MK Dons welcome Tranmere Rovers to Stadium MK this Saturday for match week two of the League Two season. MK Dons will be looking for back-to-back wins to start their campaign and for a win in their first home game of the season. Whereas Tranmere will be on the road aiming for their first win of the season after a disappointing first outing.
With their first game of the season ending in a haul of three points from The Dons, MK Dons currently sit in third behind Sutton United and Accrington Stanley and on level points with eight other teams. Along with Sutton, MK Dons were the team with the most goals on the opening weekend, a good showing and a positive start to the campaign.
The trip to Wrexham was a successful trip for MK Dons, putting five goals past the newly-promoted side. The floodgates opened early with an Eoghan O’Connell own goal in the sixth minute and followed closely by a goal from Mohamed Eisa in the tenth minute. Wrexham managed to get on the scoresheet before half time through Jacob Mendy but a double from Jonathan Leko early in the second half gave The Dons the edge. Late goals from Jordan Davies and Anthony Forde could only bring the score to 4 - 3 before even later heroics from Daniel Harvie gave MK Dons the 5 - 3 win.
The Dons hosted League One side Wycombe in the First Round of the League Cup. After a goalless first half, the scoring opened late in the second half. Brandon Hanlan scored first in the 73rd minute, followed by Chris Forino-Joseph in the 82nd minute giving Wycombe the 2 - 0 win and the chance in the Second Round of the League Cup.
Tranmere sit a disappointing 17th after a loss in their first game of the season. As one of five teams on negative one goal difference, a win against MK Dons can aid Tranmere’s climb up the League Two table.
The opening game of the season for Tranmere saw them face Barrow at home, where Rovers went behind early from a Niall Canavan goal for Barrow. Though Tranmere managed to fit their way back into the game when Harvey Saunders was fouled by Rory Feely and Joshua Stuart Hawkes converted the resulting penalty. However, this was short-lived as Kian Spence sealed all three points and a 2 - 1 win for Barrow and a poor start from Tranmere.
Tranmere faced League One Barnsley in the First Round of the League Cup in a dramatic encounter. Luke Norris opened the scoring for Tranmere, followed by Herbie Kane scoring for Barnsley in added time of the first half. Sam Taylor put Tranmere back in front before Aiden Marsh scored in the eighth minute of extra time forcing penalties. Barnsley’s Jack Shepherd's miss gave Tranmere the 7 - 6 win in the shootout and progression in the competition.
MK Dons and Tranmere have met each other 19 times in their histories. The hosts have the upper hand in the fixture with ten wins in comparison to Tranmere’s seven wins. Draws are not too common in this fixture, points being shared only twice. Despite The Dons having a better track record in this fixture, in the last five games, Tranmere have won four times, with the other game ending in a draw.