Preview: MK Dons vs. Morecambe - prediction, team news, lineups

Meanwhile, the visitors' run in the FA Cup came to an end at the weekend as they went down 2-0 to Sheffield Wednesday.

Match preview

A couple of FA Cup giant killings took place in Saturday's first-round matches, but MK Dons ensured that no such shocks would occur in front of their own fans as they put six past non-league Taunton Town without reply in a ruthless display.

Substitute Conor Grant bagged a brace alongside fellow strikes from Mo Eisa, Darragh Burns, Will Grigg and Dawson Devoy in a professional display from Liam Manning's side, whose defensive acumen has been as impressive as their attacking prowess recently.

Now boasting two wins from their last three and a trio of clean sheets in that unbeaten run to boot, MK Dons return to EFL Cup action having beaten Sutton United in the first round before stunning Watford with a 2-0 success over the Championship club in round two.

The Dons suffered two successive first-round eliminations in the EFL Cup in 2020-21 and 2021-22 before advancing to the third round this term, but not since losing to Sheffield United in the last-16 in 2014-15 have the League One outfit gone further.

An all-League One FA Cup clash took place at Hillsborough over the weekend, as an out-of-sorts Morecambe suffered a first-round elimination at the hands of their more esteemed opponents in an in-form Sheffield Wednesday.

Goals from Josh Windass and Alex Mighten either side of the half-time whistle put the Shrimps to the sword as Derek Adams's men slumped to their fourth game on the bounce without victory, and it is now just one win in their last 10 matches for the struggling visitors.

However, as is the case with MK Dons, Morecambe also have recent experience when it comes to eliminating Championship-level opposition from the EFL Cup, beating Stoke City on penalties in round one before a 1-0 win on Rotherham United's turf in the second round.

That victory in August marks the last time that the Shrimps kept a clean sheet away from home, though, and they have never progressed beyond the third round of the EFL Cup, so neither history nor form is exactly on their side here.

Furthermore, MK Dons ran out 4-0 winners in the sides' first League One meeting of the season on August 27, which made it three games without a point or a goal against the Dons for Adams's men after another pair of defeats to the hosts last season.

MK Dons EFL Cup form:

W

W

MK Dons form (all competitions):

L

W

L

W

D

W

Morecambe EFL Cup form:

W

W

Morecambe form (all competitions):

L

W

L

D

D

L

Team News

Eisa returned from injury with a bang at the weekend with his goal as a substitute, and right-back Tennai Watson also enjoyed some minutes off the bench after recovering from a hamstring problem.

The hosts did not pick up any new concerns in the FA Cup, where Manning was able to bring Grigg, Louie Barry and Daniel Harvie off before the hour mark after naming a relatively strong XI.

Franco Ravizzoli enjoyed a start in goal over the weekend, but Jamie Cumming will be pushing to return here, while Grant and Zak Jules are also options for change.

Over at Morecambe, Jake Taylor, Ash Hunter and Max Melbourne are all expected to remain in the infirmary for the time being, and Courtney Duffus is still out for the long-term.

Jacob Bedeau was taken off at half time in the loss to Sheffield Wednesday, but the right-back's withdrawal was a tactical one as Kieran Phillips came on to little effect.

One change could potentially occur in attack either way, as Cole Stockton is pushing for inclusion in the first XI over Arthur Gnahoua.

MK Dons possible starting lineup:

Cumming; Jules, Lewington, O'Hora; Watson, Grant, McEachran, Harvie; Barry, Grigg, Holland

Morecambe possible starting lineup:

Ripley; O'Connor, Delaney, Rawson; Bedeau, Watts, Shaw, Weir, Gibson; Stockton, Connolly

We say: MK Dons 2-0 Morecambe

Buoyed by their thumping FA Cup success and enjoying the golden touch in defence in recent weeks, the stage is set for MK Dons to reach the fourth round of the EFL Cup.

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