While the mountain MK Dons has to climb in the second leg of the play-offs, there are a few good reasons to have hope heading into the game at Stadium MK this Saturday.
Mike Williamson’s men were thoroughly beaten 3-0 in the first leg on Tuesday night by Crawley Town, but that is by no means the biggest margin a team has had to overcome to reach Wembley.
1. Division Three - 1994 - Torquay vs Preston North End
Preston suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat at Plainmoor in the opening leg of the Division Three play-offs in 1994. But back at Deepdale, Preston, featuring former Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth, turned it around to win 3-1, with Paul Reynor scoring the winner in extra-time to send them to Wembley | Getty Images
2. Division Two - 1998 - Northampton vs Bristol Rovers
With 46 minutes played in the first-leg, Northampton were 3-0 and and heading for the exit. But a late John Gayle goal pulled one back for the Cobblers, before brilliant 3-0 win back at Sixfields sent them to Wembley | Getty Images
3. League Two - 2020 - Cheltenham Town vs Northampton Town
Making their second appearance on this list, Northampton overturned a 2-0 deficit against Cheltenham Town away from home in the pandemic. Losing 2-0 at home, the Cobblers made a brilliant comeback at Whaddon Road to win 3-0 | Getty Images
4. Division Two - 1996 - Blackpool vs Bradford City
Trailing 2-0 after being beaten at Valley Parade, Bradford City were two up in the return leg at Bloomfield Road before Mark Stallard's winner with 12 minutes to go | Getty Images