HEAD-TO-HEAD: Reshuffle required to cover for Dons suspensions

Joe Walsh is suspended for the next two games.

Walsh picked up a first half booking at the Kassam Stadium, his 10th of the season earning him a two match ban, while Darren Potter's late foul on Rob Hall, giving away a penalty, earned him a red card and a match ban too.

Walsh's suspension in particular leaves Dons boss Robbie Neilson short at the back for Tuesday night's trip to Gigg Lane to take on Bury. After missing out on signing a defender on transfer deadline day, the manager said he'd be on the lookout for a centre back in the free transfer market.

And with Scott Wootton and Dean Lewington out injured, he may be forced to call on the services of teenage full-back Ben Tilney to cover, shifting George Williams to the centre of defence alongside the ever-improving Paul Downing.

Potter, who has worn the captain's armband in Lewington's absence recently, was caught out late in the day as Dons pressed forwards in a bid to rescue a draw against Oxford, downing Hall in the penalty area, earning him a red card and a suspension.

"We had to try and get something from the game," said Neilson. "We got caught and now he's suspended. You sometimes have to take those chances when you're trying to steal something from the game.

"It'll be a tough couple of games now, we'll have to shuffle the pack and give opportunities for people to come in."

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Bury picked up a vital win on Saturday, beating fellow relegation strugglers Swindon Town to move just a point from safety, but have been in torrid form, ironically, since their 3-1 thrashing of Dons at Stadium MK back in September.

Since that day, the Shakers have been on two seven-game losing streaks, and have won only two games, including a 5-1 hammering of Peterborough as their form appears to be on the up of late.

Neilson added: "It'll be tough, they got a good result at the weekend and are fighting for their lives. We're still trying to push ourselves up the league, but with a couple of suspensions."

Dons head to Gigg Lane having never lost there. Their last visit, back in 2012, saw Dean Bowditch bag a hat-trick in a 4-1 win, but they've also netted five against Bury, who have only beaten Dons twice in nine meetings.

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