2015–16 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season explained

Club:	Milton Keynes Dons
Season:	2015–16
Stadium:	Stadium MK
League:	Championship
League Result:	23rd (relegated to League One)
Cup1:	FA Cup
Cup1 Result:	Fourth round
Cup2:	League Cup
Cup2 Result:	Third round
League Topscorer:	Nicky Maynard (6)
Season Topscorer:	Nicky Maynard (7) Josh Murphy (7)
Highest Attendance:	28,127
Lowest Attendance:	5,444
Average Attendance:	13,158^[1]
Largest Win:	1–4
Largest Loss:	0–6
Prevseason:	2014–15
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The 2015–16 season was Milton Keynes Dons's 12th season in their existence, and their first season in the Championship, the second tier of English football, having gained promotion from League One the previous season.^[2]

Along with competing in the Championship, the club also participated in the FA Cup and League Cup.

The season covers the period from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016.

Competitions

Championship

See main article: 2015–16 Football League Championship. Final table

width=20 style="background:#FFFFFF; color:black; border:1px solid red;"	Pos	width=175 style="background:#FFFFFF; color:black; border:1px solid red;"	Team	width=20 style="background:#FFFFFF; color:black; border:1px solid red;"	Pld	width=20 style="background:#FFFFFF; color:black; border:1px solid red;"	W	width=20 style="background:#FFFFFF; color:black; border:1px solid red;"	D	width=20 style="background:#FFFFFF; color:black; border:1px solid red;"	L	width=30 style="background:#FFFFFF; color:black; border:1px solid red;"	GF	width=30 style="background:#FFFFFF; color:black; border:1px solid red;"	GA	width=30 style="background:#FFFFFF; color:black; border:1px solid red;"	GD	width=20 style="background:#FFFFFF; color:black; border:1px solid red;"	Pts
20		46	12	15	19	66	79	–13	51
21		46	25	14	7	53	71	–18	49
22	Charlton Athletic (R)	46	9	13	24	40	80	–40	40
23	Milton Keynes Dons (R)	46	9	12	25	39	69	–30	39
24	Bolton Wanderers (R)	46	5	15	26	41	81	–40	30

Source: Sky Sports

Matches

Win

Draw

Loss

Date! style="background:#FFFFFF; color:black; border:1px solid red;"

