MK Dons v FGR

[Chris FGR]

The two most popular clubs in the division.

We're still unbeaten. but keep drawing and looked pretty toothless v Port Vale last week. That was partly down to selection as we started with a formation that included 6 defenders. Might do the same on Saturday as we'll probably be under a fair bit of pressure, as Tisdale sides tend to attack and also usually do pretty well against us.

MK rightly one of the favourites, they've got a good budget, top manager at this level and a quality squad. Would definitely take a draw here.

Last seasons League Cup game was tight, went to extra time with lots of pretty football but no end product from either side. Probably part of the reason why both teams ended up struggling so much in their divisions.

Be nice for Lloyd James and Reuben Reid to get a reunion with Tisdale, both rate him highly apparently, especially James.

First time I'll have been to Stadium:MK, but have been to the bowl a fair few times so know the town a bit. Unlikely to be anywhere near as pissed so probably wont enjoy it as much. Especially if we lose.

 

[WhiteRussian]

If you are getting there early and want somewhere decent to drink the Red Lion in Fenny is nice. Friendly away pub and my local

 

[woburnsandsdon]

TBH, a lot depends on who we select up front. Other than Posh nobody in the league has come up against Chuks Aneke (he scored 2 V Posh) he's a beast and if he plays and stays fit, I would be amazed if we're not right up there, we also have Osman Sow coming back to fitness, upfront, what little we 've seen of him has been good.

Think this will be a tight affair, we have something we haven't had for a few seasons now though, strength coming off the bench - 2-1 to the Dons.

 

[Camdenite]

Can only echo the above re>pubs. Fenny Stratford is the place to go, or Stony Stratford if you have a designated driver. Stony has about as many proper pubs on the high street as you could ever expect from a small town. Used to be about fifteen when I was growing up and though it’s lost a couple, there’s still plenty of choice.

On a personal note, looking forward to this, my niece is a mascot for the day and so it’s a big family day. Hope she gets the win. It’s difficult to know whether they two week break (for the large majority of the startign eleven) will mean there’s a a few cobwebs to be blown away. I still think we’ll edge it though.

 

[Stripes]

I wonder if starting with six defenders last week was supposed to be a trial run with today in mind! Well we didn’t get away with it, but would not be surprised to see a similar approach employed today. I hope not because were a very good side when playing with the positive intention of winning games. Today will be difficult whatever, not writing us off by any means though.
Cooper's had a long week to dwell it, I just hope he doesn’t over think it, just go for it, get out there make a quick start as usual, and keep going!

 

[The Jovial Forester]

I'm more and more inclinded to give Cooper a bit of leeway even though I agree we set up too defensive last week. Overall I like the style and he's getting there. If he was any better he'd only leave
Suspect it will be our first loss today but if a fired up Tav and Grubb get on the pitch them and Reuben always give us a chance.

 

[Greenacres]

Kind of agree with the comments about the set up last week, it seems fairly obvious that sides come to TNL and are happy to go away with a point, as all four of our league opponents have so far this season. I would far rather see us take the approach that we used against Oldham, pressing hard in the first half, and don't think that all teams would be able to cope with it. It is odd that our two wins in the league have come away from home, maybe it is because our opponents have set up to attack us, but this has just created space for our pacy players to run into. Today will be a hard game, I expect MK Dons to be challenging for promotion, possibly bringing us down to Earth with a bump and the end of the unbeaten run.

 

[DippyDon]

Looking forward to the Cooper/Lewington match up again! We should win, but we need to start creating more chances fast with Lincoln on the horizon.

 

[The Jovial Forester]

Grubb starting probably just behind Reuben, more attacking than we were last week then.

 

[The Jovial Forester]

Lion's share of possession , not done a great deal with it then behind to a goalkeeping howler dropping a ball over the top. Argh.

 

[DippyDon]

We threw that. As much possession they had they never looked like scoring until the penalty. Fuck sake

 

[Stripes]

Look forward to match accounts, the stats look well in our favour, but we'll take a point, as usual!

 

[DippyDon]

Look forward to match accounts, the stats look well in our favour, but we'll take a point, as usual!

As much as the stats favour you the only time you truly threatened Lee Nicholls was the penalty

 

[Stripes]

As much as the stats favour you the only time you truly threatened Lee Nicholls was the penalty

That would fit the recent pattern, from what hear that would be true of yourselves too?

 

[Greenacres]

At least we were awarded a penalty, first of the season, and came from behind to draw the game...rather than the other way around. Eight games unbeaten in the league, pretty happy with that tonight.

 

[Chris FGR]

Dominated possession, limited MK to virtually nothing apart from a gift from Sanchez. On balance of play should probably have won, although we didn't create much we did threaten more in the second half when we had Reid, Campbell, Williams and Archibald all on. MK seemed happy to sit 9 men behind the ball and let us pass it sideways in front of them, with just Aneke up top by himself to run the channels and hold it up when they broke on us.

Draw a decent result here, but we need to turn more of this possession into goals. Can clearly see we're missing a striker, as you'd expect with Doidge going at the last minute.

Cracking set up btw.

 

[Luke Imp]

FGR the early challengers to Morecambe's 19 draws last season.

 

[FGR Stroud]

Terrific stadium and lovely people.
Very impressive. The seats were the best ever that I've sat in. And a great view of the pitch.
However it is too big for a 4th tier team. No atmosphere although both set of fans were giving it their all. That will not help MK's promotion push.

At end of game I had mixed emotions.
I was disappointed not to have taken all three points - FGR totally dominated match from start to final whistle
but
Relieved to have gained one point. We struggled to equalise after conceding goal despite peppering their goalkeeper with plenty of shots on target. MK will probably feel it was an needless penalty to concede: the ball has heading away from goal into a safe area. But it occurred during a very intensive period of play in goalmouth area.

Goalkeeper Lee Nicholls was undoubtedly MK's MoM.
He had a very good game - his positioning was perfect for the entire 90 minutes.

 

[Franchisor]

Considering their numbers, thought the Forest Green fans yesterday were some of the loudest visiting supporters we've had in a while.

Both teams set up to not lose, and no surprise it was a bit of a dull game in the end.

 

[WhiteRussian]

Terrific stadium and lovely people.
Very impressive. The seats were the best ever that I've sat in. And a great view of the pitch.
However it is too big for a 4th tier team. No atmosphere although both set of fans were giving it their all. That will not help MK's promotion push.

That's what you get when your stadium is built with a host of other uses in mind. One of the ways of getting the council onside was the prospect of concerts, international matches in football and rugby and other money bringing in schemes (FFS we host an international Jehovah's Witnesses meeting there!). For the football point of view a redevelopment of the old hockey stadium would have sufficed.

As to the match - too teams that draw all the time and neither have lost this season results in a draw, what a surprise. We need to start winning or we are going to get dropped by the leaders.

 

[Camdenite]

Far from our best yesterday. FGR would have been gutted not to come away with at least a point.

They lay off affected us in mind, despite what the boss and players say. We just looked as though we hadn’t got any tempo to our play. We had the better chances, and in truth Nicholls was barley tested but our inability to go on and put a game to bed is hurting us.

FGR look a solid play off bet on that performance.