Match Preview: Pompey v MK Dons

All you need to know about League One contest

16 December 2022

There will be a sense of déjà vu when Pompey take on MK Dons at Fratton Park on Saturday (3pm kick-off).

It is the second meeting between the League One sides on the south coast in the space of just three weeks.

The Blues came out on top in the first of those, with a 3-2 victory securing progress to the third round of the FA Cup.

Since then, their opponents have sacked manager Liam Manning, with the club sitting inside the drop zone and six points from safety.

It comes after he almost led the Buckinghamshire outfit into the Championship last term, missing out on automatic promotion on the final day and then losing to Wycombe in the play-offs.

Defender Dean Lewington has taken interim charge until a replacement can be found and oversaw Tuesday night’s Papa Johns Trophy exit at Bristol Rovers.

Fans will be hoping a permanent appointment is made in time for Tuesday night’s exciting Carabao Cup clash with top-flight Leicester at Stadium MK.

Pompey lost both of last season’s league meetings with the Dons, but three points this weekend could see them climb back into the top six at Christmas.

TEAM NEWS
Zak Swanson could return from a stomach problem, but Saturday’s game likely comes too soon for Tom Lowery (hamstring) and Louis Thompson (leg).

Kieron Freeman (calf), Joe Rafferty (stomach) and Jayden Reid (knee) all remain sidelined for Pompey.

Lewington will not feature for the visitors, as he requires surgery on a hamstring problem that has been pushed back to next week.

Darragh Burns – who scored in MK Dons’ cup defeat at Fratton Park – (ankle) and Joshua Kayode (knee) are also out.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Read the thoughts of Danny Cowley and Michael Jacobs ahead of the game.

HEAD TO HEAD
Overall
Pompey: 5 wins
MK Dons: 4 wins
2 draws

At Fratton Park
Pompey: 4 wins
MK Dons: 1 win
1 draw

OFFICIALS
Referee: Samuel Barrott
Assistants: Justin Amey and Kevin Morris
Fourth Official: Scott Williams

TICKETS
There is only limited availability, so act fast to secure your ticket online here or by visiting the Anson Road ticket office.

Please note that Saturday’s game is not covered by a half-season ticket, which start from the Ipswich fixture after Christmas.

Click here to read a guide on all the activities happening around Fratton Park this weekend.

Please be aware of the rail strikes taking place around the country on Saturday and plan your journey accordingly.

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 also 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 Sunday.

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

BETTING
Pompey are the 9/10 favourites with VBET to secure all three points, while the visitors can be backed at 14/5.

Click here to find a comprehensive list of odds for Saturday’s game. 18+. Please gamble responsibly.

We are committed to playing our part in ensuring our relationship with VBET is promoted in the right way to our supporters.

VBET are committed to endorsing safer gambling among its customers, as well as promoting the awareness of problem gambling and improving prevention, intervention and treatment. Click here to read about VBET’s responsible gambling policy.

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

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

LAST MEETING

Match Previews

Match Reports

Pompey 0 MK Dons 2

Long unbeaten Fratton run comes to an end

17 December 2022

Josh Koroma in action for Pompey against MK Dons at Fratton Park — Photo: Jason Brown/Pro Sports Images

There was little festive cheer to be found at Fratton Park as Pompey were beaten by struggling MK Dons.

They created the better chances before the break, but trailed to Bradley Johnson’s close-range header.

Josh Koroma had an effort controversially ruled out in the second half and Jack Tucker struck at the other end to condemn the Blues to a first home defeat since the end of January.

Danny Cowley made three changes from the side that were beaten on the road at Wycombe a fortnight earlier.

Denver Hume was handed a first League One start of the season, while there were also spots for Reeco Hackett and Josh Koroma.

Sean Raggett, Dane Scarlett and Ronan Curtis were the men to make way, with the trio all dropping to the bench.

Pompey came charging out of the blocks and had two chances to break the deadlock in quick succession.

A long throw from Marlon Pack caused chaos in the box and Denver Hume’s volleyed effort was spilled by Jamie Cumming, leading to an almighty scramble before the keeper could gather.

Then, just moments later, Koroma’s curler was parried by the stopper and the ball flew agonisingly out of reach for Owen Dale.

But the visitors began to keep possession well, passing the ball around nicely, without being able to carve out any openings.

And the Blues then started to regain control, leading to another couple of opportunities to take the lead.

A right-sided free-kick from Clark Robertson caught everyone out and the ball bounced off the top of the crossbar before being cleared behind.

The resulting corner was eventually worked to Koroma, whose cleanly-struck 20-yard effort had to be parried away by Cumming.

But instead it was MK Dons who went ahead with their first decent chance of the contest on 34 minutes.

A corner was worked to Conor Grant and he delivered a sumptuous cross that was nodded home by Johnson from just a couple of yards out.

Pompey tried to hit back before the break, but Pack could only glance a header over from Robertson’s corner.

Half Time: Pompey 0 MK Dons 1

The hosts looked bright immediately after the restart and were probing away in search of an equaliser.

Dale did whip a dangerous left-footed delivery into the mixer, but Koroma could not make a clean connection.

Pompey thought they had drawn level on 55 minutes, as Koroma raced onto Jay Mingi’s deflected pass and fired home.

The flag was instantly raised for offside, drawing ire from the home side, who complained that the ball had come off Dons defender Warren O’Hora.

Referee Samuel Barrott ignored their appeals, however, with the angry reactions earning bookings for Hackett and Cowley.

The visitors almost rubbed salt into the wound moments later and Josh Griffiths used his legs to deny Mo Eisa before O’Hora blazed the loose ball over.

Pompey were living dangerously, though, with Griffiths coming to the rescue again after Grant was sent racing through on goal.

But it was only a brief respite and Grant was left in space on the edge of the box to meet a corner, with his scuffed effort finding Tucker, who bundled the ball over the line.

Cowley responded with a triple substitution, as Mingi, Hume and Colby Bishop made way for Joe Morrell, Scarlett and Joe Pigott.

There was another attacking change soon after, with Michael Jacobs brought on to replace Michael Morrison.

Pompey were certainly committing plenty of men forward, although a stretching Scarlett could not quite get on the end of Koroma’s teasing centre.

And although they kept battling right until the end, the Blues were unable to find a route back into the contest.

Pompey (3-4-1-2): Griffiths; Morrison (Jacobs 75), Robertson (c), Ogilvie; Dale, Mingi (Morrell 68), Pack, Hume (Scarlett 68); Hackett; Bishop (Pigott 68), Koroma (Curtis 85)
Booked: Hackett, Dale, Ogilvie
Subs not used: Oluwayemi, Raggett

MK Dons (3-4-3): Cumming; Tucker, O’Hora (c), Jules; Watson, McEachran, Johnson, Harvie; Grant (Robson 87), Eisa, Holland (Barry 81)
Goals: Johnson 34, Tucker 64
Booked: Jules
Subs not used: Ravizzoli, Lawrence, Devoy, Dennis, Grigg

Referee: Samuel Barrott

Attendance: 17,426 (236 away fans)