Milton Keynes Dons v Reading FC: Match Preview

Milton Keynes Dons

Form (all comps): LDDLW

MK Dons will be without suspended defender Anthony Kay. Kay begins a three-match ban on Saturday following his red card in the 5-0 home defeat by Burnley so either Joe Walsh or Matthew Upson will play alongside Kyle McFadzean at centre-half. Rob Hall has impressed in a more central attacking role recently, so Milton Keynes manager Karl Robinson may be tempted to start Hall down the middle and Dean Bowditch out on the right. Daniel Powell is pushing for a start on the opposite wing while midfielder Jake Forster-Caskey will hope to make his second full debut after rejoining the Dons on loan last week.

After taking a hammering at home to Burnley on Tuesday night where the Dons lost 5-0, Karl Robinson will be looking for his side to bounce back when Reading come to town on Saturday afternoon. MK Dons are struggling in 21st place and have only won twice in their last ten matches. Both managers will be hopeful of a victory because Karl Robinson's men don’t often draw at home, in fact only one of the Dons 14 home games this season has seen the points shared, a 1-1 draw with Fulham in November.

Reading

Form (all comps): DDWLL

Reading are still without Jordan Obita, Paul McShane and Aaron Tshibola. Obita is due back in training following a month out with a knee injury suffered in training, but the trip to Buckinghamshire will come too soon. Centre-half McShane is still sidelined with a calf problem and midfielder Tshibola has a hamstring injury. Brian McDermott has no new injury concerns and will pick from the same squad which travelled for Tuesday's 1-1 draw at Derby.

The Royals warmed up for this one with a good performance against a second placed Derby side in a game which yielded a point as Brian McDermott’s men drew 1-1 at the iPro Stadium. Reading now look ahead to their first trip to stadium MK since 2008 (a 2-1 friendly win), on Saturday meaning we only have the 0-0 draw at Madejski Stadium in August as far as competitive head to head form is concerned. Reading controlled the game that day with 20 shots, seven on target to MK Dons three with zero on target but Brian McDermott will be hoping his side can go one better and secure victory after two consecutive draws.

Milton Keynes (v Burnley): David Martin, K. McFadzean, D. Lewington, J. Spence, B. Reeves (D. Powell 61), D. Potter, A. Kay, S. Carruthers, N. Maynard (S. Church 74), R. Hall (J. Forster-Caskey 74), J. Murphy.

Reading (v Derby County): A. Al-Habsi, A. Ferdinand, A. Taylor, C. Gunter, J. Cooper, H. Robson-Kanu, G. McCleary, D. Williams, O. Norwood, M. Vydra, Lucas Piazon.

What The Opposition Think

Maynard is starting to get back to his glory days. New signing Forster-Caskey on loan from Brighton is a good prospect, and Rob Hall has a lot in his locker. However I expect a lot of changes from the side who got, frankly humiliated by Burnley on Tuesday.

Matt Viney - View From The Town End

Last Meeting

22 Aug 2015: Reading 0-0 Milton Keynes Dons (League Championship)

Head To Head

Reading v MK Dons: W:0 D:1 L:0

YouTube History

Prediction

MK Dons 1-2 Reading