v 
SHRIMPERS
On loan Gunner Sanchez Watt has recovered from his ankle strain and Scott Malone from his bruised toe, on the other hand Anthony Grant remains unfit and will not play.
Will both start?
For once Tilly can actually play around with the team selection and I expect him to be cautious with a more defensive look about the team.
At the back I like Captain Adam at left back and M'Voto will only improve with game time, and with the possibilty of the central defence taking on a 27-goal partnership I'd stick with last week's side.
Yet, Tilly's the boss, and I expect him to bring back Scott Malone to add variety to the dead ball delivery from both sides of the pitch, the Francis corners from the right against Rovers were not the best, and there were signs at Colchester of a nice partnership down the left with Watt.
Sorry Moose but that would mean you starting out wide but being allowed to drift into the centre with Christophe sitting in front of the back four.
Scannell would be my attacking sacrifice and many believe he's at his best when coming on as as an impact sunstitute, along with Paterson and Spencer if things start to go pear shaped.
However, Francis Laurent has to up his game, difficult, as it's the surprise element that fools his own teammates as much as the opposition, but look up now and again Francis, and don't ever think of taking a penalty!
I'm sure it was Watt last weekend who took the ball away from the Frenchman when he was starting to place the ball on the spot. Blimey, the young Arsenal loanee has only been here a week and realises that any set piece taken by Laurent is more likely to sail over the bar than into the net!
Whatever eleven, and a lot depends on the Dons injury situation on how they play, it's always tough for the Blues in Bucks, and a point would be very welcome with the Canaries waiting on Tuesday.
Possible Southend United: Mildenhall, Francis, Baldwin, Barrett, Malone, Laurent, McCormack, Christophe, Vernon, Watt, Moussa.
Subs: Bentley, Sankofa, Herd, M'Voto, Scannell, Spencer, Paterson.
OPPOSITION
As 17-goal man Jermaine Easter returns from a two-match suspension, midfielder Stephen Gleeson starts one after reaching 10 yellow cards.
Easter could be joined by 10-goal Sam Baldock, who has also missed the last two games due to a jarred knee.
At the other end of the pitch the Franchise back four that shipped five against Carlisle last weekend could have a far stronger look about it with three players that missed that match all being fit.
Take out the Dons captain Dean Lewington and you had a defence taking on the Cumbrians with less than 10 appearances between them, so the Franchise would welcome the return of Mathias Doumbe, David McCraken and Danny Woodards.
Dons assistant boss told www.mkdons.com: "It is looking positive for Saturday, we're hoping to have two or three of the injured lads back the squad, but consistancy will only come by them staying fit for the last 18 games of the season."
| 7 | Huddersfield Town | 30 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 39 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 15 | 21 | 14 | 9 | 7 | 54 | 33 | 51 | +21 | ||||
| 8 | Milton Keynes Dons | 30 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 22 | 16 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 21 | 26 | 14 | 4 | 12 | 43 | 42 | 46 | +1 | ||||
| 9 | Bristol Rovers | 30 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 22 | 17 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 16 | 29 | 13 | 3 | 14 | 38 | 46 | 42 | -8 |
Last Time Out - Carlisle United 5 MK Dons 0
(Report from thetashkenterror on www.carlisleunited-mad.co.uk)
After reaching Wembley in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy on Tuesday night it was back to league action for the home side this afternoon, which was something they made short shrift of as they hammered play-off hopefuls MK Dons 5-0. Ian Harte and Matty Robson giving Carlisle a 2-0 half-time lead before Darryl Duffy, Scott Dobie and Joe Anyinsah scored further goals after the break. It was the visitors, missing six first-teamers through injury and suspension, that started the better though, with Dean Morgan having the first real chance in the ninth minute when he spun and shot well to force Adam Collin into a good low save. Jude Stirling, who had a dire game at right-back then seeing his header from the resultant Andros Townsend corner cleared off the line by Adam Clayton. With 20 minutes on the clock Morgan had a free-kick deflected away from danger, but against the run of play Carlisle took the lead in the 21st minute. Top scorer Harte notching his 12th goal of the season when, criminally unmarked, he ran in to head home from a Kevan Hurst corner. Hurst then putting in a dangerous low cross seven minutes later which Sol Davis eventually managed to clear in front of Duffy. Aaron