Grimsby Town travel to Stadium MK for their second away fixture of the Sky Bet League Two 2018-19 season as they face MK Dons tomorrow (7.45pm).
Michael Jolley will be hoping for a similar performance to Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Lincoln City, while Paul Tisdale’s side will be looking to continue their unbeaten start in the league.
The Dons will be looking to return to League One at the first time of asking, following last season’s relegation from English football’s third tier, and they have started the 2018-19 campaign encouragingly.
They started the season with two-straight League Two wins over Oldham and Bury before beating League One side Charlton Athletic 3-0 to knock the Addicks out of the first round of the Carabao Cup.
And they continued their unbeaten run with a 0-0 draw at Crewe Alexandra last weekend, but experienced defender Mathieu Baudry was sent off for the Dons, and will miss their clash with the Mariners tomorrow.
Transfer activity
There has been plenty of movement at Stadium MK, with Tisdale bringing in 10 new additions to strengthen his side ahead of a promotion push in 2018-19.
Their key summer signings are arguably 24-year-old centre-half Jordan Moore-Taylor, who followed manager Tisdale from previous club Exeter City this summer, and 30-year-old defender Mathieu Baudry who joined after a two-year spell with Doncaster Rovers.
The Dons also made investments for the future as they brought in 24-year-old left-back Mitch Hancox from Macclesfield Town, 22-year-old central-midfielder Jordan Houghton from Premier League outfit Chelsea, and 22-year-old defender Baily Cargill from Bournemouth.
Other notable signings include 33-year-old forwards Ryan Harley and Robbie Simpson, who also joined Tisdale and Moore-Taylor in the switch from St James Park, and 25-year-old Barnet midfielder Ryan Watson.
But the Dons lost 26-year-old centre-back Scott Wootton to League One side Plymouth Argyle, and 28-year-old centre-midfielder Ed Upson to Bristol Rovers.
And the Dons also released ex-Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker, after the 34-year-old ex-Aston Villa and West Ham player signed a short-term deal at Stadium MK at the end of last season.
Ones to watch
The Dons have plenty of talent and strength in depth in their squad, with more than 30 players in their ranks, and Tisdale will be hoping that can benefit his side as they aim to immediately return to League One.
Centre-forward Kieran Agard will arguably be the Dons’ most dangerous threat to Town tomorrow, as the striker will likely play in the middle of a front-three.
The 28-year-old converted a penalty in the Dons’ opening-day 2-1 win over Oldham, and he will be hoping to get back on the scoresheet against Town tomorrow.
The 5ft10ins nippy striker has found the net 23 times in 98 appearances for the Dons, including eight goals last season, and he will be hoping to add to his tally tomorrow.
Skilful midfielder Alex Gilbey is an all-rounder in the centre of the park, who likes to get involved in creating play and making things happen for his side, but also doesn’t shirk a challenge.
The 23-year-old, who signed from Wigan Athletic last summer, scored three goals in 28 appearances for the Dons in an injury-hit campaign last term, and will be hoping for more game-time and goals this season.
Highly-rated defender Jordan Moore-Taylor could prove a difficult nut to crack for the Mariners attackers tomorrow as Town look to find the net against a side who have only conceded twice in the league this season.
The 24-year-old came through Exeter City’s youth ranks and scored eight goals in 160 league appearances for the Grecians between 2012 and 2018 before moving to the Dons this summer.
It will make for an interesting match as the Mariners clash with MK Dons for the first time in over a decade tomorrow night, and Town will be looking to kick-on from the excellent performance in Saturday’s draw with Lincoln.
