2017–18 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season explained

Club:	Milton Keynes Dons
Season:	2017–18
Manager:	Robbie Neilson (until 20 January 2018) Dan Micciche (from 23 January 2018 until 22 April 2018) Keith Millen (caretaker, from 22 April 2018 until 6 June 2018) Paul Tisdale (from 6 June 2018)
Chairman:	Pete Winkelman
Stadium:	Stadium MK
League:	League One
League Result:	23rd (relegated to EFL League Two)
Cup1:	FA Cup
Cup1 Result:	Fourth round
Cup2:	EFL Cup
Cup2 Result:	Second round
Cup3:	EFL Trophy
Cup3 Result:	Second round
League Topscorer:	Chuks Aneke (9)
Season Topscorer:	Chuks Aneke (10)
Highest Attendance:	14,925
Lowest Attendance:	1,541
Average Attendance:	9,202^[1]
Largest Win:	0–4
Largest Loss:	5-1
Prevseason:	2016–17
Nextseason:	2018–19
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The 2017–18 season was Milton Keynes Dons' 14th season in their existence, and their second consecutive season in League One, the third tier of English football.^[2] Along with competing in League One, the club also competed in the FA Cup, EFL Cup and EFL Trophy.

The season covers the period from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018.

Competitions

League One

See main article: 2017–18 Football League One. 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	11	18	17	49	57	–8	51
21	Oldham Athletic (R)	46	11	17	18	58	75	–17	50
22	Northampton Town (R)	46	12	11	23	43	77	–34	47
23	Milton Keynes Dons (R)	46	11	12	23	43	69	–26	45
24	Bury (R)	46	8	12	26	41	71	–30	36

