All you need to know to get in the mood for the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Second Round tie at stadium:mk Tuesday October 6th, kick-off 19.00.
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SHRIMPERS
Midfielder Anthony Grant is out serving a one match suspension for picking up five bookings, loannee Sunderland defender Jean-Yves M'Voto is still receiving treatment for a hip injury on Wearside.
Loanee full-back from Woves, George Friend, is cup-tied for the game after playing in the competition for Millwall, so Johnny Herd will step up and get a game.
Winger Damian Scannell is unlikely to make the trip as his ankle injury is still playing him up.
Will Tilly give this game a chance to rest some of his squad with Southampton at Roots Hall on Friday evening?
He's making all the right noises, 'I always select my strongest line-up in this competition' ect., and he has taking two Southend sides to the final already, but he's lost the odd first teamer before the match has even started!
Certainly, he'll be disappointed if 10 goal Barny picks up an injury and if he doesn't give Sawyer a game we'll know something is up!
As for Dougie, no way he'll play 3 games in 7 days, he hardly finished Saturday's!
Tilly's choices are limited anyway due to not only the size of his squad but competition rules state six players must have played in the majority of games during the season.
The Blues boss is helped that the same rules only allow him to name five subs, not the usual seven!
Anyway, for a fixture like this, sure you want to win, but this is the 4th game in 11 days with another one only 3 days away. There must be some tiredness creeping into those legs.
Granty did a clever thing picking up that fifth yellow!
Southend United Squad: Mildenhall, Francis, Sankofa, Barrett, Herd, Sawyer, Christophe, Moussa, Laurent, O'Donovan, Joyce, O'Keefe, McCormack, Freedman, Barnard, (and maybe a youth or two to warm the bench.)
OPPOSITION
Midfielder Jason Puncheon is out as he ends his three-game ban while Luke Chadwick is still out with a thigh injury.
Stephen Gleeson is absent as he is away with the Republic of Ireland Under-21 squad and defenders Danny Woodards (ankle), Jude Stirling (groin) and Sean O'Hanlon (knee) are also not available for selection.
Franchise boss Paul Ince has gone back to former club Blackburn and signed midfielder Aaron Doran on a one-month loan. He has made three appearances in the Premier League for Rovers and should face the Shrimpers on Tuesday night.
Striker Sam Baldock is also being considered for a first appearance since the end of August. The 20-year-old has been away with the England Under-20 squad in Egypt but lands back in the country on Monday.
Ince will look to rest some regulars and give members of a bigger squad than Tilly has to choose from a game, so we may see Stuart Searle, Mark Carrington, Jabo Ibehre, Sol Davis and Dean Morgan at some stage.
After four years at the National Hockey Stadium, the Club have now moved to a new purpose built stadium on the outskirts of Milton Keynes. At a cost of around £50m, the 22,000 all seated stadium, certainly looks a quality one and one that does look a bit different to other new stadiums that have been built.
It was designed by HOK, the same firm of architects responsible for the Emirates & Wembley stadiums. From the outside it has a modern look, with good use of silver coloured cladding and a large amount of glass on view.
The most striking feature of the stadium is its roof, which sits high up above the football ground with a large gap between in and the back roof of seating. This allows more natural light to reach the pitch. The stadium is totally enclosed and has a bowl like design.
It is two tiered, with on three sides having a large lower tier being over hung by a smaller upper tier. The West side of the stadium is slightly different, with the seating areas in the upper tier being replaced by the Director's Box and executive and corporate hospitality areas.
Unusually the concourse areas at the back of the lower tier see directly into the stadium, so there is what seems a noticeable gap between the lower and upper tiers, where the concourse is located.
Away supporters are located in the North East corner of the stadium where around 3,000 fans can be accommodated. On the plus side the stadium is a quality one i.e. it has not been built on the cheap. So the facilities are first class.
The stadium has such creature comforts as big 'Emirates Style' comfy seats and the ability to continue to watch the game in progress, whilst eating a burger on the concourse. The view of the playing action and leg room are both good and the atmosphere not bad, but it may be a touch quiet on Tuesday!
The club was relaunched under its current name on 21 June 2004, nine months after the then Wimbledon F.C. moved to Milton Keynes.
Milton Keynes Dons is legally a continuation of Wimbledon F.C., however after negotiation with the Football Supporters Federation, the club agreed entrust the trophies and memorabilia of Wimbledon F.C. to the London Borough of Merton, and to make no claims on the history of Wimbledon F.C. thereafter.
This step was taken in part to ensure the recognition of the Milton Keynes Dons Supporters Association by the Football Supporters Federation.
If you want a more comprehensive history of the Franchise, and there's not much, go here:
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