Fri Feb 05, 2016 8:44 am
Cardiff City Vs MK Dons: Match Preview
By Jamie Kemble
5th Feb 2016
Date and Time: Saturday 6th February
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium
Referee: Kevin Johnson
Cardiff look to continue their good form against a struggling MK Dons outfit who continue to flirt with relegation in their first season in the Sky Bet Championship. The Bluebirds have taken seven points from their last nine and are currently four points outside the top six.
Russell Slade’s men look to continue their re-established play-off push with a win against MK Dons on Saturday. Cardiff added to their ranks on deadline day, signing Leicester City and Wales wide-man/forward Tom Lawrence and former Odense Boldklub striker Kenneth Zohore, both are expected to be in the matchday squad on Saturday.
Cardiff won in their last outing, beating Huddersfield Town 3-2 away from home, making it two consecutive away wins. The fixture is the second of three very winnable fixtures before Cardiff host tricky opposition Brighton and then face even trickier opposition when they travel to title-chasing Middlesbrough.
MK Dons added to their squad on deadline day also, signing Cardiff City forward Alex Revell and former Cardiff City loanee Jay Emmanuel-Thomas on loan from QPR. Emmanuel-Thomas is likely to make his début but Revell won’t because of an agreement between Cardiff and MK Dons barring him from playing this weekend.
The Dons are currently twentieth in the Sky Bet Championship, just one point above the dreaded relegation zone. Karl Robinson’s men have lost three of their last five conceding thirteen goals but granted one of the fixtures was against current Premier League champions Chelsea.
In their last league outing, the Dons lost 3-1 away to Championship bottom-club Bolton Wanderers who face an uphill battle to stay in the league. Robinson’s men face a very tricky next few fixtures as they face Cardiff, Derby and Middlesbrough before hosting fellow Championship strugglers Bristol City.
Josh Murphy, on loan from Norwich City, tops MK Dons scoring charts with six goals. Former Cardiff player Nicky Maynard has four goals so far for the Dons and is expected to face his former club on Saturday.
Cardiff have already lost to MK Dons twice this season with both score-lines at Stadium:MK finishing 2-1 and Josh Murphy scoring the winner on both occasions, once in the League Cup in extra time and then late-on in the league fixture. The meeting is only the fifth competitive meeting between the two teams.
Fri Feb 05, 2016 10:26 am
Need to win this one. No excuses.