Source: Sky Sports

Matches

Win

Draw

Loss

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

Opponent	Venue	Result	Scorers	Attendance	Ref
5 August 2017 – 15:00	Wigan Athletic	Home	0–1		9,164	^[3]
12 August 2017 – 15:00	Blackpool	Away	0–1		3,412	^[4]
19 August 2017 – 15:00	Gillingham	Home	1–0	Sow	7,901	^[5]
26 August 2017 – 15:00	Blackburn Rovers	Away	1–4	Upson	10,111	^[6]
2 September 2017 – 15:00	Oxford United	Home	1–1	Brittain	10,746	^[7]
9 September 2017 – 15:00	Plymouth Argyle	Away	1–0	Nesbitt	8,566	^[8]
12 September 2017 – 19:45	Peterborough United	Away	0–2		6,465	^[9]
16 September 2017 – 15:00	Rochdale	Home	3–2	Ariyibi (2), Seager	7,670	^[10]
22 September 2017 – 19:45	AFC Wimbledon	Away	2–0	Francomb (o.g.), Ariyibi	3,973	^[11]
26 September 2017 – 19:45	Northampton Town	Home	0–0		11,340	^[12]
30 September 2017 – 15:00	Bury	Away	2–0	Sow, Ebanks-Landell	3,165	^[13]
7 October 2017 – 15:00	Bradford City	Home	1–4	Ebanks-Landell	9,106	^[14]
14 October 2017 – 15:00	Portsmouth	Away	0–2		17,608	^[15]
17 October 2017 – 19:45	Walsall	Home	1–1	Aneke	7,258	^[16]
21 October 2017 – 15:00	Oldham Athletic	Home	4–4	Gilbey, Upson (2), Nesbitt	9,312	^[17]
28 October 2017 – 15:00	Bristol Rovers	Away	0–2		9,312	^[18]
11 November 2017 – 15:00	Fleetwood Town	Home	1–0	Aneke	7,827	^[19]
18 November 2017 – 15:00	Charlton Athletic	Away	2–2	Agard (2)	10,577	^[20]
21 November 2017 – 19:45	Southend United	Home	1–1	Agard	7,521	^[21]
25 November 2017 – 15:00	Doncaster Rovers	Away	1–2	Aneke	7,743	^[22]
9 December 2017 – 15:00	Shrewsbury Town	Home	1–1	Pawlett	8,355	^[23]
16 December 2017 – 15:00	Scunthorpe United	Away	2–2	Agard, Aneke	3,569	^[24]
23 December 2017 – 15:00	Rotherham United	Away	1–2	Aneke	8,333	^[25]
26 December 2017 – 15:00	Plymouth Argyle	Home	0–1		9,268	^[26]
30 December 2017 – 15:00	Peterborough United	Home	1–0	Aneke	10,304	^[27]
1 January 2018 – 15:00	Oxford United	Away	1–3	Gilbey	7,628	^[28]
13 January 2018 – 15:00	AFC Wimbledon	Home	0–0		9,504	^[29]
20 January 2018 – 15:00	Northampton Town	Away	1–2	Gilbey	7,231	^[30]
3 February 2018 – 15:00	Walsall	Away	0–1		4,009	^[31]
10 February 2018 – 15:00	Portsmouth	Home	1–2	Ugbo	14,762	^[32]
13 February 2018 – 19:45	Oldham Athletic	Away	0–1		3,381	^[33]
17 February 2018 – 15:00	Charlton Athletic	Home	1–2	Agard	8,961	^[34]
21 February 2018 – 19:45	Rochdale	Away	0–0		2,273	^[35]
24 February 2018 – 15:00	Fleetwood Town	Away	1–1	Muirhead	2,773	^[36]
3 March 2018 – 15:00	Bristol Rovers	Home	0–1		8,240	^[37]
13 March 2018 – 19:45	Rotherham United	Home	3–2	Muirhead (2), Pawlett	7,327	^[38]
17 March 2018 – 15:00	Bury	Home	2–1	Aneke (2)	9,247	^[39]
24 March 2018 – 15:00	Blackpool	Home	0–0		8,094	^[40]
29 March 2018 – 15:00	Gillingham	Away	2–1	Aneke, Williams	5,540	^[41]
2 April 2018 – 15:00	Blackburn Rovers	Home	1–2	Pawlett	11,215	^[42]
7 April 2018 – 15:00	Wigan Athletic	Away	1–5	Brittain	8,404	^[43]
14 April 2018 – 15:00	Doncaster Rovers	Home	1–2	Ugbo	8,954	^[44]
21 April 2018 – 15:00	Southend United	Away	0–4		7,546	^[45]
24 April 2018 – 19:45	Bradford City	Away	0–2		19,192	^[46]
28 April 2018 – 15:00	Scunthorpe United	Home	0–2		9,578	^[47]
5 May 2018 – 15:00	Shrewsbury Town	Away	1–0	Agard	6,516	^[48]

FA Cup

See main article: 2017–18 FA Cup. Matches

Win

Draw

Loss

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

Round	Opponent	Venue	Result	Scorers	Attendance	Ref
3 November 2017 – 19:55	First round	Hyde United	Away	4–0	Nesbitt, Aneke, Ebanks-Landell, Upson	3,126	^[49]
2 December 2017 – 15:00	Second round	Maidstone United	Home	4–1	Nesbitt, Agard (2), Pawlett	4,804	^[50]
6 January 2018 – 15:00	Third round	Queens Park Rangers	Away	1–0	Cissé	6,314	^[51]
27 January 2018 – 15:00	Fourth round	Coventry City	Home	0–1		14,925	^[52]

EFL Cup

See main article: 2017–18 EFL Cup. Matches

Win

Draw

Loss

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

Round	Opponent	Venue	Result	Scorers	Attendance	Ref
8 August 2017 – 19:45	First round	Forest Green Rovers	Away	1–0	Ariyibi	1,608	^[53]
22 August 2017 – 19:45	Second round	Swansea City	Home	1–4	Seager	5,162	^[54]

EFL Trophy

See main article: 2017–18 EFL Trophy. Southern Group G Table

width=20 style="background:#FFFFFF; color:black; border:1px solid red;"	Pos	width=20 style="background:#FFFFFF; color:black; border:1px solid red;"	Div	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;"	PW	width=20 style="background:#FFFFFF; color:black; border:1px solid red;"	PL	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	width=20 style="background:#FFFFFF; color:black; border:1px solid red;"	Qualification
1	L1	Milton Keynes Dons (Q)	3	2	1	0	0	6	3	+3	8
2	L1	Oxford United (Q)	3	1	0	1	1	11	8	+3	4
3	L2	Stevenage (E)	3	1	0	1	1	5	7	–2	4
4	ACA		3	0	1	0	2	3	7	–4	2

