Milton Keynes Dons v Plymouth Argyle

MK Dons v Plymouth preview

MK Dons boss is after a Boxing Day bounce-back

Robbie Neilson insists that despite the recent run of results, MK Dons must remain as they prepare for a crucial Boxing Day clash with Plymouth Argyle.

Neilson’s Dons fell to a 2-1 defeat at Rotherham United on Saturday and will want to return to winning ways on Tuesday afternoon when they entertain an Argyle outfit who have turned their fortunes around in recent weeks.

“We’re on a disappointing run but we have to continue fighting,” Neilson said after Saturday’s loss at the AESSEAL New York Stadium. “It’s been a difficult period but we’ve got to stay positive.

“My job as the manager is to come back in, work hard and get the team ready for Plymouth. We’ll be in [on Sunday] and we’ll be in on Christmas Day to ensure we are ready.”

“It’s a massive game for us as they all are at this stage of the season. The Christmas period is very important and we want to pick up as many points as we can. We haven’t picked up any here [in Rotherham] so we have to make sure we do that on Boxing Day.”

MK Dons hope to have Scott Golbourne available for the Boxing Day visit of Plymouth.

Golbourne, on loan from Bristol City, missed the 2-1 defeat to Rotherham on Saturday with a hip injury but may be fit against Argyle. Alex Gilbey could be handed a start after coming off the bench at the New York Stadium following his recovery from injury.

Ousseynou Cisse was also on the bench at Rotherham and is pushing to start but Callum Brittain is expected to miss out.

Plymouth are likely to be without Aaron Taylor-Sinclair for the trip. The left-back has a hamstring injury which saw him miss Saturday's 4-1 win over Oldham and he is again struggling.

That should mean Gary Sawyer remains at left-back with Oscar Threlkeld staying on the right. Midfielder Antoni Sarcevic and striker Nathan Blissett are set to return to training on Christmas Eve but will be doubtful.

This will only be the fourth ever league meeting between these two sides, with MK Dons winning the reverse fixture back in September at Home Park, 1-0.

On their only other meeting at Stadium MK, the Green Army ran out 3-1 winners against an MK Dons side featuring Champions League winner Dietmar Hamann among the substitutes back in January 2011.

Plymouth have only lost one of their last nine Boxing Day clashes away from home (W5 D3), however that defeat did come the last time they were on their travels the day after Christmas Day, 2-0 against Newport County.

MK Dons have won eight of their last 10 Boxing Day league games, losing the other two.

MK Dons Manager

Robbie Neilson said he is under pressure as MK Dons manager, but says slipping within three points of the League 1 relegation zone on Saturday hasn't changed that.

Dons' struggled to come back after throwing away an early lead against Rotherham on Saturday, with two goals in nine minutes from Semi Ajayi and Will Vaulks turning it around for the Millers.
While Dons couldn't match the performance levels shown against Shrewsbury and Scunthorpe, it was a poor showing from Neilson's side - one which saw them drop to 19th in the table, just three points outside the drop zone.

Neilson admitted he is under pressure as Dons boss, but said he is always under pressure to perform, and still has faith in his squad.

"As a manager, you're always under pressure," he said. "My job is to come in tomorrow and get the team ready for Plymouth. I'm excited about the next few games, heading back to Stadium MK.

"I have great belief in this team. We showed in the last few weeks the positives are there and we're progressing. But come today we lose a bad goal and we're back there again. We've got a huge game at home to Plymouth now and we've got to win it.

"It's a disappointing run, with a lot of frustrating draws. We've had performances that have been good, we've not seen games out, we haven't won them but it's a part of football. We're still progressing, but there's a lot of work to be done in January.

"We're not in too bad a position and we're still fighting to get up the league. We've shown flashes today and certainly in the last few games we're able to compete at the top end of the league."

Neilson, now more than a year into his tenure at Stadium MK, said he is in regular contact with chairman Pete Winkelman, who understands the difficult period Dons are going through. But far from discussing his future, the pair are in talks of how to improve the team in the January transfer window.

He said: "I speak to the chairman all the time. We're starting to gear up about the January window. It has been a difficult period, but if you look at Scunthorpe and Shrewsbury - two tough teams at the top of the table - we getting pats on the back but we didn't get what we deserved. Now we've come to a team who have dropped out the Championship and for the first period we dominated.

"There is progression - yes we'd like to have progressed more than this but we haven't. It's time to go forwards again.

