The first round of the EFL Cup gets underway this weekend as Bournemouth plays host to MK Dons. The match schedules for Saturday Vitality Stadium with kickoff at 5 pm.
The Cherries head into their first competitive match after losing out in the Championship semi-final playoffs. On the other hand, MK Dons ended their campaign in League One in the 13th spot.
The appointment of former Fulham boss Scott Parker came with a lot of optimism. Furthermore, the Cherries felt a saving grace to return to the English top-flight. However, their pre-season fixtures show the same fate suffered last season.
First, their campaign started on a high note with a 4-2 win over Marbella. However, it followed with a 2-1 defeat to Granada. In addition, there were some good spells in their clash against Chelsea before succumbing in the dying minutes.
Scott Parker faces a dilemma in the loss of his star players to raise funds at the camp. Some notable names put up in the transfer window include Jack Wilshere, Asmir Begovic, and Diego Rick.
On the other hand, the impact of Russell Martin isn’t going unnoticed for MK Dons. The veteran defender looks poised for a managerial role at Swansea City. However, Martin’s remains with a major hurdle in a bid to return to the Championship. The transfer window has been positive with the arrivals of Josh Martin and Mohamed Elisa.
Bournemouth vs MK Dons Head to Head
Both sides have 11 games against each other, with Bournemouth taking five wins while MK Dons with three wins. Here is a look at their previous encounters:
Home
- Chelsea 2-1 Bournemouth
- Granada 2-1 Bournemouth
- Bournemouth 4-2 RB Linense
- Brentford 3-1 Bournemouth
- Bournemouth 1-0 Brentford
Away
- MK Dons 1-3 Tottenham
- Bristol City 3-1 MK Dons
- King’s Lynn Town 1-3 MK Dons
- MK Dons 0-3 Rochdale
- Fleetwood Town 1-1 MK Dons
Bournemouth Team News
Parker is more likely to field the same starting XI that got some minutes under their belt against Chelsea. In addition, we expect the likes of Zeino Ibsen and Kylie, and Taylor to get some minutes. Davis sets to make a debut at the camp after a move from Leeds United.
MK Dons Team News
Martin is less likely to alter the starting lineup despite picking a loss last time against Tottenham. John Freeman is pushing for a call after starting on the bench.
Prediction and Odds
Even though it marks the first competitive match for both sides, we envisage Bournemouth taking a win comfortably.
- Bournemouth Win
- Goals Over 2.5
- Both Teams to Score