Matches

Win

Draw

Loss

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

Round	Opponent	Venue	Result	Scorers	Attendance	Ref
29 August 2017 – 19:45	Group stage	Brighton & Hove Albion U21	Home	2–0	Ariyibi, Tshibola	1,541	^[55]
3 October 2017 – 19:45	Group stage	Stevenage	Home	0–0		1,793	^[56]
7 November 2017 – 19:45	Group stage	Oxford United	Away	4–3	Thomas-Asante, Ariyibi (2), Seager	1,182	^[57]
6 December 2017 – 19:45	Second round	Chelsea U23	Home	0–4		1,308	^[58]

Player details

Note: Players' ages as of the club's opening fixture of the 2017–18 season.

	Name	Nationality	Position	Date of birth (age)	Signed from	Signed in	Transfer fee	Notes
Goalkeepers
1	Lee Nicholls		GK	August 5, 2017	Free agent	2016	Free
13	Wieger Sietsma		GK	August 5, 2017	Free agent	2017	Free
Defenders
2	George Williams		RB	August 5, 2017	Barnsley	2016	Free
3	Dean Lewington		LB	August 5, 2017	Wimbledon	2004	Free	Club Captain
4	Joe Walsh		CB	August 5, 2017	Crawley Town	2015	Undisclosed
5	Scott Wootton		CB	August 5, 2017	Free agent	2016	Free
12	Scott Golbourne		LB	August 5, 2017	Bristol City	2017	Loan
15	Elliott Ward		CB	August 5, 2017	Blackburn Rovers	2018	Loan
19	Ethan Ebanks-Landell		CB	August 5, 2017	Wolverhampton Wanderers	2017	Loan
20	Josh Tymon		LB	August 5, 2017	Stoke city	2018	Loan
23	Ben Tilney		LB	August 5, 2017	Academy	2014	Trainee
25	Callum Brittain		RB	August 5, 2017	Academy	2016	Trainee
29	Oran Jackson		CB	August 5, 2017	Academy	2016	Trainee
Midfielders
6	Ed Upson		CM	August 5, 2017	Millwall	2016	Free
7	Nigel Reo-Coker		DM	August 5, 2017	Free agent	2018	Free
8	Ousseynou Cissé		DM	August 5, 2017	Tours	2017	Free
17	Marcus Tavernier		LM	August 5, 2017	Middlesbrough	2018	Loan
18	Conor McGrandles		CM	August 5, 2017	Norwich City	2017	Free
21	Aidan Nesbitt		AM	August 5, 2017	Celtic	2017	Undisclosed
22	Giorgio Rasulo		CM	August 5, 2017	Academy	2012	Trainee
24	Connor Furlong		CM	August 5, 2017	Academy	2016	Trainee
26	Alex Gilbey		CM	August 5, 2017	Wigan Athletic	2017	Undisclosed
28	Hugo Logan		AM	August 5, 2017	Academy	2017	Trainee
35	David Kasumu		CM	August 5, 2017	Academy	2017	Trainee
Forwards
9	Osman Sow		CF	August 5, 2017	Free agent	2017	Free
10	Chuks Aneke		CF	August 5, 2017	Zulte Waregem	2016	Free
11	Peter Pawlett		LW	August 5, 2017	Aberdeen	2017	Free
14	Kieran Agard		RW	August 5, 2017	Bristol City	2016	Undisclosed
16	Robbie Muirhead		CF	August 5, 2017	Hears	2017	Undisclosed
27	Ike Ugbo		CF	August 5, 2017	Chelsea	2018	Loan
30	Sam Nombe		CF	August 5, 2017	Academy	2017	Trainee
31	Brandon Thomas-Asante		LW	August 5, 2017	Academy	2016	Trainee
37	Dylan Asonganyi		CF	August 5, 2017	Academy	2017	Trainee
Out on loan
Left club during season
7	Gboly Ariyibi		RW	August 5, 2017	Nottingham Forest	2017	Loan
15	Ryan Seager		CF	August 5, 2017	Southampton	2017	Loan
17	Paul Downing		CB	August 5, 2017	Walsall	2016	Free
17	Aaron Tshibola		CM	August 5, 2017	Aston Villa	2017	Loan