Opponent	Venue	Result	Scorers	Attendance	Ref
8 August 2015 – 15:00	Rotherham United	Away	4–1	Hall, Collins (o.g.), Bowditch, Baker	9,869	^[3]
15 August 2015 – 15:00	Preston North End	Home	0–1		11,035	^[4]
18 August 2015 – 19:45	Bolton Wanderers	Home	1–0	Powell	10,765	^[5]
22 August 2015 – 15:00	Reading	Away	0–0		16,547	^[6]
29 August 2015 – 15:00	Birmingham City	Home	0–2		14,626	^[7]
12 September 2015 – 15:00	Middlesbrough	Away	0–2		21,448	^[8]
15 September 2015 – 19:45	Burnley	Away	1–2	Baker	15,845	^[9]
19 September 2015 – 15:00	Leeds United	Home	1–2	Church	19,284	^[10]
26 September 2015 – 12:30	Derby County	Home	1–3	Murphy	13,554	^[11]
3 October 2015 – 15:00	Bristol City	Away	1–1	Powell	14,535	^[12]
17 October 2015 – 15:00	Blackburn Rovers	Home	3–0	Reeves (2), Church	11,548	^[13]
20 October 2015 – 19:45	Huddersfield Town	Away	0–2		11,471	^[14]
24 October 2015 – 15:00	Queens Park Rangers	Away	0–3		15,567	^[15]
31 October 2015 – 15:00	Hull City	Home	0–2		15,360	^[16]
3 November 2015 – 19:45	Charlton Athletic	Home	1–0	Bowditch	9,575	^[17]
7 November 2015 – 15:00	Brighton & Hove Albion	Away	1–2	Maynard	23,661	^[18]
21 November 2015 – 15:00	Fulham	Home	1–1	Bowditch	14,508	^[19]
28 November 2015 – 15:00	Wolverhampton Wanderers	Away	0–0		19,814	^[20]
5 December 2015 – 15:00	Brentford	Away	0–2		9,682	^[21]
12 December 2015 – 15:00	Ipswich Town	Home	0–1		13,520	^[22]
15 December 2015 – 19:45	Sheffield Wednesday	Home	2–1	Baker, Maynard	11,422	^[23]
19 December 2015 – 15:00	Nottingham Forest	Away	1–2	Murphy	19,975	^[24]
26 December 2015 – 15:00	Cardiff City	Home	2–1	Maynard, Murphy	12,510	^[25]
28 December 2015 – 15:00	Birmingham City	Away	0–1		19,714	^[26]
2 January 2016 – 15:00	Leeds United	Away	1–1	Hall	24,356	^[27]
12 January 2016 – 19:45	Burnley	Home	0–5		10,011	^[28]
16 January 2016 – 15:00	Reading	Home	1–0	Walsh	13,062	^[29]
23 January 2016 – 15:00	Bolton Wanderers	Away	1–3	Murphy	13,932	^[30]
6 February 2016 – 15:00	Cardiff City	Away	0–0		13,833	^[31]
9 February 2016 – 19:45	Middlesbrough	Home	1–1	Bowditch	11,256	^[32]
13 February 2016 – 15:00	Derby County	Away	1–0	Forster-Caskey	30,075	^[33]
20 February 2016 – 15:00	Bristol City	Home	0–2		12,825	^[34]
23 February 2016 – 19:45	Huddersfield Town	Home	1–1	Revell	9,402	^[35]
27 February 2016 – 15:00	Blackburn Rovers	Away	2–3	Carruthers, Revell	12,693	^[36]
5 March 2016 – 15:00	Queens Park Rangers	Home	2–0	Lewington, Reeves	14,796	^[37]
8 March 2016 – 19:45	Charlton Athletic	Away	0–0		13,146	^[38]
12 March 2016 – 15:00	Hull City	Away	1–1	Kay	16,183	^[39]
19 March 2016 – 15:00	Brighton & Hove Albion	Home	1–2	Kay	21,345	^[40]
2 April 2016 – 15:00	Fulham	Away	1–2	Murphy	17,588	^[41]
5 April 2016 – 19:45	Wolverhampton Wanderers	Home	1–2	Maynard	12,131	^[42]
9 April 2016 – 15:00	Rotherham United	Home	0–4		13,048	^[43]
16 April 2016 – 15:00	Preston North End	Away	1–1	Maynard	10,457	^[44]
19 April 2016 – 19:45	Sheffield Wednesday	Away	0–0		20,220	^[45]
23 April 2016 – 15:00	Brentford	Home	1–4	Maynard	11,564	^[46]
30 April 2016 – 15:00	Ipswich Town	Away	2–3	Revell	19,631	^[47]
7 May 2016 – 15:00	Nottingham Forest	Home	1–2	Maynard	15,486	^[48]

FA Cup

See main article: 2015–16 FA Cup. Matches

Win

Draw

Loss

Date! style="background:#FFFFFF; color:black; border:1px solid red;"

Round	Opponent	Venue	Result	Scorers	Attendance	Ref
9 January 2016 – 15:00	Third round	Northampton Town	Away	2–2	Cresswell (o.g.), Maynard	5,878	^[49]
19 January 2016 – 19:45	Third round (replay)	Northampton Town	Home	3–0	Reeves, Murphy, Church	15,133	^[50]
31 January 2016 – 16:00	Fourth round	Chelsea	Home	1–5	Potter	28,127	^[51]

League Cup

See main article: 2015–16 Football League Cup. Matches

Win

Draw

Loss

Date! style="background:#FFFFFF; color:black; border:1px solid red;"

Round	Opponent	Venue	Result	Scorers	Attendance	Ref
11 August 2015 – 19:45	First round	Leyton Orient	Home	2–1	Baudry (o.g.), Baker	5,444	^[52]
25 August 2015 – 19:45	Second round	Cardiff City	Home	2–1	Baker, Murphy	5,617	^[53]
23 September 2015 – 19:45	Third round	Southampton	Home	0–6		10,189	^[54]

Player details

Note: Players' ages as of the club's opening fixture of the 2015–16 season.

