AFC Bournemouth vs MK Dons Preview

Tonight's game sees MK Dons make the trip down to the south coast for the second game of the Football League season. Bournemouth come off the back of a difficult draw away to Portsmouth, and will surely be looking to kickstart their season with a win. The Dons however got a 2-0 win at home to Oldham on saturday, signalling their intent that they aim to finally win promotion to the Championship this season.

The start of the season could not be much tougher for Bournemouth, but it will also be a chance for everyone to see what this Bournemouth side is made of. Portsmouth, MK Dons, and Preston are all tough fixtures, but if promotion is the goal, these are games Bournemouth should be winning. In their short history MK Dons have a mixed record against Bournemouth, with Bournemouth winning a few times at the National Hockey Stadium and Stadium: MK respectively, but MK have had a few wins at Dean Court also. That said, past records count for nothing in this big clash as both teams have high aspirations for the forthcoming season.

Cherries fans will be interested to see how Paul Groves will change the lineup from Saturday's game. It was evident for everyone to see that the midfield was overrun by Portsmouth's midfield, and in my opinion, a change is necessary against an arguably stronger MK Dons team. A lack of width was detrimental to our attacking play on Saturday, so it's possible that Groves drops either Pugh or O'Kane, or both of them, with McDermott and Grabban waiting for the chance to play. The defence will likely be unchanged, but Wes Thomas may be dropped in favour of Matt Tubbs, who can offer a different element to the forward line. The most important decision Groves has to make is the goalkeeping position, after Jalal's calamitous mistake, he did recover and make a few quality saves. Hopefully Jalal gets the start again, helping him regain his confidence.

The Cherries play a dangerous, attacking team this morning who have had two successful seasons on the trot. The Dons have a squad that has remained largely intact from last season, but Ryan Lowe is a notable addition from Sheffield Wednesday. We could likely see Lowe partner Dean Bowditch up front tonight, which will provide a tough test for our defence.  MK boast a solid defence which is helped by a dynamic midfield, featuring young, pacey talent Daniel Powell and the experienced head of Alan Smith. I am fearful that MK grab and early goal then use their stout defence to stop our attack for the rest of the game.

Tonight's game has the making of a quality, attacking match, but it is possible that with both teams having such high hopes for the season, that it becomes a tense affair. Summoning my optimistic side, I predict a 2-1 for Bournemouth (hopefully!). A draw would be an okay result, but we cannot afford to lose this one. If any Dons are making the trip I hope you enjoy our three sided stadium.