Game 19 - The Dons (H)
Team - MK Dons
Date - 09/12/2025 19:45
Where - Meadow Lane

What would your starting line-up be? What will be the key areas for the Magpies to get a victory? What do you think the final score will be?

Have your say below, join in with the Pride of Nottingham match discussion.

This is a big match for both teams, the weather will create tricky conditions so I’m not expecting a classic, it depends who can cope with the weather best.

Being at home Notts have to be favourites but MK Dons are on a good run so it’ll be a stern test.

Biggest game of the season so far for Notts in my opinion. This is going to be a big test. To beat a top three side would be massive especially at this particular time of the season.

Notts need to up their game dramatically from the backs to the wall win against Bristol Rovers. Notts need to attack from the beginning & have a good 20 minutes & hopefully get an early lead.

I would like to see Dennis make a start in this one, just behind Jatta & I would also like to see Kouhyar on the left wing. Roos needs to carry on with his good form against Rovers.

My first eleven would be

Roos, Macari, Platt, Bedeau, Tsaroulla, Robertson, Iorpenda, Grant, Dennis, Jatta.

A 2-1 win for Notts would be most welcome & would get the Club and the fans buzzing, however I think it may be a 1-1 draw. How Notts start the match may well determine the final result.

Just listened to Martin's pre MK Dons Presser. The Important news is Jodi Jones & Rod McDonald are fit, so those two being available to return is excellent news for Notts.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Jodi & Rod in the side against the Dons, but Martin will probably have them both on the bench, which would be a very strong bench if you include Ness, Bennetts, Griffiths, Norburn, Gordon, or Jarvis.

Apparently Matt Palmer should be fit in a couple of weeks.

1 hour ago, Robbie said:

Just listened to Martin's pre MK Dons Presser. The Important news is Jodi Jones & Rod McDonald are fit, so those two being available to return is excellent news for Notts.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Jodi & Rod in the side against the Dons, but Martin will probably have them both on the bench, which would be a very strong bench if you include Ness, Bennetts, Griffiths, Norburn, Gordon, or Jarvis.

Apparently Matt Palmer should be fit in a couple of weeks.

That’s all very positive news and hopefully it’ll give the squad a boost going into a very important period.

2 hours ago, Fan of Big Tone said:

That’s all very positive news and hopefully it’ll give the squad a boost going into a very important period.

I agree, it's positive news especially with a very tough set of matches against leading League 2 sides coming up.

Yeah, I think MP will be a gradualist following the Bristol Rov win -JJ and RodMac to be eased back in from the bench.

Iorpenda and Robbo have shown that they can be a very effective pairing. I think the key to our performance is Jatta and Dennis - we need them to be self starters, win their fair share of the battles and really lead from the front.

Some games could get called off today. Might this be one of them?

1 hour ago, theAnticlough said:

Some games could get called off today. Might this be one of them?

Yes I wondered that, I hope not we don’t need a build up of games but I suppose it would help get the walking wounded back fit and ready to play.

It's Matchday.

They beat us home and away last season. We have a fairly poor record against them. They are on a 4 game unbeaten run and have an FA Cup 3rd round game to look forward to. All in all, they must be happy with their season so far. Hopefully we wipe the contented smile off their faces tonight!

23 minutes ago, Dripsey3 said:

They beat us home and away last season. We have a fairly poor record against them. They are on a 4 game unbeaten run and have an FA Cup 3rd round game to look forward to. All in all, they must be happy with their season so far. Hopefully we wipe the contented smile off their faces tonight!

The 'Welcome back Crowley' game earlier this year had a very nice outcome. A classic Notts night under the floodlights, including cracking goals from Didzy and Will Jarvis.

I think we actually beat them twice last season, I can remember the 2-0 away Boxing day win and then as above the home win in which the crowd was the most vocal all season. Our overall record against MK prior to our return to the EFL was shocking though, 1 win in 16 matches...

In a way I'm hoping Crowley will start for them because it'll get the fans going and create a lively atmosphere again. I think it'll be close, a draw wouldn't be a bad result as they are a much better team than the side we faced last season. They have players like Aaron Collins, Mendez-Laing and Callum Paterson who are far better than League 2 level and only dropped in for the money.

As for us I know Jones and McDonald are fit again but I'd expect them to be on the bench, I think we are all just intrigued to see who comes in for Hall.

Tonight's Team.

Robertson not in the side is a big blow. Dennis starts so that means Dennis & Jatta play together.

Looking forward to the match and seeing Dennis linking up with Jatta, it’s a worry about Robbo though.

Robertson must have the flu?

Even so, looks like a Notts side that can actually out muscle the opposition, not seen that for a long time.

A lot resting on Grant's shoulders to be creative, maybe even kick the ball into the net.

Decent bench.

Kick off

Goal MK Dons.

Duff start! I’m in Madeira on hols, so can’t see the game.

It’s going to be an uphill struggle now…… Hoping for better news when I return from dinner.

GOOOOAAAAL DENNIS.

Penalty to MK

Sorry, I meant to say we beat them twice last season. Anyway I'm not sure it that was a penalty. Being honest, I don't think the ref was too sure either but he gave it.....

GOOOOAAAAL JATTA.

Level at the break

I don't see that we've seen the last of the goals in this one.

Well, what a first half that was, full of action and controversy, a great match for the neutral. The ref is awful Nemane shouldn’t be on the pitch after two bookable offences.

I didn’t see what happened for their penalty it just seemed the normal goal mouth scramble you see all the time but the ref obviously saw something he thought was worthy of a penalty.

Let’s hope Notts can beat the twelve men in the second half as the ref is obviously on their side.

Back to it.

Update.