforcements?
Russell Martin returned from injury last weekend to ease the Dons’ injury worries at the back but boss Tisdale still remains without four defenders.
George Williams, Jordan Moore-Taylor, Baily Cargill and Mathieu Baudry are currently sidelined and it remains to be seen whether any of the quintet - other than Williams, who is a long-term absentee - will return for the weekend.
Tisdale may provide an update when he meets with the media on Thursday for his weekly press conference.
Macclesfield’s Moss Rose record
In the Dons’ way on Saturday are a Macclesfield Town side who fighting for their EFL survival but one who boast a strong record on their own patch.
The Silkmen have lost just one of their last nine matches at the Moss Rose, a run during which they’ve won four times and taken points off the likes of Colchester United and Tranmere Rovers - two play-off contenders.
Sol Campbell’s side have also scored in all-but-four of their home league fixtures this season, with striker Scott Wilson leading the way. The 26-year-old has netted in each of his last three appearances at the Moss Rose.
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Tickets for Saturday's Sky Bet League Two clash with Macclesfield Town are available in both standing and seated areas, with prices starting from £15 adults, £12 seniors/under-25s, £6 under-18s and £3 under-12s. Full prices can be found below.
Official Away Travel is available for this fixture, with coach spaces priced at £21 Season Ticket holders/members and £22 all other supporters. Coaches will depart Stadium MK at 10.30am.
To book tickets/travel click HERE, visit the Box Office at Stadium MK or call 0333 200 5343. Tickets will be available to buy from MK Dons until 5pm on Friday 8th March. Please note, only terrace tickets will be available to buy online.
