Often Partisan

GAMEDAY: MK Dons v Blues

Birmingham City travel to the stadium:MK for their first competitive fixture in Milton Keynes, looking to extend their impressive unbeaten start to the season.

MK Dons

Goalkeeper David Martin and defenders Dean Lewington and Anthony Kay will return to the team after being rested in midweek for the Dons’ League Cup win over Cardiff. Former Blues loanee Rob Hall could come in up front along with Simon Church and Sam Gallagher.

Karl Robinson’s side suffered their sole defeat so far this season at home to Preston in what was their first home game in the Championship.

Blues

Blues have a fully fit squad to choose from and it is likely Gary Rowett will return to the players who played so well against Derby. Despite all the speculation surrounding his departure Dimmy Gray is raring to go and will almost certainly line up on the left; David Cotterill, who signed a new deal yesterday will play on the right.

I think the bench will be interesting – while Wes Thomas scored twice in midweek Nicolai Brock-Madsen also offers options and I wouldn’t be surprised to see both on the bench to give Blues a bit of impetus in the closing stages.

4,000 Blues fans are travelling to Milton Keynes and Gary Rowett has urged them to turn the ground into a “neutral one”, negating any home advantage MK Dons might enjoy by getting behind the team.

If Blues can continue to play as they have done there is no reason why they cannot win this fixture. There are definitely the makings of a very good team there – while I’m concerned about the way Blues have tailed off towards the end of games I’m hoping they’ll get stronger as the season goes on and that they will be able to keep the tempo up for 90 minutes.

Ref

Gavin Ward will take charge of the game, in what will be his sixth game of the season. He’s shown 14 yellow cards this year so far without any reds. The last time he refereed a Blues game was the 3-1 win over Huddersfield in November 2013 in which he booked Mitch Hancox and sent off Kyle Bartley for a second bookable offence.

Suspension Watch

2 Yellow Cards: David Davis
1 Yellow Card: Tomasz Kuszczak, Maikel Kieftenbeld, Clayton Donaldson, Jonathan Spector

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29 Responses to “GAMEDAY: MK Dons v Blues”

  • Dave Mann says:

    Blues fans can pay on the day in cash at the away gate at Mk Dons .. If this is true then we could have twice that amount but not certain if ime reading it right .. Anyway just getting ready to go and looking forward to keeping our unbeaten run going With a good win today .. On my way now , see ya !! Kro

  • StaffsBlue says:

    The fact that if we beat them, we go above them, should be motivation enough. If we’re going to progress up the league, we have to beat the teams in front of us. Saying that, I see no reason why we can’t come away with three points. They like to keep possession, we like to sit in wait, then break. It could be the perfect game for us.

    With Brock-Madsen and Thomas on the bench. If we need to go 4-4-2 at any time, it would be interesting to see how those two would pair up. It’s a decent option. I’ll go 2-1 Blues.

  • rhees says:

    Lets believe we can do this and take 3 points
    Mk 1 blues 2 I preditict

  • rhees says:

    Any news on Lowry anyone is he right for us ?

  • Bluey says:

    I think this is a hard game to call and as we speak i`d take a point and then hope we take advantage of our home fixtures.

  • CharlieBCFC says:

    I hope for a win, would keep us on 2 points per game, which is promotion form. Blues are doing great, but I feel we our becoming a bit predictable and a long ball team (ie hit it up to the don and hope he knocks it down for someone), we only win 20% of these. With Gleeson, keft, toral, dimmy and cotts, would like to see us pass it and break teams down more, would also like dimmy and cotts to cut inside more, get to the edge of the box and shoot. Think we are doing well but just need to change are approach in games, keep the opposition guessing, think we can beat MK today if we play well. KRO

  • Come on brum ,6pack,without mercy ,7+ on again, simply the best …..

  • Adam True Blue says:

    GET IN. Well played, up to 7th with a game in hand. Kro

  • StaffsBlue says:

    I had a good feeling we’d get 2 goals, but I thought we’d concede 1. So well done to our defence and the rest of the team + management. They’re getting good at this. :)

  • Shirley Blue says:

    Just got back from MK. Very cagey first half and from where I was they should have had a penalty. We were poor going forward and to me Toral didn’t look fit. When he came off early in the second half GR got the sub just right with Dimi Gray moving into the middle and Maghoma coming in on the left. We took control from that point and dominated the game. The injury to Gleeson looked bad – I hope it isn’t as is a very important player to us and doesn’t get the credit he deserves. Maghoma was excellent when he came on and gave us a different dimension going forward especially linking up with Gray.. Fantastic support today and a great result.

