MK Dons are the visitors to The Envirovent Stadium this weekend for Town’s final home game of the 2023/24 season, a fixture which plays host to the club’s Supporter Thank You Day.
And Simon Weaver’s side will be looking to finish on a high as they come into the game on the back of a four game unbeaten run at home, extended last week with the 2-2 draw against Sutton United.
Our opponents
After relegation last season following a five year spell in League One MK Dons have rebounded well, securing their place in the playoffs after pushing the top three sides hard over recent months.
It wasn’t all plain sailing as an inconsistent start to the season saw the departure of Graham Alexander after the former Salford boss had only taken charge in the summer. Mike Williamson arrived from Gateshead and has engineered progress over the season, winning 19 of his 34 games in charge so far.
Coming into the game they are in fourth spot and require two points from the final two games to secure that position heading into the playoffs. On the road they have won 10 of 22 games this season.
Earlier this season
In the first ever meeting between the two sides at the end of September a Warren O’Hora own-goal proved to be the difference as Town came away with all three points with a 1-0 victory.
The man in charge
Mike Williamson has been in charge since mid-October, taking charge after the club went eight games without a win.
Williamson had previously been in charge of Gateshead, his first managerial job, guiding the club to promotion from National League North and into a strong position in the National League.
Williamson also earned the manager of the month award in December after posting a 100% record during the month.
During his playing career he made over 400 appearances, predominantly for Newcastle United and Wycombe Wanderers.
Ones to watch
Max Dean leads the scoring charts this season with 14 goals and has shone over the second half of the season.
Midfielder Alex Gilbey has eleven goals and has contributed on a further ten goals whilst Joe Tomlinson has seven goals and six assists.
Jack Payne has also had an impressive season in midfield on loan from Charlton Athletic whilst Stephen Wearne has settled well at the club after following Mike Williamson from Gateshead.
History
The club was founded almost twenty years ago following the relocation of Wimbledon FC to Milton Keynes, spending two seasons in League One before relegation to League Two.
The club were promoted to League One at the end of the 2007/08 season, also winning the Football League Trophy, spending seven seasons at that level before being promoted to the Championship. However, the club spent just one season in the second tier before dropping back down.
They were then relegated to League Two at the end of the 2017/18 season before bouncing back under Paul Tisdale at the first attempt. However, a poor start to the season saw Tisdale replaced by Russell Martin, who engineered a spell of success where the club challenged for the playoffs. Following his departure for Swansea the club were relegated at the end of last season.
The club moved to their current stadium, Stadium MK, in 2007.
Team news
Simon Weaver is close to having a fully fit squad to choose from, the only absentee being Liam Gibson who suffered a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury during the warm up vs Sutton.
