Match Preview: Posh v MK Dons

Read Time: 4 mins

Posh host Milton Keynes Dons at the Weston Homes Stadium on Thursday evening (7.45pm).

Peterborough United entertain Milton Keynes Dons at the Weston Homes Stadium on Thursday evening (7.45pm) in Sky Bet League One action, looking to build on the point gained at the Valley against Charlton Athletic on Boxing Day.

The fixture with the Dons is only the second league home fixture since the end of October with Posh winning that game against local rivals Cambridge United 1-0. Posh have only played twice in PE2 since then, an EFL Trophy defeat to Chelsea and a 2-1 reverse against Barnsley.

MK Dons have had a busy festive period, appointing Mark Jackson as their new manager following the departure of Liam Manning. Jackson comes with a good pedigree after working at Premier League side Leeds United. It is his first senior job in management. He got off to a winning start, defeating Forest Green Rovers 1-0 on Boxing Day.

TEAM NEWS

Posh goalkeeper Lucas Bergström is still struggling with illness and manager Grant McCann will wait to see if he recovers in time for the game. Will Blackmore made his first league start in the draw at Charlton and could continue between the sticks. Harvey Cartwright is fit again after a long-term injury, but could benefit from minutes either in the under 21s against his parent club Hull City next week or in an arranged friendly over the weekend of the 7th January.

Oliver Norburn remains side-lined but is making good progress from his serious knee injury. The Dons will be without long-serving left-back Dean Lewington, who underwent an operation this week after a stint in caretaker charge of the Dons.

ONE TO WATCH

Former Posh front man Mo Eisa (pictured below) is back fit and in the starting line-up for the Dons and has picked up where he left off in terms of the goal-scoring stakes. Eisa, who joined Posh from Cheltenham Town and helped the club to promotion from League One to the Championship, missed the game between the two sides earlier in the campaign due to the injury.

Mo Eisa

FROM THE GAFFER

“MK Dons are a possession-based side, they have always had that kind of identity and the new manager comes from a good background at Leeds United. My assistant, Cliff Byrne, knows Mark very well and good luck to him in management. We haven’t played at home in what feels like ages, we have back to back games in front of our supporters and we want to try and get the three points together,” McCann said.

Watch Grant McCann's pre-match interview for FREE on Posh+

TICKET NEWS

MK Dons fans will be housed in the away section of the North Stand. The Deskgo Stand is closed for this game. MK Dons had sold around 500 tickets in advance.

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POSH+

Match passes are available both domestically and overseas priced at £10 and audio passes are also available priced at £2.50.

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PLAYED FOR BOTH

Mo Eisa is the only current MK Dons player to have represented Posh, while Jonson Clarke-Harris is the only member of the Posh squad that has wore the white of the Dons, although it was only for a small loan spell in his career. Among the others to have represented both clubs include; Kieran Agard, Adam Clayton (pictured below left), Mark Beevers (pictured below middle), Jimmy Bullard, Izale McLeod, Jake Livermore, Russell Martin, Paul Rachubka, Jude Stirling, Scott Wootton (pictured below right) and Elliott Ward. One-time Posh loanee Conor Coventry also had a spell at MK Dons last term from West Ham United.

Posh v MK Dons

CLASSIC CONTEST

Earlier this season, Posh ran out 3-2 winners over the Dons and put in a complete performance for nearly 90 minutes, however the hosts scored twice in stoppage time to create a bit of panic for Grant McCann’s men. Jonson Clarke-Harris, Kwame Poku and Ricky-Jade Jones were on target for Posh that day.