Bristol Rovers vs Milton Keynes Dons Match Analysis & Prediction
13/12/2022 10:30 pm
Bristol Rovers and Milton Keynes Dons will go head to head in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday, with a place in the quarter-finals of the Southern Section at stake for the two sides.
While the hosts overcame Colchester United in the round of 32 to progress to this stage, MK Dons navigated their way past Newport County in the last round of the competition.
Bristol Rovers earned promotion from League Two last season, and it has been a strong campaign for the club to date, with a total of 28 points from 21 matches leaving them in 12th place in the League One table.
The Pirates are actually just three points behind sixth-placed Peterborough United on the same number of games, and it would be some story if they were in a position to challenge for a spot in the Championship entering the business end of the season.
Joey Barton’s side enter the contest off the back of a 1-0 victory over Port Vale in the league on Saturday, and they have lost just one of their last seven matches, which came 2-0 reverse to Boreham Wood in the FA Cup at the end of last month.
Bristol Rovers finished second behind Plymouth Argyle in Group E to progress to the next round of the EFL Trophy, where they claimed a 2-1 victory over Colchester to advance to this stage.
Meanwhile, MK Dons finished third in League One last season, only missing out on automatic promotion by a single point, but they then lost to Wycombe Wanderers in the semi-finals of the playoffs.
However, the Dons have found it difficult this season, picking up just 15 points from their 20 matches, which has left them in 23rd place in the table.
They enter the contest off the back of a 2-1 defeat to Fleetwood Town in the league on Saturday, and they have not been victorious in the third tier since the end of October, which has led to the sacking of Liam Manning, with an announcement being made on Sunday.
As they will now be led by captain Dean Lewington on an interim basis for this game, this club has enjoyed success in the EFL Trophy this season, finishing top of Group C of the Southern Section with six points before defeating Newport County 3-1 in the round of 32 last time out.
Bristol Rovers vs. Milton Keynes Dons Head to head
These two teams have previously met on 17 occasions in two competitions, where Bristol have claimed five victories while MK Dons have won nine, and they have drawn in three. Bristol have scored 14 goals and conceded 23. In their last five meetings, Bristol have won two and MK Dons three.
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12/11/2019Bristol Rovers1Milton Keynes Dons0League One
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01/01/2020Milton Keynes Dons3Bristol Rovers0League One
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26/12/2020Milton Keynes Dons2Bristol Rovers0League One
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20/04/2021Bristol Rovers0Milton Keynes Dons2League One
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11/10/2022Milton Keynes Dons0Bristol Rovers1League One
Bristol Rovers Team News
Barton will make changes to the side that took to the pitch against Port Vale in the league on Saturday, with Anssi Jaakkola set to feature between the sticks.
John Marquis could also feature in the final third of the field, but Josh Coburn and Aaron Collins should both retain their spots.
Bristol Rovers's Last 5 Matches
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19/11/2022Bristol Rovers1Peterborough United0League One
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23/11/2022Colchester United1Bristol Rovers2EFL Trophy
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27/11/2022Bristol Rovers0Boreham Wood2FA Cup
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02/12/2022Bolton Wanderers1Bristol Rovers1League One
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10/12/2022Bristol Rovers1Port Vale0League One
Milton Keynes Dons Team News
MK Dons interim manager Lewington could keep faith with the side that took to the field for the first whistle against Newport County in the competition last time out.
Matthew Dennis should feature in the final third of the field for the visitors, while Ethan Robson is expected to come into the side in central midfield.
Milton Keynes Dons's Last 5 Matches
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19/11/2022Barnsley3Milton Keynes Dons1League One
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22/11/2022Milton Keynes Dons3Newport County1EFL Trophy
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26/11/2022Portsmouth3Milton Keynes Dons2FA Cup
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03/12/2022Milton Keynes Dons1Burton Albion1League One
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10/12/2022Milton Keynes Dons1Fleetwood Town2League One
Bristol Rovers vs. Milton Keynes Dons: Odds and Predictions
Main Prediction
Double Chance: Milton Keynes Dons or X
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