Match Preview: MK Dons

28 September 2018

Setting the scene…

Tranmere Rovers are back on the road on Saturday when Micky Mellon’s side make the trip to Stadium MK for a League Two fixture at MK Dons.

Rovers will be aiming to bounce back to winning ways in Buckinghamshire, following on from last weekend’s 1-0 home defeat to Newport County

Fraser Franks scored the only goal as the Exiles inflicted a first home defeat on Tranmere since their return to the EFL, a result that leaves Rovers 13^th in the league.

Saturday’s opponents have also returned to the fourth-tier, having suffered relegation from League One last term.

Following on from their first nine outings back in League Two, the Dons are 11^th in the division, a point adrift of the play-off positions.

Under the stewardship of new boss Paul Tisdale, MK have collected 14 points so far, and were held to a 1-1 draw at Yeovil Town on Tuesday.

The Dons season so far

After relegation back into League Two for the first time in a decade, MK will be hoping their stay back in English football’s fourth-tier is brief.

Following Dan Micciche’s departure, former Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale, who spent 12 years in charge of the Devon club, was appointed as the man tasked to take the Dons up.

MK are currently winless from their last four games, which has yielded draws with Swindon Town, Forest Green Rovers and Yeovil Town, as well as a late defeat away at table-toppers Lincoln City last Saturday.

Should they beat Tranmere and results go their way, MK could move into the top seven of League Two.

One to Watch

Kieran Agard has been leading the way in the goalscoring charts for MK Dons this term.

The Londoner turned professional with Everton in 2005, spending brief spells at Peterborough United and Scottish side Kilmarnock whilst on the books of the Toffees.

He left Goodison Park permanently in 2011, spending a season at Yeovil Town, finding the net six times in Somerset.

In July 2012, Agard signed for Rotherham United, enjoying success in a two year stay in South Yorkshire.

Scoring six goals as the Millers won promotion from League Two in 2012/13, Agard flourished the following campaign, with the striker on target 21 times in 46 games as Rotherham gained back-to-back promotions under, this time to the Championship, under the Wembley arch.

Dropping down a level that summer to sign for Bristol City, Agard’s 13 strikes saw the Ashton Gate outfit promoted to the Championship as League One champions.

In August 2016, he signed for MK Dons, and has 20 goals in 88 appearances at Stadium MK, including three this term.

The Referee

Officiating our game away at MK Dons will be Surrey-based referee Lee Collins.

This season, Collins has taken charge of two games, both in League Two - Stevenage’s win over Grimsby Town and Cheltenham Town’s win at Northampton Town, dishing out four yellow cards in those games.

Lisa Rashid and Stephen Brown will run the line while Paul Howard is the fourth official.

Collins last refereed Tranmere in January 2015, during our 2-1 win away at Exeter City.

Tickets

Tickets for Tranmere Rovers’ clash at MK Dons this weekend remain on sale.

We have been given an initial ticket allocation of 500 tickets with five pairs of wheelchair and carer tickets.

The SWA will be located in the North Stand Lower.

Prices are as follows:

Adult: £22.00

Senior (Over 65): £17.00

Under 18: £7.00

Carer: Free

All disabled supporters are charged as the age applicable.

Please note that there is no price increase on the day. However, we do encourage you to buy tickets in advance to avoid queuing at the away ticket booth and the turnstiles.

The away ticket booth is also cash only.

Match Coverage

If you aren’t planning to make the trip to MK Dons, then here’s how you can keep in touch with the action.

Full match commentary of the fixture will be exclusively available live from Stadium MK.

You can now sign up to Tranmere Rovers’ iFollow, which allows access to extended highlights and interviews with manager Micky Mellon and a player, after the game.

To sign up, click here

Alternatively, you can follow the action through our social media channels below, with full text coverage during the fixture, followed by a match report.

Twitter: @tranmererovers

Facebook: @trfcofficial

Instagram: @tranmererovers

Match Previews

Match Reports

Match Report: MK Dons 1-1 Tranmere Rovers

29 September 2018

Tranmere Rovers collected a well-deserved point on the road with a 1-1 draw at MK Dons. Rovers took the lead through winger Jonny Smith however, just before the half time whistle, Dons equalised courtesy of Chuks Aneke’s close range finish.

Rovers boss Micky Mellon made two changes from the last outing against Newport County, Cole Stockton and Jonny Smith stepping in for Dylan Mottley-Henry and Paul Mullin.

The hosts made a promising start at a sun kissed stadium:mk and created three goal scoring opportunities within the first ten minutes. The closest of these three opportunities fell to former Arsenal trainee Aneke who rattled the crossbar with a close range header after an initial good save from Scott Davies.

Rovers were looking sharp on the attack too and created a glorious chance to test Dons keeper Lee Nicholls after a wonderful chipped pass from Ollie Banks put Smith through on the right, but he was unable to get a cross into the box for an unmarked Stockton.

On the half hour mark, Connor Jennings found himself in space on the edge of the penalty box, after a smart flick down by James Norwood, but Rovers’ number 11 tried to trick the keeper with an outside of the boot shot, which flew over the cross bar.

Boss Mellon opted for a change in formation to 4-5-1 as Stockton played in attack alone and Norwood moved to the left, Jennings in centre midfield alongside Banks and Luke McCullough.

In the 36^th minute, Tranmere took the lead with a superb counter attacking move, finished off by Smith for his second goal in TRFC colours.

An excellent through ball from Norwood put Stockton through on goal and the striker raced through, only for his effort to be saved by Nicholls but Smith was on hand to follow up and tuck away.

However, Tranmere couldn’t take their lead into the half time break and in added time, Aneke equalised as he poked the ball home from just inside the six yard box after Rovers failed to clear a left wing cross.

The first opportunity of the second half came ten minutes after the restart as Alex Gilby headed narrowly over the cross bar after a good cross from right back George Williams.

Two minutes later, Rhys Healey struck a 25-yard effort towards the centre of the goal, but Davies was on hand to tip over the crossbar.

The first change for Rovers came in the 58^th minute, Stockton replaced by Sheffield United loanee Harvey Gilmour.

A fantastic travelling support of more than 750 were on the feet in the 62nd minute, applauding full back Adam Buxton as he struck a fantastic right footed drive from 20 plus yards out, only to be denied by Nicholls.

With 15 minutes left to play, great defending and goalkeeping from Manny Monthe and Davies combined prevented Aneke from scoring his second of the match from point blank range.

One minute later, Tranmere went on their own attack and Norwood had a half chance in the penalty box but couldn’t make a clean connection with the ball to cause any danger to MK.

Rovers were continuing to answer questions and finding openings in the home team’s defence and with eight minutes to go, Mottley-Henry came on for goal scorer Smith.

In the dying embers, Tranmere had a glorious chance to take all three points back to the Wirral. In acres of space at the back post, Jennings could only hit the side netting with a header.

Tranmere will be back in action on Tuesday evening against Lincoln City at Prenton Park. Tickets are still on sale, please visit www.trfctickets.co.uk.

Davies, Buxton, McNulty, Monthe, Norwood, Jennings, McCullough, Smith (Mottley-Henry 82), Stockton (Gilmour 58), Bakayogo, Banks. Ununused subs: George, Mullin, Caprice, Ellis, Cole.

Match Reports

Ticket News

MK Dons ticket details

24 September 2018

Tickets for our away game at MK Dons on Saturday 29th September are now on sale.

We have been given an inital ticket allocation of 500 tickets with five pairs of wheelchair and carer tickets.