  • Bluenosesol says:

    I have to admit that my biggest concerns this season were around Grounds, Spector and Gleeson. Gleeson has been a revelation, though I still have grave concerns about Grounds and Spector. Spector was way to one paced today and Grounds is too easily turned inside out Brilliant support today and I hope the chants of “We are going to win the league” are still prevalent at Christmas!! Great craic our fans can be earthy at times but they are the best! Demmy Gray had a good game today. He chased all over the park to get hold of the ball. Brilliant defence cutting pass from Clayton for Maggies goal. Great to see GR’s rebuff of their ponsey half back who shot ten foot in the air when Demi breathed on him, though Demi needs to learn as these tricksters often achieve the sending off their cowardly actions intend. Thre Phoenix is Slowly Rising from the Ashes !! KRO!

  • Dave Mann says:

    Had a great day yesterday at the MK stadium ,fantastic stadium , fantastic support & fantastic result … Total turn round to previous games as this time we were not so good first half and excellent second half .. It all changed when Gray went off & Maghoma came on … I’ve been is biggest critic since we signed him but he was different class when he came on and won us the game .. We look a team & are gonna keep supprising everyone including us fans this season if we carry on playing the way we are , the playoffs are are a distinct possibility if we get this centre half & avoid any serious injuries.. Two home games to come & a game in hand looks very good for the coming weeks & I am now looking forward to my holiday tomorrow with a new spring in my step !! Kro

    • Shirley Blue says:

      Maghoma came on for Toral not Gray. Gray went into Toral’s position and Maghoma played on the left. We were much better after Toal went off – he didn’t look fully fit to me.

    • Mitchell says:

      Was there any great contribution by Gray or any improvement over the last few games?.Perhaps Maghoma wide and Gray down the middle is the best option for now. In the meantime, get the bucket and spade out and remember holidays are times to be with your loved ones- but if you can’t -you have to take the wife!!

      • Dave Mann says:

        I think Gray down the middle with maghoma out wide could work if they both play like they did yesterday but it’s all about consistency with them .. Again assists from Donaldson for the goals so he’s making them if not scoring them and that’s fine by me …. Yes Mitchell the wife is coming with us along with my son but there won’t be no bucket & spade mate as it’s a trip to Germany for a trip down the rhine and sightseeing around the south west of the country with lots of food and German beer on the menu !! … I will be with the ones I love , my wife. , my son & my mobile devices keeling well in touch with what Blues are doing especially on Deadline Day on Tuesday and getting in that centre half we need along with keeping Dimmi then I will be cock a hoop. !! Kro

        • Mitchell says:

          Amazing coincidence. I will be in Cologne on the Rhine next Wednesday. Staying in Düsseldorf.

          • Dave Mann says:

            The weather looks ok but as long as the bar roof don’t leak then that’s fine but yes it’s a break from the norm and that in itself is good enough for me .. Let’s hope we all enjoy ourselves but it won’t be through the lack of trying ! Kro

        • RichardM says:

          Maybe now would be a good time to buy the new away strip! Wear your colours with pride and do a bit for Anglo-German relations as well!

          • Dave Mann says:

            I’ve got my tops ready don’t you worry about that Richard … Wherever I go around the world I always where my Blues tops with pride and will have great banter with the Germans I can assure you of that . I like to buy other foreign clubs tops wherever I go as a keep sake so I will be getting a couple of German clubs to add to my collection but not quite sure which ones yet .. I will have a beer with anyone and that includes Germans .. I don’t suppose there bad people .. As long as I don’t mention the war !! Kro

          • StaffsBlue says:

            Have a cracking holiday Dave. :)

  • Dave Mann says:

    Shirley Blue I stand corrected and yes Toral looked a bit jaded and it was a good move to bring on Maghoma because he gave us more of a threat .. Let’s also hope Gleeson the goal machine keeps scoring them the way he his. , brilliant . Kro

    • Blue Lizard says:

      Toral took a knock/strain a couple of weeks ago at one point it looked like he would be out for a couple of weeks but he played…maybe the break will get it sorted
      KRO

  • Hugh Essay says:

    Great day out at an impressive stadium. Can’t over emphasise the great job GR is doing, had we won the postponed Brentford game we would now be second!

    4 midweek games coming up in the next month with 3 of those away. Will be at all of them and predict 6 league points out of 9 and a cup win.

    Happy

    KRO

  • Hugh Essay says:

    Dunno why everybody’s goin on about a German flag kit? It’s more Belgium flag surely?

    German flag is horizontal stripes?

  • Dave Mann says:

    Cheers staffs and I promise I will do my best , just like our team is doing at the moment . Kro

  • Kford bluenose says:

    Blues second half performance was befitting of the stadium it was played in. Got to be about the best stadium outside of the big, modern prem grounds such as the Etihad or Emirates. I must admit I felt ever so slightly jealous to see a ground like this wasted on a team that will rarely command gates above 11k. £3.50 for warm Heineken was easily compensated by the surroundings and thousands of happy noses. Great bank holiday.


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