2019–20 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season explained

Club:	Milton Keynes Dons
Season:	2019–20
Manager:	Paul Tisdale (until 2 November)^[1] Russell Martin (from 3 November)^[2]
Chairman:	Pete Winkelman
Stadium:	Stadium MK
League:	League One
League Result:	19th
Cup1:	FA Cup
Cup1 Result:	First round
Cup2:	EFL Cup
Cup2 Result:	Third round
Cup3:	EFL Trophy
Cup3 Result:	Third round
League Topscorer:	Rhys Healey (11)
Season Topscorer:	Rhys Healey (12)
Highest Attendance:	28,521
Lowest Attendance:	1,101
Average Attendance:	9,246^[3]
Largest Win:	4–1
Largest Loss:	24 August 2019, League One
Prevseason:	2018–19
Nextseason:	2020–21
Pattern La1:	_mkdons1920h
Pattern B1:	_mkdons1920h
Pattern Ra1:	_mkdons1920h
Pattern Sh1:	_mkdons1920h
Pattern So1:	_mkdons1920h
Pattern La2:	_mkdons1920a
Pattern B2:	_mkdons1920a
Pattern Ra2:	_mkdons1920a
Pattern Sh2:	_mkdons1920a
Pattern So2:	_mkdons1920a
Socks2:	ff3e3e
Pattern La3:	_mkdons1920t
Pattern B3:	_mkdons1920t
Pattern Ra3:	_mkdons1920t
Pattern Sh3:	_mkdons1920t
Pattern So3:	_mkdons1920t
Socks3:	fbd44c

The 2019–20 season was Milton Keynes Dons' 16th season in their existence, and the club's first season back in League One following promotion from League Two at the end of the 2018–19 season. Along with competing in League One, the club also competed in the FA Cup, EFL Cup and EFL Trophy.

Fixtures were suspended on 13 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[4] Clubs later voted to end the season prematurely with immediate effect on 9 June 2020, with the final table decided upon by an unweighted points-per-game system resulting in the club finishing the season in 19th place.^[5]

The season covered the period from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020.

Competitions

League One

See main article: 2019–20 EFL 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	width=20 style="background:#FFFFFF; color:black; border:1px solid red;"	PPG
19	Milton Keynes Dons	35	10	7	18	36	47	−11	37	1.06
20		35	8	11	16	39	52	−13	35	1.00
21	Tranmere Rovers (R)	34	8	8	18	36	60	−24	32	0.94
22	Southend United (R)	35	4	7	24	39	85	−46	19	0.54
23	Bolton Wanderers (R)	34	5	11	18	27	66	−39	14	0.41

Source: Sky Sports

Matches

Win

Draw

Loss

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

Opponent	Venue	Result	Scorers	Attendance	Ref
10 August 2019 – 15:00	Shrewsbury Town	Home	1–0	Healey	7,967	^[6]
17 August 2019 – 15:00	Wycombe Wanderers	Away	2–3	Bowery, Houghton	5,243	^[7]
20 August 2019 – 19:45	Lincoln City	Home	2–1	Brittain, Williams	8,166	^[8]
24 August 2019 – 15:00	Peterborough United	Home	0–4		9,402	^[9]
31 August 2019 – 15:00	Accrington Stanley	Away	1–2	Agard	2,218	^[10]
6 September 2019 – 12:00	AFC Wimbledon	Home	2–1	Nombe, Healey	8,627	^[11]
14 September 2019 – 15:00	Blackpool	Away	3–0	Martin, Houghton, Kasumu	8,283	^[12]
17 September 2019 – 19:45	Ipswich Town	Home	0–1		10,167	^[13]
21 September 2019 – 15:00	Southend United	Home	0–1		7,493	^[14]
28 September 2019 – 15:00	Sunderland	Away	1–2	Bowery	29,954	^[15]
5 October 2019 – 15:00	Burton Albion	Home	0–3		9,111	^[16]
12 October 2019 – 15:00	Bristol Rovers	Away	0–1		7,864	^[17]
19 October 2019 – 15:00	Coventry City	Home	0–0		13,621	^[18]
22 October 2019 – 19:45	Rochdale	Away	0–2		2,286	^[19]
26 October 2019 – 15:00	Fleetwood Town	Away	0–1		2,722	^[20]
2 November 2019 – 15:00	Tranmere Rovers	Home	1–3	Reeves	7,171	^[21]
16 November 2019 – 15:00	Bolton Wanderers	Away	0–1		11,819	^[22]
23 November 2019 – 15:00	Rotherham United	Home	2–3	Gilbey, Mason	7,811	^[23]
7 December 2019 – 15:00	Doncaster Rovers	Away	1–1	Gilbey	7,193	^[24]
14 December 2019 – 15:00	Oxford United	Home	1–0	Mason	10,031	^[25]
21 December 2019 – 15:00	Gillingham	Away	1–3	Gilbey	4,739	^[26]
26 December 2019 – 15:00	Southend United	Away	2–2	Mason, Healey	6,189	^[27]
29 December 2019 – 15:00	Portsmouth	Home	3–1	Healey, McGrandles, Gilbey	12,788	^[28]
1 January 2020 – 15:00	Bristol Rovers	Home	3–0	Healey, Nombe, Agard	8,236	^[29]
11 January 2020 – 15:00	Coventry City	Away	1–1	Morris	6,666	^[30]
14 January 2020 – 19:45	Burton Albion	Away	0–1		2,005	^[31]
18 January 2020 – 15:00	Sunderland	Home	0–1		13,327	^[32]
28 January 2020 – 19:45	Rochdale	Home	2–1	Morris, Healey	6,393	^[33]
1 February 2020 – 15:00	Wycombe Wanderers	Home	2–0	Healey, Gladwin	9,699	^[34]
8 February 2020 – 15:00	Shrewsbury Town	Away	1–1	Healey	5,791	^[35]
11 February 2020 – 19:45	Lincoln City	Away	1–1	Healey	7.783	^[36]
22 February 2020 – 15:00	Bolton Wanderers	Home	1–0	Healey	8,539	^[37]
25 February 2020 – 19:45	Portsmouth	Away	1–3	Gilbey	16,577	^[38]
29 February 2020 – 15:00	Rotherham United	Away	1–1	Healey	8,883	^[39]
7 March 2020 – 15:00	Doncaster Rovers	Home	0–1		7,880	^[40]