Wilbraham, with a header from a Stirling cross, forced another good save out of Collin moments later, before on 38 minutes he picked up on a poor back header from United skipper Paul Thirlwell, only to fire his volleyed effort straight at Collin. And that would prove costly too as Robson made it 2-0 just sixty seconds later, the left-winger getting on the end of a deflected Clayton shot to drill a well placed finish across Willy Gueret and into the far corner. And it should have been 3-0 to the home side moments before the interval too when Dobie sent a ball in from the right straight to the weaker right boot of Robson eight yards out. The Carlisle man only able though to spoon his side-footed shot miles over the top as home players and fans alike were left with their hands on their head in disbelief at the miss. Two minutes after the break and Duffy had a good chance to make the scoreline 3-0, when from a Dobie flick-on, his shot got past Gueret only for on-loan Brighton defender James Tunnicliffe to then able to clear away from the visitors line with a swift punt. Duffy then missing a better opportunity to get his first Carlisle goal bang on the hour-mark, when one-on-one with Gueret, he could only shoot straight at the Dons goalkeeper from the edge of the box. The on-loan Bristol Rovers striker did get that goal in the 63rd minute though, when after a good Robson run and cross in from the left, he was able to get across to the near-post and side-foot the ball into the net from close range. The home side then making it 4-0 eight minutes later when Robson's ball in from the left was controlled well and then volleyed home by Dobie in the middle of the Dons box. The visitors had collapsed, particularly in defence by this stage, and within two minutes of coming on as a substitute Joe Anyinsah made the score 5-0. Peter Murphy, in for the injured Evan Horwood, putting in a low cross from the left which Duffy dummied for Anyinsah to run onto and slam a side-footed effort powerfully past a shell-shocked Gueret. Harte was looking for another goal from a set-piece shortly afterwards but he could only head over the top from a Hurst corner in. With six minutes left on the clock the Dons made a rare second-half break forward but Townsend saw his long-range effort deflect and loop wide off the leg of Danny Livesey. The impressive Luke Chadwick then cutting in from the left before curling a shot across goal as the visitors looked for a late consolation strike. Carlisle were still looking for their sixth goal of the game though and in the 88th minute Ben Marshall hit in a shot that Gueret did well to push past his far-post. Anyinsah then picking up on a Clayton pass through only to see his powerful drive from the edge of the box crash back off the face of the Dons crossbar. Richard Keogh then protecting the home side's clean sheet in injury time with the last action of the game when he made an excellent diving block on a Lewis Gobern shot. |
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(Report from thetashkenterror on www.carlisleunited-mad.co.uk)
PREVIOUSLY
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GROUND
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!
If you've been to Milton Keynes your know what to expect, bloody cold, and Saturday will be no exception, 4c's and, wait for it, possible light snow showers!
REF
The man in the middle is Lee Mason from Bolton.
FIXTURES
Saturday, February 20th; (all kick-offs 15.00): Charlton v Yeovil, Colchester v Oldham, Exeter v Stockport, Gillingham v Bristol Rovers, Hartlepool v Huddersfield, Leeds United v Brighton, MK Dons v Southend, Norwich v Southampton, Swindon v Carlisle, Tranmere v Leyton Orient, Walsall v Brentford, Wycombe v Millwall.
Tuesday, February 23rd; (all kick-offs 19.45): Charlton v Brighton, Colchester v Brentford, Exeter v Bristol Rovers, Gillingham v Leyton Orient, Hartlepool v Carlisle, Leeds United v Oldham, MK Dons v Millwall, Norwich v Southend, Swindon v Stockport, Tranmere v Huddersfield, Walsall v Yeovil, Wycombe v Southampton.
Friday, February 26th; Southend v Charlton, 19:45.
BET
To Win:
MK Dons - 4/5, Draw - 13/5, Southend - 9/2.
For all the footy odds go here: www.oddschecker.com/football/english
By Train go here: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw5/milton_keynes_475380/index.shtml
By Car go here: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw7/norwich_city_450461/index.shtml
By Car go here: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw7/norwich_city_450461/index.shtml
PUB AND PIES
For the best drinking hostelries around, and there's not a lot, go here: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/feat/edw8/bring_your_own_pub_crawl_in_milton_keynes_496963/index.shtml
HISTORY
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 it won't keep you up all night, go here: