Burkina Faso
Friendly Games
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia

MK Donsvs.Harrogate

sportsmole.co.uk, 26 January 2025, 20:02
Matchweek 29 of League Two will see struggling playoff hopefuls MK Dons welcome Harrogate Town to Stadium MK in midweek.

The Dons have picked up 35 points from their 26 games this season, leaving them 12th in the standings, nine points behind seventh-placed Bradford City, while the visitors are 19th with 29 points from 28 matches, eight points clear of the relegation zone.

Match preview

MK Dons' dreams of returning to the third tier have taken a hit following a recent slump that has seen them register just one win in their last nine outings.

Having halted a four-match winless streak - three consecutive defeats and a draw - with a 2-1 victory over Chesterfield, Scott Lindsey's side have since endured another similar run, with their latest result being a goalless stalemate against AFC Wimbledon on Saturday.

After finishing fourth last season, MK's hopes of an immediate return to League One were crushed by a humiliating 8-1 aggregate loss to Crawley Town in the playoff semi-finals, and this campaign has only added to their disappointment as recent struggles have dragged them further from that ambition.

The Dons' decline has largely been down to defensive frailties, with 18 goals conceded in their last nine encounters, keeping just one clean sheet in that time.

Despite their struggles, MK will aim to secure their first-ever league double over Tuesday's visitors, having claimed a resounding 5-1 triumph in the reverse fixture at Wetherby Road.

While Harrogate have lost two of their three meetings with the hosts, they can take encouragement from their only victory in this matchup - a 1-0 win at Stadium MK, which remains the only previous encounter at this ground.

However, Simon Weaver's side are not in the best of form, winning just two of their last 11 games in the fourth tier, including a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat at Doncaster Rovers in their most recent outing.

That result was particularly painful given their spirited second-half display, with Weaver stating in his press conference that his side, who conceded an 86th-minute strike from Harry Clifton, deserved "a point at least."

The Sulphurites are now winless in back-to-back encounters, having recorded a goalless draw at Colchester United before that defeat.

Harrogate's struggles on the road are evident this season, with their 13 points from a possible 42 placing them 17th in the away standings as they face a Dons side boasting the ninth-best home record with 22 points from 15 matches.

MK Dons League Two form:

D

W

L

L

L

D

Harrogate Town League Two form:

D

L

W

W

D

L

Harrogate Town form (all competitions):

L

W

L

W

D

L

Team News

Veteran defender Nathan Thompson, who joined MK from Stevenage last week, delivered a solid display on his debut against Wimbledon, helping the Dons keep their first clean sheet in nine games.

As a result, the 34-year-old could retain his place, continuing his partnership with Luke Offord and Nico Lawrence in the backline.

MK's top scorer in League Two, Alex Gilbey, who has nine goals, could feature again in an advanced midfield role alongside Daniel Crowley, behind striker Scott Hogan.

As for the visitors, left-winger James Daly and defensive midfielder Levi Sutton are both one booking away from suspension, having received four yellow cards each.

Ellis Taylor, who made his first start after two substitute appearances following a mid-November injury, could retain his place on the right side of midfield for this match.

Long-term absentees George Thomson (achilles) and Liam Gibson, who suffered a hamstring injury in the reverse fixture, remain sidelined, while Matty Daly is also doubtful, having missed the last three games.

MK Dons possible starting lineup:

McGill; Offord, Thompson, Lawrence; Tomlinson, White, Williams, Nemane; Crawley, Gilbey; Hogan

Harrogate Town possible starting lineup:

Belshaw; Bilongo, Moon, O'Connor, Sims; Taylor, Morris, Souton, J. Daly; Muldoon, March

We say: MK Dons 2-0 Harrogate Town

Both sides enter this encounter in poor form, with MK's defense a recent weakness, while Harrogate, having failed to score in four of their last six games, do not appear capable of exploiting it.

Written by

Adeyeye Oluwapelumi

Previews by email
Show more

Top News

9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal should not be considering any bids of under £100m for Real Madrid-linked William Saliba during the summer transfer window, Gunners expert Charles Watts feels. 9 May 2025 talksport.com Casemiro is keen to remain at Manchester United for the remainder of his contract, talkSPORT understands. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Xabi Alonso is expected to target Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen for Real Madrid in the summer transfer window according to reports. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly braced themselves for competition for Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Jonathan Tah, who is of interest to Newcastle United. 9 May 2025 talksport.com Steven Gerrard is being considered for the vacant Rangers job, talkSPORT understands. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to end a five-match league winless run and crack the top six of the Eredivisie table, Go Ahead Eagles will travel to take on PEC Zwolle on Sunday. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool centre-back Jarell Quansah has reportedly drawn interest from Premier League side Nottingham Forest, with a fee in the region of £29m thought to be enough to secure his services. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City midfielder Jacob Wright is closing in on a permanent transfer to Norwich City, according to the Championship club's sporting director Ben Knapper. 9 May 2025 talksport.com Mikel Arteta has confirmed Arsenal will give Liverpool a guard of honour as he hailed the 'fascinating' job Arne Slot has done at Anfield this season. 9 May 2025 talksport.com Superstar teenager Lamine Yamal revealed he would love to play at Anfield and Old Trafford. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk For the second week running, Bournemouth occupy a slot in Saturday's 5.30pm Premier League kickoff, where the Cherries will pit their wits against Champions League-chasing Aston Villa at the Vitality Stadium. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to boost their hopes of a top-three finish in the Eredivisie table, FC Utrecht will travel to take on FC Twente on Sunday. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Crystal Palace head coach Oliver Glasner has revealed that Adam Wharton is facing a race against time to be fit for the FA Cup final. 9 May 2025 talksport.com Tommy Widdrington will walk out at Wembley Stadium on Sunday after recovering from two strokes. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers is reportedly prepared to leave the club amid interest from Chelsea and Manchester City. 9 May 2025 talksport.com Barcelona can all but extinguish Real Madrid's LaLiga title hopes in the third and final El Clasico of the season this weekend. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal are reportedly seriously interested in signing Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz from Liverpool this summer. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool have reportedly made contact over a potential move to sign Rodrygo from Real Madrid this summer. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Besiktas will be aiming to break into the top three when they welcome bottom-placed Adana Demirspor to Tupras Stadium on Sunday. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk West Ham United are set to make a few defensive changes ahead of a trip to Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon to face Manchester United. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk A high-stakes relegation survival battle takes place in the Turkish Super Lig this weekend when Sivasspor hosts Bodrumspor on Sunday. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal are staring at a fourth straight defeat in all competitions, with the Gunners preparing to continue their Premier League campaign away to the champions Liverpool on Sunday afternoon. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are expected to name a strong team for the visit of West Ham United in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon. 9 May 2025 talksport.com Liverpool fittingly return to Anfield for the first time since becoming Premier League champions against rivals Arsenal this weekend. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to enjoy some domestic success before the end of the campaign, Manchester United welcome West Ham United to Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon. 9 May 2025 talksport.com Incoming Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso is interested in signing Dean Huijsen this summer, talkSPORT understands. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Top-eight hopefuls Brentford travel to Portman Road to take on already-relegated Ipswich Town in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Champions League-chasing Manchester City travel to St Mary's to face already-relegated Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Fulham welcome Everton to Craven Cottage on Saturday for an important Premier League fixture in their hopes of qualifying for Europe. 9 May 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Seeking a fourth straight home win at the expense of their visitors' European hopes, Wolverhampton Wanderers take on Brighton & Hove Albion in Saturday's Premier League battle at Molineux.