Points in the bag already. Argyle are showing top of the table CCC form now should be able to brush all opposition aside.
Unreal Wombles 4 Akkeron 14.

Car parking news

Limited parking is available on the Stadium MK site at a fee of £7. Spaces can be pre-booked, just as they can for a park and walk option which is priced at £5 - click HERE to book!

Matchday spaces for blue badge holders are limited and must be pre-booked via the Box Office in person by emailing [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] or calling 01908 622901. The Club cannot guarantee an on-site parking space for blue badge holders who have not pre-booked but drop-off/pick-up points are available outside Gates 2, 4 and 7.

Car parking is also available for £5 at Castle House on Dawson Road. Supporters should be aware that these car parks are not officially run by the Club, but we are pleased to highlight all parking options for matchdays.

Drop-off/pick-up is permitted at gates 4 and 7 as well as outside hotel reception, although collection outside hotel reception will be limited post-match to allow for egress of pedestrians and movement of the visiting team coach.

A taxi rank is provided at the Pick Up Point at Gate 7.

Patrons should park considerately in the industrial areas surrounding the stadium and NOT in the parking areas of the nearby retail and trade outlets, or in areas signed as privately owned (such as Granby Trade Park) where there is a risk of clamping.

No football parking is permitted at the Asda store adjacent to the stadium site or at the MK1 retail park. A Parking Charge Notice of £60 will be issued for cars identified as parking for football or those exceeding the two-hour parking period.

Matchday bus service
The MK Dons Matchday Bus service provides fans in Milton Keynes and the surrounding areas with an easy and affordable way to travel to and from Stadium MK on a matchday.

There will be two routes running, which will include pick-ups in Aylesbury, Leighton Buzzard, Wing and Buckingham, as well as three stops in Central Milton Keynes.

Fare & Routes [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Red dot bar

The red dot bar will open from midday. Away supporters welcome.

The Premier League fixture between Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton will be shown on the TV from 12.30pm.

Outside concessions
A burger van and Pick 'N' Mix stall are situated outside the stadium between Gate 6 (Cowshed) and Gate 7 (Family Area).

Inside concessions
The 360 degree open-top concourse means you are full view of the pitch when ordering hot and cold drinks and snacks from either the kiosks or carts.

Products on offer at Stadium MK include burgers, hot dogs – available from carts – and pies, while cold drinks such as Pepsi, Tango, Drench, Fruit Shoot and water are available.

The Dons also have a number of meal deals available, including a hot dog and drink for £6 from the carts, as well as a £3 hot drink and chocolate bar bundle.

Don’t forget, Season Ticket holders are entitled to 5% discount on concourse food and drink at Stadium MK. This excludes confectionary, crisps, sweets and promotional offers. This offer is not available in the away end or clubRed.

As part of the Club’s Inclusive Pledge, the Dons offer an in-seat service for all disabled supporters during the first half of the match.

Bars
The red dot bar will be open from midday. Away supporters are welcome.

Inside the ground, the Cowshed and East Centre bars will be open, serving local Concrete Cow real ale among others.

Alcohol will be on sale in the away section until 3pm.

The real wimbledon.

I will be there

Has Wimbledon moved ?
I guess some think brand franchise and ownership more important than location and people. Might as well support a burger, and drink Chesterfield champagne. Tribe is such a movable feast for some. Can't wait for A38 Argyle Gulls.

There is always vegan heaven at Forrest Green Rovers - good on them, probably won't be that long before we play them after Jimmys investment in January.

MK v Argyle
Last 5 - DLDDL v WLWDW

Form table 10 games
MK 9 points (1 win and 6 draws)
Argyle 18 points (5 wins 3 draws)

1-1

I could be wrong, but haven't Forest Green always played at Nailsworth ? Somewhat different to MKD, the franchise keyholders.  
I can't imagine the non meat thing catching on in footy circles somehow. Chalk and cheese.

Will be interesting if Del boy goes for another best foot forward first half. The stars are lighting his path at the moment, so no reason why not.

One change for this game Jervis in for Lameiras

Elias wrote:

The real wimbledon.

I will be there

Wimbledon is in south London matey

Tgwu wrote:

One change for this game Jervis in for Lameiras

Official or are you suggesting....??

harvetheslayer wrote:

Tgwu wrote:

One change for this game Jervis in for Lameiras

Official or are you suggesting....??