	Name	Nationality	Position	Date of birth (age)	Signed from	Signed in	Transfer fee
Goalkeepers
1	David Martin		GK	August 8, 2015	Liverpool	2010	Free
22	Cody Cropper		GK	August 8, 2015	Southampton	2016	Free
29	Charlie Burns		GK	August 8, 2015	Academy	2014	Trainee
Defenders
3	Dean Lewington		LB	August 8, 2015	Wimbledon	2004	Free
4	Matthew Upson		CB	August 8, 2015	Free agent	2015	Free
5	Kyle McFadzean		CB	August 8, 2015	Crawley Town	2014	Undisclosed
6	Antony Kay		CB	August 8, 2015	Huddersfield Town	2012	Free
12	Jordan Spence		RB	August 8, 2015	Free agent	2014	Free
16	Joe Walsh		CB	August 8, 2015	Crawley Town	2015	Undisclosed
21	George Baldock		RB	August 8, 2015	Academy	2009	Trainee
33	Oran Jackson		CB	August 8, 2015	Academy	2016	Trainee
24	Ben Tilney		LB	August 8, 2015	Academy	2014	Trainee
24	Harry Hickford		CB	August 8, 2015	Academy	2014	Trainee
40	Kevin Long		CB	August 8, 2015	Burnley	2016	Loan
Midfielders
7	Carl Baker		AM	August 8, 2015	Free agent	2014	Free
8	Darren Potter		DM	August 8, 2015	Sheffield Wednesday	2011	Free
10	Ben Reeves		AM	August 8, 2015	Free agent	2013	Free
14	Samir Carruthers		AM	August 8, 2015	Aston Villa	2014	Undisclosed
20	Giorgio Rasulo		CM	August 8, 2015	Academy	2012	Trainee
34	Connor Furlong		CM	August 8, 2015	Academy	2016	Trainee
44	Jake Forster-Caskey		CM	August 8, 2015	Brighton & Hove Albion	2016	Loan
Forwards
9	Dean Bowditch		LW	August 8, 2015	Yeovil Town	2011	Free
13	Jay Emmanuel-Thomas		CF	August 8, 2015	Queens Park Rangers	2016	Loan
17	Daniel Powell		LW	August 8, 2015	Academy	2008	Trainee
18	Alex Revell		CF	August 8, 2015	Cardiff City	2016	Free
27	Kabongo Tshimanga		CF	August 8, 2015	Academy	2014	Trainee
28	Nicky Maynard		CF	August 8, 2015	Free agent	2015	Free
33	Josh Murphy		LW	August 8, 2015	Norwich City	2015	Loan
Out on loan
2	Lee Hodson		RB	August 8, 2015	Free agent	2013	Free
11	Simon Church		CF	August 8, 2015	Charlton Athletic	2015	Free
19	Tom Hitchcock		CF	August 8, 2015	Queens Park Rangers	2014	Free
Left club during season
13	Sam Gallagher		CF	August 8, 2015	Southampton	2015	Loan
15	Mark Randall		CM	August 8, 2015	Free agent	2014	Free
18	Sergio Aguza		CM	August 8, 2015	Real Madrid Castilla	2015	Free
21	Dale Jennings		LW	August 8, 2015	Barnsley	2015	Free
23	Cristian Benavente		AM	August 8, 2015	Real Madrid Castilla	2015	Free
23	Jonny Williams		AM	August 8, 2015	Crystal Palace	2016	Loan
26	Tom Flanagan		CB	August 8, 2015	Academy	2010	Trainee
38	Rob Hall		RW	August 8, 2015	Bolton Wanderers	2015	Loan
39	Diego Poyet		CM	August 8, 2015	West Ham United	2015	Loan

