Wrexham v

MK Dons

Saturday 14 October 2006

 

Kick Off @ 15:00



The Match

The international break has allowed some of Wrexham's injured return to match fitness but the Red Dragons have slipped further down the table to sixteenth position and the visit of sixth placed Mk Dons will prove a difficult test as Wrexham look to get their season back on track.

The Dons

Martin AllenThe Dons have made a positive start to the season as they attempt to bounce back into league 1 at the first attempt but manager Martin Allen was less than complimentary of his side's performance in their 2-0 home defeat to Peterborough last Friday.

 

"The players are disappointed but as manager it is my responsibility and I know that it wasn't good enough, " said Allen. "If you're going to go down, you have to at least give something and I learned a lot about people in that last 20 minutes."

 

Martin Allen joined the Dons in the summer, replacing Danny Wilson as manager who was dismissed after failing to keep them in league 1. Allen was in charge of Brentford last season and surprisingly resigned his position after the Bees lost in last season's play off semi final to Swansea.


The danger man for MK Dons is striker Izale McLeod who has found the back of the net six times this season and he is supported by Clive Platt and Aaron Wilbraham who have scored five each. McLeod joined the Dons from Derby County in the summer of 2004. The former England under 21 international scored 17 times in 33 starts for a team relegated last season and he has continued his form into the new season and is close to averaging a goal every other league game since joining for the Dons.

Past Encounters

Last 5 Meetings

Feb 05: Wrexham 0 MK Dons 0
Dec 04: MK Dons 3 Wrexham 0
Jan 98: Wrexham 2 Wimbledon 3
Jan 98: Wimbledon 0 Wrexham 0
Jan 81: Wrexham 2 Wimbledon 1

The clubs have only met on two occasions in the league with the last game ending in a goalless draw at the Racecourse in February 2005. In the original game played in December 2004 the MK Dons ran out comfortable 3-0 winners.

 

Prior to this, the teams last met in the FA Cup before Wimbledon were franchised off to Milton Keynes. Wrexham earned a goalless draw at the then Premiership side but the replay went in favour of the Dons.

Form Guide

Team Last 5 Games League Position Form Position Last Win
Wrexham LLWLL 16th 16th 3 games
MK Dons WLWDL 6th 11th 3 games

Like Wrexham, MK Dons arrive at the Racecourse in search of their first win in three games after their positive start of the season form having taken a slight dip. The sequence started with an impressive 2-1 win at Championship side Barnsley in the Carling Cup but this was followed up with a 2-1 reverse at home to Chester. The Dons then defeated Torquay 3-2 at home and picked up a point with a 3-3 draw at Barnet before they returned home last Friday to lose 2-0 against Peterborough.

 

Wrexham's only win in their last five games came against Hereford three weeks ago but this win came on the back of a 5-2 defeat at Stockport and a 4-1 defeat at Birmingham in the Carling Cup. Many Wrexham fans hoped that the win over the Hereford meant Wrexham had turned the corner but this was followed up by the first home defeat of the season against Rochdale and then a 3-0 reverse at Hartlepool before last week's game at Bury was called off following international call ups.

Bookies View

Despite Wrexham's recent run of form, their home record has them 6/4 favourites with Stan James, Bet365 and Sky Bet. The away win is priced at 7/4 with Ladbrokes and Bet Fred with the draw on offer at 9/4 at Corals and Bet365.

Team News

Wrexham Team News: Neil Roberts and Darren Ferguson make a welcome return for Wrexham following injury but the Reds are without the suspended Ryan Valentine and Danny Williams after the pair picked up their fifth bookings of the season. Shaun Pejic is again ruled out with an Achilles injury along with long term victim Lee McEvilly but Levi Mackin will take a place on the bench following a knee injury.

MK Dons Team News: The Dons are without Keith Andrews and Gary Smith with both players sidelined by knee injuries. Craig Morgan could be in return for his first start since August after impressing on his first full debut for Wales in midweek.

Officials: The match referee is Uriah Rennie from South Yorkshire. Uriah Rennie has refereed nine games this season and the two players he sent off was in the Chester v Wrexham derby back in August when Steve Evans of Wrexham saw red in the second half after Chester were reduced to ten men before half time.