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from	Position	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
1 July 2017	MF				^[59]
	MF				^[60]
	MF
7 July 2017	GK				^[61]
14 August 2017	FW			Undisclosed	^[62]
31 August 2017	MF
	MF		Celtic
22 March 2018	MF				^[63]

Transfers out

Date from	Position	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
1 July 2017	DF			Undisclosed
	FW
	FW		Released
	GK		Released
	MF
	MF		Released
	FW
8 January 2018	DF			Undisclosed	^[64]

Loans in

Start date	Position	Name	From	End date	Ref.
14 July 2017	DF			End of season
17 July 2017	FW			January 2018
21 July 2017	FW			26 January 2018
27 July 2017	MF			9 November 2017
31 August 2017	DF			January 2018
4 January 2018	FW			End of season
17 January 2018	FW		Middlesbrough
30 January 2018	DF
	DF
31 January 2018	DF

Loans out

Awards

• EFL Young Player of the Month (September): Callum Brittain^[65]

External links

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

Notes and References

1. Web site: League One 2017/2018 . worldfootball.net . 5 April 2018 .
2. News: History . Statto . 28 April 2017 . 9 July 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150709121541/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/milton-keynes-dons/history . dead .
3. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 0-1 Wigan Athletic . BBC Sport . 5 August 2017 . 1 May 2018 .
4. Web site: Blackpool 1-0 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 12 August 2017 . 1 May 2018 .
5. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 1-0 Gillingham . BBC Sport . 19 August 2017 . 1 May 2018 .
6. Web site: Blackburn Rovers 4-1 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 26 August 2017 . 1 May 2018 .
7. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 1-1 Oxford United . BBC Sport . 2 September 2017 . 1 May 2018 .
8. Web site: Plymouth Argyle 0-1 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 9 September 2017 . 1 May 2018 .
9. Web site: Peterborough United 2-0 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 12 September 2017 . 1 May 2018 .
10. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 3-2 Rochdale . BBC Sport . 16 September 2017 . 1 May 2018 .
11. Web site: AFC Wimbledon 0-2 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 22 September 2017 . 1 May 2018 .
12. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 0-0 Northampton Town . BBC Sport . 26 September 2017 . 1 May 2018 .
13. Web site: Bury 0-2 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 30 September 2017 . 1 May 2018 .
14. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 1-4 Bradford City . BBC Sport . 7 October 2017 . 1 May 2018 .
15. Web site: Portsmouth 2-0 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 14 October 2017 . 1 May 2018 .
16. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 1-1 Walsall . BBC Sport . 17 October 2017 . 1 May 2018 .
17. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 4-4 Oldham Athletic . BBC Sport . 21 October 2017 . 1 May 2018 .
18. Web site: Bristol Rovers 2-0 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 28 October 2017 . 1 May 2018 .
19. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 1-0 Fleetwood Town . BBC Sport . 11 November 2017 . 1 May 2018 .
20. Web site: Charlton Athletic 2-2 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 18 November 2017 . 1 May 2018 .
21. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 1-1 Southend United . BBC Sport . 21 November 2017 . 1 May 2018 .
22. Web site: Doncaster Rovers 2-1 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 25 November 2017 . 1 May 2018 .
23. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 1-1 Shrewsbury Town . BBC Sport . 9 December 2017 . 1 May 2018 .
24. Web site: Scunthorpe United 2-2 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 16 December 2017 . 1 May 2018 .
25. Web site: Rotherham United 2-1 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 23 December 2017 . 1 May 2018 .
26. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 0-1 Plymouth Argyle . BBC Sport . 26 December 2017 . 1 May 2018 .
27. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 1-0 Peterborough United . BBC Sport . 30 December 2017 . 1 May 2018 .
