A look ahead to MK Dons' midweek trip to take on Notts County
Previewing MK Dons’ League Two game against Notts County, kicking off at 7.45pm.
Third plays fourth at Meadow Lane this evening when MK Dons take on Notts County in League Two.
Martin Paterson’s side sit just a place and a point behind Paul Warne’s, both vying for an automatic promotion spot heading into the festive period.
The Magpies were not in action over the weekend after they were beaten by Brackley Town in the FA Cup first round so were given a watching brief while Dons were in action, beating Oldham Athletic 3-1 to book their spot in the third round.
County are something of a mixed bag of late, with three wins, three draws (one of them resulting in the shoot-out defeat to Brackley) and two defeats.
Since Dons were beaten on September 20 at home by Accrington, they have lost just once in League Two, going down 2-1 to Bromley as they set their course for the top three. In their last eight, their only other defeat came in the dead-rubber Vertu Trophy clash against Swindon Town, with four wins, two draws and two defeats in that time.
Away form had been the backbone of Dons season until recently, but they have drawn two and lost one of their last three road trips, but came from 2-0 in games against Barnet and Tranmere to salvage those draws, and remain the second best side in the division on the road.
County meanwhile hold a decent record at Meadow Lane this term, beaten just twice on home soil in League Two, winning five and drawing twice.
Last season’s encounters between the sides were heavily weighted in favour of the Magpies, cruising to victories in both games, with a particularly comfortable 3-0 win at Meadow Lane in April. Prior to that though, Dons had not lost at the ground since December 2010. In the 20 meetings between the sides, Dons have claimed victory in 12 of them, with County only winning three times.
Once again, Dons will be overseen by a referee with predominantly National League experience, this time in the form of Aaron Farmer. Of his 17 outings this season, he has shown 65 yellows, four reds and awarded seven penalties. One of those games though was Dons’ Vertu Trophy defeat to West Ham U21s at Stadium MK. It will be his first time in charge of Notts County.
Wayne Grunnill and Stephen Wade will run the lines with Fourth Official Jack Forder-Hay.
Bookmakers Bet365.com have Dons at 17/10 to win the game, with home side County at 31/20 and 9/4 the draw.