Other Games

League 2 Fixtures:

Barnet v Lincoln City
Boston United v Mansfield
Hartlepool v Stockport
Hereford v Darlington
Macclesfield v Bury
Notts County v Bristol Rovers
Peterborough v Shrewsbury
Rochdale v Chester
Swindon v Grimsby
Torquay v Accrington Stanley
Walsall v Wycombe
Wrexham v Milton Keynes Dons

The big game of the day is at the Bescott Stadium as first take on second place when Walsall entertain Wycombe.

Walsall currently lead the way with a quarter of the season now gone with third  place Lincoln travelling to Boston who find themselves a couple of places above the relegation zone occupied by Boston and Macclesfield.

Macclesfield entertain Bury as they go in search of their first win of the season and will be their first home game after they parted company with Brian Horton two weeks ago.

Venue Guide

Address: Racecourse Ground, Mold Road, Wrexham, LL11 1AH

Telephone Number: 01978 262129

Fax Number: 01978 357821

Web Site: www.wrexhamafc.co.uk

MK Dons Websites

How to get there?

By Car: Leave the M6 at Junction 10a to join the M54 and continue on this road as it becomes the A5 past Shrewsbury and Oswestry. When you reach Oswestry turn right at the roundabout (A ESSO Service Station will be on your left), staying on the A5. Continue straight through the series of roundabouts to join the A483 and leave this road at junction A541. At the roundabout turn right towards Wrexham and after going straight over the next roundabout the ground is ahead of you on your left.

By Train: Wrexham General is next to the ground and there is a service every two hours between Chester and Shrewsbury. There is also an hourly service between Wrexham and Liverpool. Click here for the Rail Track Online Timetable or call national enquiries on 08457 484950.

When you are there
Car Parking: NEWI College just before the ground and a local car park just before the Shell Garage on the opposite side of the road and both cost around £2.00. Free parking is available on the retail parks by turning left at the second roundabout but do not park in ALDI or you will get clamped! Avoid B&Q as they have a maximum stay of two hours and issue parking tickets for £125 and the new Central Retail park just passed the train station operates a time restriction policy.

Beer and Grub: The Turf is right next to the Kop but it gets very busy in the hour leading up to kick off, so arrive early. The Official Supporters Club has use of the Centenary Club on matchdays and this is located behind the Sainsburys Stand with the entrance off the club car park. The Plas Coch Retail Park has a pub and is normally a favourite for away supporters. The Railway is located down the side road along the Remploy factory at the opposite end of Crispin Lane to the ground. There are plenty of pubs in the town centre and the closet to the ground is a Wetherspoons Pub by following Mold Road into the town centre and is found on your left hand side. If you continue into the town centre McDonalds will be on your left and the next pub you reach is The Horse and Jockey and opposite that under the archway is a good chip shop. There are more pubs on High Street and to find them continue pass the Horse and Jockey, passing Burger King on your left, and High Street is the junction with Burtons.

Cash Machines: The Shell Garage on Mold Road with further machines at Sainsburys and Boots on the Plas Coch Retail Park. If you are heading into the town centre you will pass a number of banks on your way to the pubs.

How much to get in?

Stand Adults Senior/YP Juniors
Kop £14 £7 £5
Sainsburys £16 £10 £5
Mold Road £17 £10 £10
Away Stand £16 £10 £5

Family Tickets:

1 Adult & 1 Children: £21 all areas

1 Adult & 2 Children: £26 all areas

2 adults & 2 Children: £42 all areas

Must be purchased in advance from the ticket office

Young Persons: Only available to members and tickets must be purchased in advance from the ticket office.

Disabled Facilities

Wrexham have 45 disabled places available at the front of the Pryce Griffiths Stand. There are 22 parking spaces and two disabled toilets with dedicated refreshment kiosks. Admission is £10 for the disabled supporter (£5 concessions) with the helper admitted free. Please contact Tony Millington at The Racecourse on 01978 262129.

Weather Forecast

Sunny intervals with temperatures reaching 16 degrees Celsius and a 9 mph south easterly wind.