Game 24 - The Dons (A)
Team - MK Dons
Date - 29/12/2025 19:45
Where - Stadium MK

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 game has now become very important for Notts to demonstrate that the poor performance at Chesterfield is just a one off.

It is vital that Notts get a result from this game otherwise they could be five points off third place after all the results are in.

I think it's time for a few changes to the starting eleven. I would consider resting Jatta & put Dennis upfront with Hall in the number 10 role. I would bring in Kouhyar for Bennetts. I would also consider bringing in Hinchy for Norburn in the centre of midfield.

That would mean Jatta, Norburn & Bennetts on the bench. There may even be a case of resting Grant and playing Jodi just behind Dennis. MK will be expecting Martin to keep the same side. It may be a good idea to surprise them.

At the very least, Notts need to try and avoid defeat, but we must be putting more pressure on our opponents, which lately we haven't been doing.

What? Another game already? It was hardly worth them taking their boots off!

It’s going to be a tough game, it’ll be interesting to see Martin’s line up and what (if any) changes he makes.

Yes, very busy period! 3 more games in 7 days.

I’m sure Jatta will be rested for 1 and Jones may well make a start. MKD is a huge game if we are to consolidate our promotion credentials. We need at least a point to regain some momentum really.

I think players like Grant & Iorpenda are crucial for these games because they offer the guile and creativity that others lack. Norburn offers the grit but if Palmer is fit I’m sure he’d start - but he might come of the bench on Mon & get a start in 1 of the upcoming home games. We’ll see.

I'm sure MP and the team will treat the game with the utmost importance, but I don't think us fans should build it up too much.

Memories of how they ripped us open time after time a couple of weeks ago are still fresh. Roos has the shakes again and we're still without our first choice central midfield pairing. If offered a point right now, I'd snatch their hands off.

MK are a robust unit so it's also a bad game to turn to lighter, creative players who might not be at their most confident. At home to Accrington might be a better time to see Jones, Hall, Palmer start.

Changes? It seems that Bennetts might be out. So let's see what the Crawley promotion pairing Tsaroulla and Gordon can do. Deep into the season now with the January window looming, selections now are akin to tests. Can these players really help us get to where we want to go?

Other than that, I'd say it's time Kouhyar got a start - as a 10, for either Dennis or Grant. Dennis because he was so atrocious at Chesterfield or Grant because as we've always known 2 goals from 20 games in a forward position is never going to cut it for a promotion aspiring team.

14 hours ago, theAnticlough said:

Changes? It seems that Bennetts might be out. So let's see what the Crawley promotion pairing Tsaroulla and Gordon can do.

Interesting comment about the "Crawley promotion pairing" I wonder if we are now seeing why they weren't kept by Crawley when they were promoted to league 1? Deemed not good enough?

5 hours ago, McPie said:

Interesting comment about the "Crawley promotion pairing" I wonder if we are now seeing why they weren't kept by Crawley when they were promoted to league 1? Deemed not good enough?

A quick AI search suggests they were offered contracts but couldn't agree terms so they moved on, joined a bigger club and avoided a relegation season.

Tsaroulla's done pretty well and maybe there's more from him to come.

Gordon is up and down (less up than down) and fits into my growing pet hate watching Notts - players who often look the part but can't deliver and lose their heads and make bad decisions in the final third. Players who can produce, but sometimes don't look the part (i.e. Jarvis) don't get a look in.

It's Matchday CMON U PIES.

Tonight's Notts starting eleven sees two changes.

Kouhyar & Hall make starts for Bennetts & Grant

Kouhyar deserves his chance. I hope he takes it. Patto is loyal if you play well.

Going to be very difficult to get something out of this. Their massive bidget versus our 'top 7' squad. Only way to overcome that is MP winning the tactical battle. Come on Notts.

50 minutes ago, Robbie said:

Tonight's Notts starting eleven sees two changes.

Kouhyar & Hall make starts for Bennetts & Grant

Kouhyar - Hallelujah. But RWB and Tsaroulla comes over to the left?

Dennis stays in and is joined by a similar player Hall in the No 10 positions. If they're both at it tonight, it's a pair with a lot of goal threat. lets hope they've both got the bit between the teeth.

Underway in this vital game for Notts tonight.

MK Dons 0 Notts 0. (1 min)

Update

Iorpenda is fouled on the edge of the penalty area. From the free kick Dennis curls a shot over the bar. (9 mins)

MK Dons 0 Notts 0.

Update.

(20 mins) MK Dons hit the post. Jatta blocks a header at a corner and Mellish hits the post on the follow-up.

MK Dons 0 Notts 0

Update.

(25 mins) Norburn has an effort charged down after Tsaroulla's wide free-kick was half-cleared to him 20 yards out.

MK Dons 0 Notts 0

Update.

(31 mins) Dennis is inches away from getting his head on Tsaroulla's corner, but the keeper manages to punch behind.

MK Dons 0 Notts 0

Update.

(40 mins) Tsaroulla sees a shot deflected behind as Notts continue to probe for the opener.

MK Dons 0 Notts 0

Update.

GOOOOOAAAAAL IORPENDA.

(44 mins) GOAL! Iorpenda picks out the bottom corner from outside the area following nice work from Dennis and Tsaroulla!

MK Dons 0 Notts 1

Update. 

HALF TIME 

Notts lead.

MK Dons 0 Notts 1

That's a magnificent reaction after Chesterfield.

MK haven't been allowed to settle at all, the press that half was everything it wasn't on Friday.

Iorpenda the pick of the team, even before his great goal. He's playing with real confidence.

Shout out too to the WBs.Tsaroulla and Kouhyar have offered more from that position than we've seen recently.

Update.

(46 Mins) Triple sub for the hosts,  but we're back underway unchanged.

MK Dons 0 Notts 1

Update.

(56 mins) Dennis does well to spin into space on the edge of the area before getting his shot away, but it clips Jatta's foot and goes wide.

MK Dons 0  Notts 1 

Update.

(61 mins)  Kouhyar is forced off with an injury. Gordon replaces him.

MK Dons 0 Notts 1

Update.

(70 mins) Goal to MK Dons

Goal. Roos makes a fantastic initial save but Paterson is there on the follow-up.

MK Dons 1  Notts 1

Update.

( 78 mins) Grant on for Dennis)

MK Dons 1 Notts 1

Update.

(91 mins) Ness and Jones replace Macari and Hall.

MK Dons 1 Notts 1