Suggesting,

Tgwu wrote:

harvetheslayer wrote:

Tgwu wrote:

One change for this game Jervis in for Lameiras

Official or are you suggesting....??

Suggesting,

Fair enough although general concensus was Reuben played well. Unless anyones injured cant see Adams changing the team

Out of interest Argyle were 16/1 on Sky Bet yesterday for Argyle to finish the season in positions 1-12.....my lads had a nibble at those odds

Can see Afc Akkeron getting another 3 points, 0-2.

From Argyle web page

Argyle Keen to Get One Back at Milton

WHEN, in the aftermath of the Pilgrims’ 4-1 dismantling of Oldham Athletic, Ryan Edwards talked about ‘owing one’ to Milton Keynes, it was not a grudge-bearing remark.

Rather, the Argyle centre-back was recalling the painful Sky Bet League One defeat inflicted by the Pilgrims’ Boxing Day opponents earlier in the season.

Like most of Home Park in early September, Ryan left the ground embittered that the Pilgrims’ considerable efforts to pull back Aidan Nesbitt’s goal, which itself came against the run of play, had come to nothing.

The resent was heightened by the fact that Argyle’s strenuous unrewarded efforts had come from ten men after Graham Carey had been sent off with an hour of the match still to play.

The Pilgrims’ chances were numerous and included a free-kick from Nadir Ciftci that hit the crossbar, but the goal they felt they deserved just would not come.

Looking to redress the balance, they head to a venue at which they have never lost. Indeed, where they have a 100% win record and have scored three times in every victory.

The Pilgrims have visited Stadium MK just once before, in January 2011, when Argyle were on their way to relegation from League One and Milton Keynes boasted the best record in the division.

Boosted by Rory Fallon’s return from a loan to Ipswich, they won 3-1 with goals from three players who, up until that point, had not managed one between them all season.

They were all stunners, too.

Defender Onismor Bhasera opened the scoring with a quality strike that Kari Arnason topped to double the advantage doubled the advantage before dear old Baz put the ball in the net again, this time past his own goalkeeper, David Button.

It was left to another breathtaking goal, from Arnie’s midfield colleague Chris Clark, to give Argyle the breathing space they needed to see out the win.

Milton Keynes’ win at Home Park earlier in this season’s campaign kicked off a run of four victories in six matches for the Buckinghamshire side. Since that came to an end, however, they have not enjoyed the best of form.

Apart from knocking non-league Maidstone out of the FA Cup, the last time they won was on November 11, when they beat Fleetwood Town 1-0 at Stadium MK. In the matches which have followed, they have drawn at home against Southend United (1-1) and Shrewsbury Town (1-1) in Sky Bet League One, and lost 4-0 to Chelsea’s youngsters in the Checkatrade Trophy.

On the road, they have drawn league games at Charlton Athletic (2-2) and Scunthorpe United (2-2), as well as losing at Doncaster Rovers (2-1) and Rotherham United (2-1), last time out.

Going further back, though, the Fleetwood victory ended a run of five winless league matches, including a 4-1 defeat by Bradford City at Stadium MK and home draws with Walsall (1-1) and Oldham Athletic (4-4), meaning they have won only one of their last 12 League One games, and lost five.

Argyle’s draw at Rotherham United in their last road-trip, thanks to the home side’s injury-time equaliser, brought to an end a run of three consecutive away defeats across three competitions (Portsmouth 1-0, League One; Yeovil Town 2-1, Checkatrade Trophy; Bradford 3-1, FA Cup).

Before that, they had gone three unbeaten league games on the road (1-1 v Blackburn Rovers; 1-0 v Wimbledon; 1-0 v Bradford) so they have picked up eight of their ten away points this season in their last five away matches.

Overall, they have suffered just two defeats in their last 11 matches, and one of those came when they were reduced to ten men.

Got a draw written all over it, that'll do for me.

Les Miserable wrote:

Got a draw written all over it, that'll do for me.

yep agreed any result but defeat is good today

Tgwu wrote:

One change for this game Jervis in for Lameiras

Shame for Reuben if it happens he played alight on saturday.

Yep no reason to change a winning team bar injury

Cum on u Akky Aces!!! still think the Aces will get dicked but i've been wrong before

I feel a win coming.

Earwegoagain wrote:

I feel a win coming.

odds were generous at over 3/1

Just settled down next to the radio and poured a cider all ready for an excellent win.
COYG