Wrexham are running out of games if we are going
to preserve our league status and we now realistically have to win five
out of our last remaining six matches if we are to avoid the drop.
We are seven points adrift of Notts County following the
weekend games whilst MK Dons could be promoted this week if they beat us
and Stockport lose to Mansfield on Wednesday night.
So a trip to the league's in form team was the last
game we were looking for with the 2-1 victory for the Dons on Friday
night was their seventh win in their last eight games, and the only draw
in this sequence was at home to the team in first position -
Peterborough United.
This game was originally due to be played in February
before the Dons commenced this run but the match was called off only ninety minutes before kick
off due to a frozen pitch.
Since then, Wrexham have only managed to win two games
against Chester and Bury and we are currently five games without a win,
and have lost the last four on our travels.
The Dons have lost five games at home this season with
their last defeat coming at home to Rochdale in mid-January.
This was the last of three straight defeats for Paul
Ince's side which included our win over the Dons at the start of the
year.
The MK Dons also have the best defensive record in the
league with only thirty goals conceded in their forty games played.
Mark Wright is just ahead of fellow midfielder Keith Andrews
as top scorer for the Dons with thirteen goals so far this season.
Skipper Andrews took his tally to twelve with his
penalty at Wembley last month setting the MK Dons on the way to a 2-0
win over Grimsby to lift the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
Paul Ince has had a successful first season as manager
after he replaced Martin Allen, who left
the club for his short stay at Leicester in the Championship, after the Dons missed out in
the play off semi finals last season.
Ince moved south from Macclesfield for the start of
the new season and is assisted by Ray Mathias who also moved from the
Cheshire club.
Recent Encounters:
Our
victory in January was our first in the league over MK Dons in five
attempts with the only goal of the game coming in the second half when Neil
Roberts chipped the ball in from twenty yards.
The Dons won both games last season by a 2-1 scoreline and
came from a goal down on both occasions.
The overall league record sees MK Dons with three wins to our
one and there
has been one draw in the five games played.
Team News:
Wrexham are without striker Drewe Broughton as the
terms of his loan deal from the MK Dons prevent him from playing against
his parent club.
Carl Tremarco and Rob Duffy also remain on the
sidelines but Jeff Whitley is back in the squad after recovering from a
shoulder injury.
Defenders Gareth Evans and Mike Williams also return
to the squad after missing out on the weekend.
MK Dons have defensive concerns ahead of the game that
could see them promoted if other results go their way.
Drissa Diallo (shoulder) is out, Colin Cameron (knee) is unlikely to
play and Sean O'Hanlon (broken nose) is a doubt.
Elsewhere in League Two:
Three of our relegation rivals are also in action in
midweek.
Shrewsbury, our opponents next Sunday, have dropped
into the relegation battle after going fourteen games without a win and
they face a difficult trip to Morecambe.
Notts County are back in Greater Manchester after
their defeat at Bury on the weekend when they travel to Rochdale whilst
Mansfield also have a difficult game at inform Stockport on Wednesday
night. |