HEAD-TO-HEAD: Defenders return for Coventry City clash

'Dressing room leaders' Dean Lewington and George Baldock are back in contention to face Coventry City on Saturday after serving their two match suspensions.
George BaldockGeorge Baldock
George Baldock

The pair were booked in the 2-1 defeat to Millwall, earning them two-match bans, ruling them out of the games against Rochdale and AFC Wimbeldon.

Boss Robbie Neilson praise the returning duo, saying: "I'm delighted to get them back, we've missed them in the last two weeks. They're not only good players but good leaders in the dressing room. They can drive us forward and will put their bodies on the line. In this period, we have to make sure we keep our leaders strong and ready to go into the games."

In their absence though, teenager Ben Tilney has filled in in defence - his third and fourth league appearances of the season. And after Tuesday night's hostile atmosphere at the Cherry Red Records Stadium, Neilson has backed the 19-year-old to grow as he gets more game time.

Dean LewingtonDean Lewington
Dean Lewington

He said: "It was a really tough night for him, but he handled himself really well. He made a few mistakes, like everyone else did, but he's only going to grow from that experience.

"There will not be many bigger games, more important game he will play in, so now he's ticked that off. He's shown he can handle himself. Now he has to keep building."

But with the return of Lewington and Baldock, it is unlikely Tilney will keep his place for Saturday's visit of League 1's bottom club Coventry. Troubled City, under the new watch of Mark Robins who took over earlier this month, are 12 points from safety at the foot of the table, with no wins in their last five outings.

FORM GUIDE: MK Dons vs Coventry CityDons though, after the embarrassing defeat at the hands of AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday night are in similarly fraught form, picking up just six points from their last seven games.

Ben TilneyBen Tilney
Ben Tilney

The Sky Blues though have had the better of the encounters between the two sides over the years.

First meeting back in 2012, City have claimed three victories to Dons’ two, while the spoils have been shared twice.

Earlier this season, when the sides met at the Ricoh Arena, Ed Upson bagged a brace for Dons as they went on to win 2-1 - the first league win under Richie Barker’s tenure as caretaker boss.

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