A look ahead to MK Dons' FA Cup third round tie with Oxford United
Previewing MK Dons’ FA Cup third round clash against Oxford United, kicking off at Stadium MK at 7.30pm
The FA Cup third round clash between MK Dons and Oxford United is set to be an emotional one as both sides pay tribute to George Baldock.
The popular full-back was a product of Milton Keynes, but spent a year with the U’s on loan. He made 47 appearances for Oxford during two loan spells before returning to MK1 where he established himself as a regular in the Championship and League One.
A flourishing career at Sheffield United followed before heading to Greece to join Panathinaikos. But he tragically died in October 2024 at his home in Athens aged just 31.
For the first time since his passing, Dons and Oxford will pay tribute to Baldock ahead of the game in Friday night (kicking off at 7.30pm).
The sides have been plenty familiar with each other down the years, playing 13 times in the last ten years, most frequently as League One rivals. Oxford have won five of them to Dons’ four, with four draws. In the five games at Stadium MK, four of them have finished all square, with Oxford winning 2-1 in December 2021 – their only win in Milton Keynes.
It is Dons’ first third round appearance since 2020. In that game five years ago, Dons were beaten by Premier League Burnley at Turf Moor after a 1-1 draw, leading to a 4-3 penalty shoot-out win for the Clarets.
Meanwhile it is the fourth year in a row Oxford have been in the third round – though the last two have been via being in the Championship. Last season, they were beaten 3-1 by Exeter City, and 6-2 by Coventry City the year before.
Oxford have been without a manager since sacking Gary Rowett just before Christmas, and despite picking up a win on Boxing Day, beating Southampton 2-1, it is their only win in seven. Back-to-back defeats against Ipswich and Swansea leave them 23rd in the Championship.
Dons have had mixed fortunes over the Christmas period, picking up five points from a possible 12, with two stoppage time goals denying them points against Colchester and Chesterfield. It means they face their third round opponents fifth in League Two, given a watching brief over the weekend when the rest of the division play.
Referee Paul Howard will take charge of the game. In his 15 games so far this term, he has shown 43 yellows, a red card and awarded two penalties. Three times he has previously taken charge of MK Dons games, resulting in a win and two defeats - the most recent being the 3-1 loss on New Year’s Day to Plymouth in 2023.
He has overseen five Oxford games meanwhile, with two wins, two draws and a defeat for the U’s.
Assistant Referees Danny Jarvis and Matthew Sowerby will run the lines, with Fourth Official Aaron Farmer.
Bookmakers bet365.com have MK Dons at 9/5 to progress into the fourth round, with Oxford at 11/8 and 5/2 the draw after 90 minutes, with extra time and penalties to potentially follow.