Match Preview: MK Dons v Pompey

All you need to know about League One contest

6 April 2023

Pompey will hope to start the Easter weekend in style when they make the Good Friday trip to MK Dons (3pm kick-off).

With a Fratton fixture against Morecambe to follow on Monday, it gives John Mousinho’s men a chance to keep up their late push for a play-off spot.

Both of those sides are occupying positions at the wrong end of the table, although the Blues’ first opponents can approach the game in confident fashion.

The Dons have spent much of the campaign in the League One drop zone, with Liam Manning sacked as head coach in December.

And his replacement Mark Jackson has guided them above the dreaded dotted line in recent weeks, courtesy of a four-match unbeaten run.

That includes successive 1-0 victories over fellow strugglers Cambridge, Accrington and Morecambe before last Saturday’s 2-2 draw at a Wycombe team chasing the top six.

It means that the Buckinghamshire outfit have climbed to 19th position and are five points clear of danger.

There have already been two meetings between the sides this season – with both taking place at Fratton Park.

Reeco Hackett’s strike and a brace of Colby Bishop penalties saw Pompey triumph 3-2 in the second round of the FA Cup, but MK Dons hit back to win 2-0 in the league the following month.

TEAM NEWS
Ronan Curtis (knee), Jayden Reid (knee) and Zak Swanson (groin) are all still sidelined for Pompey, while Reeco Hackett (knee) is a doubt.

Joe Pigott is available again after completing a three-match ban, while John Mousinho confirmed last week that Clark Robertson’s substitution against Forest Green was only due to cramp.

The home side are expected to be without Sullay Kaikai (hamstring) and Warren O’Hora (foot) over Easter.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Read the thoughts of John Mousinho and Matt Macey ahead of the game.

HEAD TO HEAD
Overall
Pompey: 5 wins
MK Dons: 5 wins
2 draws

At Stadium MK
Pompey: 1 win
MK Dons: 3 wins
1 draw

TICKETS
Pompey fans can secure their seats online here or by visiting the Anson Road ticket office until 4pm on Friday.

They can also be purchased from the away ticket booth (near gate three) at Stadium MK on the day of the game.

OFFICIALS
Referee: Carl Brook
Assistants: Alex James and Damith Bandara
Fourth Official: Nicholas Cooper

MATCH COVERAGE
Supporters at home and abroad can watch the contest live by purchasing an iFollow match pass and visiting the match centre.

Domestic iFollow subscribers can enjoy audio commentary from Andrew Moon and Guy Whittingham as usual, but will need to purchase a match pass if they want to watch the game.

Click here for more information about using iFollow on a matchday and click here for information on downloading the app, so you can access content on your mobile device.

We will have updates throughout the game on Twitter and the match centre. You can also see behind-the-scenes content on our Instagram story.

There will be post-match reaction on the website and our official YouTube channel, with highlights to follow on Saturday.

Local listeners can hear commentary by tuning in to either Express FM or BBC Radio Solent (not available online).

ALSO IN LEAGUE ONE
All games kick-off at 3pm

Accrington v Port Vale
Bristol Rovers v Charlton
Burton v Barnsley
Cambridge v Fleetwood
Exeter v Bolton
Forest Green v Derby
Ipswich v Wycombe
Lincoln v Cheltenham
Morecambe v Plymouth
Oxford v Sheffield Wednesday
Shrewsbury v Peterborough

MEMORABLE MEETING

Match Previews

Match Reports

MK Dons 1 Pompey 1

Ogilvie on target as Blues play more than half the game with 10 men

7 April 2023

Connor Ogilvie scores for Pompey at Milton Keynes Dons — Photo: Jason Brown/Pro Sports Images

Pompey held on to secure a Good Friday point at MK Dons, despite playing more than half the game with just 10 men.

Easter is often described as a movable feast – and the visitors’ fortunes certainly shifted in the first half.

They took the lead through Connor Ogilvie’s well struck volley, only for Joe Morrell to be sent off following an altercation in the Blues box.

Mo Eisa slotted home the equaliser after the break as the Dons poured forward, but they could not break down a stubborn defence again.

John Mousinho made two changes from the side that beat Forest Green on home soil the previous week.

Marlon Pack – who wore the captain’s armband – and Di’Shon Bernard were both handed first starts in almost two months.

Ryan Tunnicliffe and Clark Robertson dropped to the bench, where they were joined by the returning Joe Pigott and Reeco Hackett.

The game got off to a lively start and the home side had an early chance when Morrell brought down Eisa on the edge of the box.

He dusted himself down to take the free-kick, hitting a curling effort that was pushed around the post by a diving Matt Macey.

Pompey then had a chance of their own, as Sean Raggett made a firm connection with Michael Jacobs’ corner, only to send his header into the arms of Jamie Cumming.

They did break the deadlock on 14 minutes, however, thanks to an unlikely combination between two defenders.

A free-kick was played to Raggett and he whipped in a fine cross that was volleyed into the bottom corner by OGILVIE.

The large travelling faithful were making plenty of noise behind Macey’s goal, but the action started to fall flat.

MK Dons were passing the ball around nicely, but lacking any end product and Daniel Harvie and Conor Grant both wasted decent openings.

But the hosts were given a lift late in the first half, as the Blues were controversially reduced to 10 men.

Morrell tussled with Harvie on the turf from a Dons corner and referee Carl Brook called the Pompey man over to display a red card.

It left the Welsh midfielder and everyone associated with the Blues stunned, but they managed to see out the final few minutes before the break.

Half Time: MK Dons 0 Pompey 1

Mousinho made a change at the break, with Jacobs sacrificed for Robertson and the visitors switching to a back three.

But Macey was quickly called into action, diving full length to the right to turn Jack Tucker’s long-range strike around the post.

And the hosts remained on the attack, aiming to pin their opponents back deep inside their own half in search of a leveller.

Pompey were looking solid at the back, but struggling to maintain possession when they were able to break clear.

And their lead was wiped out on 65 minutes after a corner was worked to Paris Maghoma on the edge of the box.

His effort was blocked, but the ball fell for Eisa to drill in a low shot that Bernard could not stop from crossing the line.

There was more frustration for the visitors when Colby Bishop became the fourth player to be booked by Brook, for a foul that warranted no more than a free-kick.

MK Dons were looking to ramp up the pressure again and the impressive Raggett did well to get his face in the way of a Harvie effort.

Mousinho then added fresh legs to his midfield, with Tom Lowery making way for Tunnicliffe in the engine room.

The Blues were able to see out the closing stages with relative ease – and might even have snatched a stoppage-time winner.

Pack’s pass was laid off by Bishop for Pigott – on as a late substitute – to curl in a shot that clipped the top of the bar.

MK Dons (3-4-3): Cumming; Stewart (Grigg 55), Tucker, Lewington (c); Watson, Maghoma, McEachran, Harvie (Jules 90+5); Leko, Eisa, Grant (Holland 62)
Goals: Eisa 65
Subs not used: Ravizzoli, Lawrence, Devoy, Johnson

Pompey (4-3-3): Macey; Rafferty, Raggett, Bernard, Ogilvie; Lowery (Tunnicliffe 78), Pack (c), Morrell; Dale (Pigott 90+2), Bishop, Jacobs (Robertson 46)
Goals: Ogilvie 14
Sent off: Morrell
Booked: Ogilvie, Pack, Raggett, Bishop
Subs not used: Oluwayemi, Thompson, Hackett, Scarlett

Referee: Carl Brook

Attendance: 11,395 (4,171 Pompey fans)