Milton Keynes Dons face a key League One fixture away at Blackpool on Tuesday night. The match at Bloomfield Road pits the 18th-placed Dons against their 20th-placed hosts, with just one point separating the sides in the league table.
Alex Gilbey opened the scoring in the 25th minute before Aaron Collins sealed the points with a 79th-minute penalty. That result halted a run of four league games without a win, which included a heavy 5-1 home defeat to Reading.
Their form in cup competitions has been stronger, with convincing wins over Brentford U21 and Crawley Town in the EFL Trophy. Milton Keynes Dons have taken nine points from their opening nine league matches, scoring 11 goals but conceding 16. They sit 11 points behind leaders Bradford City. The Dons' next fixture after this trip is a home game against Stevenage.
Opposition and venue
Blackpool, managed by Neil Critchley, are directly below the Dons in the table with eight points. They lost 1-0 away at Cambridge United in their last league outing. Like their visitors, they have found goals easier to come by in the EFL Trophy, drawing 2-2 with Crewe Alexandra earlier this month. The Seasiders have struggled for consistency, with their only league win since August coming against Burton Albion.
The fixture will be played at Bloomfield Road with a 7:45pm kick-off on Tuesday. Blackpool have won two of their four home league games this season.
Head-to-head history
Recent meetings between the clubs have been tight. Blackpool won the last two league encounters 1-0, in March 2021 and October 2020. The Dons' last victory came in September 2019, a comprehensive 3-0 away win. The last six clashes have produced two wins for each side and two draws.
Both teams fielded strong lineups in their most recent matches. For the Dons, the win over Luton featured a back three of Dennis, Ekpiteta and Goode, with Collins and Nombe leading the attack. Blackpool's last starting XI included the experienced Williams and Honeyman. The Dons will assess their injury list ahead of the trip, with defender Jack Tucker a doubt after missing the Luton game.
With the table so congested, a positive result for either side could provide a significant lift. Milton Keynes Dons will be aiming to build on the momentum from the Luton victory and secure back-to-back league wins for the first time this season. The match kicks off at Bloomfield Road on Tuesday, 20 October.