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from	Position	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
1 July 2015	DF			Undisclosed	^[55]
	FW				^[56]
	GK
	FW
17 July 2015	MF				^[57]
30 July 2015	DF
31 July 2015	MF
22 September 2015	FW				^[58]
1 February 2016	FW				^[59]

Transfers out

Date from	Position	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
1 July 2015	MF		Released
25 August 2015	DF				^[60]
5 January 2016	MF		Released		^[61]
14 January 2016	MF				^[62]
16 January 2016	MF		Released		^[63]

Loans in

Start date	Position	Name	From	End date	Ref.
28 July 2015	FW			5 April 2016
29 July 2015	FW			6 January 2016
19 August 2015	MF			3 January 2016
21 August 2015	FW			End of season
8 January 2016	MF			End of season
22 January 2016	MF			April 2016
1 February 2016	FW			End of season
24 March 2016	DF				^[64]

Loans out

Start date	Position	Name	To	End date	Ref.
1 July 2015	DF			28 January 2016
7 August 2015	FW			October 2015
6 November 2015	MF			6 January 2016	^[65]
14 January 2016	DF	Harry Hickford		February 2016
1 February 2016	FW			End of season
	DF
23 February 2016	FW

External links

• • Official Supporters Association website
• MK Dons news on MKWeb

Notes and References

1. Web site: Championship 2015/2016 . worldfootball.net . 16 October 2017 .
2. News: History . Statto . 7 May 2015 . 9 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150709121541/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/milton-keynes-dons/history . dead .
3. Web site: Rotherham United 1-4 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 8 August 2015 . 13 July 2019 .
4. Web site: MK Dons 0-1 Preston North End . BBC Sport . 15 August 2015 . 13 July 2019 .
5. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 1-0 Bolton Wanderers . BBC Sport . 18 August 2015 . 13 July 2019 .
6. Web site: Reading 0-0 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 22 August 2015 . 13 July 2019 .
7. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 0-2 Birmingham City . BBC Sport . 29 August 2015 . 13 July 2019 .
8. Web site: Middlesbrough 2-0 MK Dons . BBC Sport . 12 September 2015 . 13 July 2019 .
9. Web site: Burnley 2-1 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 15 September 2015 . 13 July 2019 .
10. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 1-2 Leeds United . BBC Sport . 19 September 2015 . 13 July 2019 .
11. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 1-3 Derby County . BBC Sport . 26 September 2015 . 13 July 2019 .
12. Web site: Bristol City 1-1 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 3 October 2015 . 13 July 2019 .
13. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 3-0 Blackburn Rovers . BBC Sport . 17 October 2015 . 13 July 2019 .
14. Web site: Huddersfield Town 2-0 MK Dons . BBC Sport . 20 October 2015 . 13 July 2019 .
15. Web site: Queens Park Rangers 3-0 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 24 October 2015 . 13 July 2019 .
16. Web site: MK Dons 0-2 Hull City . BBC Sport . 31 October 2015 . 13 July 2019 .
17. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 1-0 Charlton Athletic . BBC Sport . 3 November 2015 . 13 July 2019 .
18. Web site: Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 7 November 2015 . 13 July 2019 .
19. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 1-1 Fulham . BBC Sport . 21 November 2015 . 13 July 2019 .
20. Web site: Wolves 0-0 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 28 November 2015 . 13 July 2019 .
21. Web site: Brentford 2-0 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 5 December 2015 . 13 July 2019 .
22. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 0-1 Ipswich Town . BBC Sport . 12 December 2015 . 13 July 2019 .
23. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday . BBC Sport . 15 December 2015 . 13 July 2019 .
24. Web site: Nottingham Forest 2-1 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 19 December 2015 . 13 July 2019 .
25. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 2-1 Cardiff City . BBC Sport . 26 December 2015 . 13 July 2019 .
