This Week's Opposition: MK Dons

Last Saturday marked the beginning of the 125th Anniversary of Portsmouth Football Club as the Blues welcomed former players from down the years back to Fratton Park and secured a 1-0 win against Forest Green Rovers. In-form MK Dons are Pompey’s next opponent…

John Mousinho will be looking for a 3rd consecutive away win as we head up the M25 towards Stadium MK this Good Friday. 

Back in December in the reverse of this fixture, it was the Blues who suffered a 2-0 defeat on home turf. 

Now let's take a closer look into MK Dons and the first time John Mousinho will meet this side as a manager.

MANAGER

The Dons are currently managed by Mark Jackson, who took to the helm in December 2022. 

The ex-Scunthorpe United defender started his playing career at Leeds United and also made 4 appearances on the international stage for the England Under-20s.

Jackson started his coaching career at Leeds back in 2015, working his way up to coaching the Under 23s side.

In his first season managing this age group he took his team to win the Premier League 2 Division 2, earning promotion to Division 1.

Taking on the managerial role at the end of last year when The Dons were sitting at 22nd in the table only 3 points from safety, Jackson won his first game in charge and, in doing so, secured the club’s first home league win for over four months.

ONE TO WATCH

38-year-old centre-back and club captain Dean Lewington is our One To Watch this weekend.

Lewington has been in the side for almost 20 years and first joined the club back when they were known as Wimbledon. He has seen The Dons spend 3 seasons in League Two, 16 seasons in League One and 1 in the Championship.

On the 11th of September, 2021, Lewington made his 700th league appearance for the club in a 1-0 victory over Portsmouth. 

To date he is one of the EFL’s most loyal footballers, surpassing 900 career appearances across all competitions, with over 870 of those coming in an MK Dons shirt.

For a short time just before Christmas, Lewington oversaw managerial duties at the club on a caretaker basis following the departure of Liam Manning - He won 1 of his 3 games in the dugout prior to Mark Jackson's arrival.

TOP SCORER

Sudanese forward Mo Eisa is MK Dons’ leading goal scorer this season with 6 league goals at this stage of the campaign. 

The former Cheltenham Town, Bristol City and Peterborough United player has never struggled to find the back of the opposition's net.

The 28-year-old, who wears the number 10 for MK Dons, also has 2 goals in the FA Cup this term.

CURRENT FORM

Mark Jackson’s side are currently sitting in 19th in League One, looking likely to spend a 5th consecutive season in the 3rd tier. 

The Dons have accrued 40 points from their 39 league matches played to date, only 5 points clear of relegation zone.

They have, however, recorded 3 wins out of their last 5 games with 2 of those victories being on home turf. With a 33.33% win rate since Jackson succeeded Liam Manning in December.

Who will come out on top in this one? Will it be the 3rd consecutive away win for the Blues or can The Dons get their 3rd consecutive win at Stadium MK?

Tune in for all of the unmissable action from 2pm this Good Friday, the 7th of April as Portsmouth take on MK Dons away from home - Robbie James, Jake Smith and Jay Sadler will be providing full coverage live from Buckinghamshire.