28. Web site: Oxford United 3-1 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 1 January 2018 . 1 May 2018 .
29. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 0-0 AFC Wimbledon . BBC Sport . 13 January 2018 . 1 May 2018 .
30. Web site: Northampton Town 2-1 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 20 January 2018 . 1 May 2018 .
31. Web site: Walsall 1-0 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 3 February 2018 . 1 May 2018 .
32. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 1-2 Portsmouth . BBC Sport . 10 February 2018 . 1 May 2018 .
33. Web site: Oldham Athletic 1-0 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 13 February 2018 . 1 May 2018 .
34. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 1-2 Charlton Athletic . BBC Sport . 17 February 2018 . 1 May 2018 .
35. Web site: Rochdale 0-0 Milton Keyne sDons . BBC Sport . 21 February 2018 . 1 May 2018 .
36. Web site: Fleetwood Town 1-1 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 24 February 2018 . 1 May 2018 .
37. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 0-1 Bristol Rovers . BBC Sport . 3 March 2018 . 1 May 2018 .
38. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 3-2 Rotherham United . BBC Sport . 13 March 2018 . 1 May 2018 .
39. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 2-1 Bury . BBC Sport . 17 March 2018 . 1 May 2018 .
40. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 0-0 Blackpool . BBC Sport . 24 March 2018 . 1 May 2018 .
41. Web site: Gillingham 1-2 Milton Keynes Dons. BBC Sport . 29 March 2018 . 1 May 2018 .
42. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 1-2 Blackburn Rovers . BBC Sport . 2 April 2018 . 1 May 2018 .
43. Web site: Wigan Athletic 5-1 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 7 April 2018 . 1 May 2018 .
44. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 1-2 Doncaster Rovers . BBC Sport . 14 April 2018 . 1 May 2018 .
45. Web site: Southend United 4-0 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 21 April 2018 . 1 May 2018 .
46. Web site: Bradford City 2-0 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 24 April 2018 . 1 May 2018 .
47. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 0-2 Scunthorpe United . BBC Sport . 28 April 2018 . 1 May 2018 .
48. Web site: Shrewsbury Town 0-1 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 5 May 2018 . 5 May 2018 .
49. Web site: Hyde United 0-4 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 3 November 2017 . 29 April 2018 .
50. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 4-1 Maidstone United . BBC Sport . 2 December 2017 . 29 April 2018 .
51. Web site: Queens Park Rangers 0-1 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 6 January 2018 . 29 April 2018 .
52. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 0-1 Coventry City . BBC Sport . 27 January 2018 . 29 April 2018 .
53. Web site: Forest Green Rovers 0-1 MK Dons . Milton Keynes Dons . 8 August 2017 . 29 April 2018 .
54. Web site: MK Dons 1-4 Swansea City . Milton Keynes Dons . 22 August 2017 . 29 April 2018 .
55. Web site: Report: MK Dons 2-0 Brighton & Hove Albion U21s . Milton Keynes Dons . 29 August 2017 . 29 April 2018 .
56. Web site: Report: MK Dons 0-0 Stevenage . Milton Keynes Dons . 3 October 2017 . 29 April 2018 .
57. Web site: Report: Oxford United 3-4 Milton Keynes Dons . Milton Keynes Dons . 7 November 2017 . 29 April 2018 .
58. Web site: Checkatrade Trophy: Michy Batshuayi plays second Chelsea game in 24 hours . BBC Sport . 6 December 2017 . 29 April 2018 .
59. Web site: Transfers - June 2017 . BBC Sport . 9 June 2019 .
60. Web site: Transfers - February, March, April & May 2017 . BBC Sport . 9 June 2019 .
61. Web site: Transfers - July 2017 . BBC Sport . 9 June 2019 .
62. Web site: Transfers - August 2017 . BBC Sport . 9 June 2019 .
63. Web site: Transfers - Feb-May 2018 . BBC Sport . 9 June 2019 .
64. News: Transfer deals - January 2018. 1 January 2018. 1 January 2018. British Broadcasting Corporation. BBC Sport.
65. Web site: Callum Brittain: MK Dons defender named EFL Young Player of the Month for September . BBC Sport . 16 October 2017 . 1 May 2018 .