26. Web site: Birmingham City 1-0 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 28 December 2015 . 13 July 2019 .
27. Web site: Leeds United 1-1 MK Dons . BBC Sport . 2 January 2016 . 13 July 2019 .
28. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 0-5 Burnley . BBC Sport . 12 January 2016 . 13 July 2019 .
29. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 1-0 Reading . BBC Sport . 16 January 2016 . 13 July 2019 .
30. Web site: Bolton Wanderers 3-1 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 23 January 2016 . 13 July 2019 .
31. Web site: Cardiff City 0-0 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 6 February 2016 . 14 July 2019 .
32. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 1-1 Middlesbrough . BBC Sport . 9 February 2016 . 14 July 2019 .
33. Web site: Derby County 0-1 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 13 February 2016 . 14 July 2019 .
34. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 0-2 Bristol City . BBC Sport . 20 February 2016 . 14 July 2019 .
35. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 1-1 Huddersfield Town . BBC Sport . 23 February 2016 . 14 July 2019 .
36. Web site: Blackburn Rovers 3-2 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 27 February 2016 . 14 July 2019 .
37. Web site: MK Dons 2-0 Queens Park Rangers . BBC Sport . 5 March 2016 . 14 July 2019 .
38. Web site: Charlton Athletic 0-0 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 8 March 2016 . 14 July 2019 .
39. Web site: Hull City 1-1 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 12 March 2016 . 14 July 2019 .
40. Web site: MK Dons 1-2 Brighton & Hove Albion . BBC Sport . 19 March 2016 . 14 July 2019 .
41. Web site: Fulham 2-1 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 2 April 2016 . 14 July 2019 .
42. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 1-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers . BBC Sport . 5 April 2016 . 14 July 2019 .
43. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 0-4 Rotherham United . BBC Sport . 9 April 2016 . 14 July 2019 .
44. Web site: Preston North End 1-1 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 16 April 2016 . 14 July 2019 .
45. Web site: Sheffield Wednesday 0-0 MK Dons . BBC Sport . 19 April 2016 . 14 July 2019 .
46. Web site: MK Dons 1-4 Brentford . BBC Sport . 23 April 2016 . 14 July 2019 .
47. Web site: Ipswich Town 3-2 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 30 April 2016 . 14 July 2019 .
48. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 1-2 Nottingham Forest . BBC Sport . 7 May 2016 . 14 July 2019 .
49. Web site: Northampton Town 2-2 MK Dons . BBC Sport . 9 January 2016 . 14 July 2019 .
50. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 3-0 Northampton Town . BBC Sport . 19 January 2016 . 12 July 2019 .
51. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 1-5 Chelsea . BBC Sport . 31 January 2016 . 14 July 2019 .
52. Web site: MK Dons 2-1 Leyton Orient . BBC Sport . 11 August 2015 . 14 July 2019 .
53. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 2-1 Cardiff City AET . BBC Sport . 25 August 2015 . 14 July 2019 .
54. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 0-6 Southampton . BBC Sport . 23 September 2015 . 14 July 2019 .
55. Web site: Transfers - May 2015 . BBC Sport . 9 June 2019 .
56. Web site: Transfers - June 2015 . BBC Sport . 9 June 2019 .
57. Web site: Transfers - July 2015 . BBC Sport . 9 June 2019 .
58. Web site: Transfers - September 2015 . BBC Sport . 9 June 2019 .
59. Web site: Transfers - February 2016 . BBC Sport . 9 June 2019 .
60. Web site: Transfers - August 2015 . BBC Sport . 9 June 2019 .
61. Web site: MK Dons release Peruvian winger Cristian Benavente from contract . BBC Sport . 5 January 2016 . 9 June 2019 .
62. Web site: Transfers - January 2016 . BBC Sport . 9 June 2019 .
63. Web site: Aguza departs . Milton Keynes Dons . 16 January 2016 . 9 June 2019 .
64. Web site: Transfers - March/April 2016 . BBC Sport . 9 June 2019 .
65. Web site: Transfers - November 2015 . BBC Sport . 9 June 2019 .