After two wins from their opening two league games, MK Dons will go into their first Carabao Cup game of the season full of confidence. They face-up against League One side Charlton Athletic, a team they have a rather mixed record against.
MK Dons v Charlton Athletic
Competition History
These two clubs have never met in the Carabao Cup, despite meeting 15 times in other competitions since the first game in 2009. The Dons have a good record in the first round of this competition, not losing at this stage since a 4-1 loss to Swindon in 2009. Charlton, on the other hand, last went out in the first round in the 2012/13 season when Leyton Orient beat them on penalties following a 1-1 draw.
The hosts’ best run in this competition came in their promotion-winning season of 2014/15. They beat AFC Wimbledon in the first round, a score any MK Dons fans would have been delighted with, but nothing could have prepared them for the shock of round two.
Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United side came to Stadium MK expecting a routine passage into round three. What they got, though, was nothing short of embarrassing for them. A brace apiece for Will Grigg and Benik Afobe saw then-League One Dons run out 4-0 winners on the club’s most famous night.
The Dons also dispatched Bradford in the next round with a comfortable 2-0 win before a late comeback from Sheffield United in round four saw them dumped out. The Blades would go on all the way to the semi-finals, where they were narrowly beaten by Tottenham over two legs.
Charlton’s best run in the competition came in the 2006/07 season when they reached the quarter-finals. They beat Carlisle United and Bolton Wanderers both 1-0 in the second and third rounds respectively, beat Chesterfield on penalties after a 3-3 draw in the fourth round before going down 1-0 to the competition’s shock semi-finalists, Wycombe.
Key Men
MK Dons
There were a number of standout performers for MK Dons in their league victory over Bury at the weekend, including Jordan Houghton and Joe Walsh. Houghton looked to be the player the Dons have missed since Darren Potter left the club, although he will need more performances like that before he can be considered the perfect Potter replacement. Walsh, meanwhile, made some excellent blocks from the Bury attack and stood strong all afternoon.
However, it was substitute Ousseynou Cisse that turned the game on its head. His introduction balanced the Dons midfield and his power was a real threat to Bury. It was these elements that allowed him to score the winning goal just as the clock ticked onto 90 minutes. Tisdale may feel that a cup competition may be the best time to see if Cisse can re-create a performance like that, rather than take that risk in a league game. If Cisse can produce anything like he did on Saturday, then Charlton are going to have a big problem on their hands.
Charlton Athletic
Being in the league above their opponents for this game, MK Dons will have to be wary of threats from all over the pitch, rather than on certain key players.
However, the Addicks possess a striker who has scored twice in his opening two games for the club as well as being proven at both League Two and League One level.
Lyle Taylor joined the club on a free transfer after his contract with AFC Wimbledon ended in the summer. Taylor scored on his debut away at Sunderland and also found the net at the weekend in their 2-1 win over Shrewsbury Town.
Whether they will want to rest their star man is unknown, as they also have Billy Clarke, Nicky Ajose and Igor Vetokele as options up front. But if Taylor is selected, the Dons back-line will have to be on top form to keep him and his teammates out.
Prediction
Games between these two teams are, more often than not, low-scoring, tight affairs. Charlton are one of the better teams in League One, while MK Dons are predicted to come straight back up from League Two following their relegation. As such, the Dons will feel as though they could spring a surprise.
The Dons have home advantage on their side but Charlton’s slight superiority will ensure they don’t take a win in normal time. However, the Dons have a good record from penalty shoot-outs, and with extra time now eradicated from the League Cup, they will get this one wrapped up just after fullt-time.
Prediction: MK Dons* 1-1 Charlton Athletic
* – MK Dons to win on penalties
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