FA Cup

See main article: 2019–20 FA Cup. Matches

Win

Draw

Loss

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

Round	Opponent	Venue	Result	Scorers	Attendance	Ref
9 November 2019 – 15:00	First round	Port Vale	Home	0–1		3,598	^[41]

EFL Cup

See main article: 2019–20 EFL Cup. Matches

Win

Draw

Loss

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

Round	Opponent	Venue	Result	Scorers	Attendance	Ref
13 August 2019 – 19:45	First round	AFC Wimbledon	Away	2–2	McGrandles, Kasumu	2,191	^[42]
27 August 2019 – 19:45	Second round	Southend United	Away	4–1	Healey, Brittain, Boateng, Nombe	2,433	^[43]
25 September 2019 – 19:45	Third round	Liverpool	Home	0–2		28,521	^[44]

EFL Trophy

See main article: 2019–20 EFL Trophy. Southern Group G TableMatches

Win

Draw

Loss

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

Round	Opponent	Venue	Result	Scorers	Attendance	Ref
3 September 2019 – 19:45	Group stage	Stevenage	Away	3–0	McGrandles, Nombe (2)		^[45]
1 October 2019 – 19:45	Group stage	Fulham U21	Home	1–0	Agard		^[46]
12 November 2019 – 19:45	Group stage	Wycombe Wanderers	Home	1–2	Dickenson	1,101	^[47]
3 December 2019 – 19:45	Second round	Coventry City	Home	2–0	Agard, Mason	1,686	^[48]
7 January 2020 – 19:30	Third round	Newport County	Away	0–3		767	^[49]

Player details

Note: Players' ages as of the club's opening fixture of the 2019–20 season.

	Name	Nationality	Position	Date of birth (age)	Signed from	Signed in	Transfer fee
Goalkeepers
1	Lee Nicholls		GK	August 10, 2019	Free agent	2016	Free
13	Andy Fisher		GK	August 10, 2019	Blackburn Rovers	2020	Loan
Defenders
2	George Williams		RB	August 10, 2019	Barnsley	2016	Free
3	Dean Lewington		LB	August 10, 2019	Wimbledon	2004	Free
4	Joe Walsh		CB	August 10, 2019	Crawley Town	2015	Undisclosed
5	Regan Poole		CB	August 10, 2019	Manchester United	2019	Free
6	Baily Cargill		CB	August 10, 2019	Free agent	2018	Free
15	Jordan Moore-Taylor		CB	August 10, 2019	Exeter City	2018	Free
16	Russell Martin		CB	August 10, 2019	Free agent	2019	Free
25	Callum Brittain		RB	August 10, 2019	Academy	2016	Trainee
Midfielders
7	Ben Reeves		AM	August 10, 2019	Free agent	2019	Free
8	Alex Gilbey		AM	August 10, 2019	Wigan Athletic	2017	Undisclosed
17	Ben Gladwin		CM	August 10, 2019	Free agent	2020	Free
18	Conor McGrandles		CM	August 10, 2019	Norwich City	2017	Free
19	Louis Thompson		DM	August 10, 2019	Norwich City	2020	Loan
24	Jordan Houghton		DM	August 10, 2019	Free agent	2018	Free
26	Hiram Boateng		AM	August 10, 2019	Exeter City	2019	Compensation
29	David Kasumu		CM	August 10, 2019	Academy	2017	Trainee
33	Ryan Harley		AM	August 10, 2019	Exeter City	2018	Free
38	Charlie Pattison		AM	August 10, 2019	Academy	2019	Trainee
Forwards
9	Jordan Bowery		CF	August 10, 2019	Crewe Alexandra	2019	Free
10	Rhys Healey		CF	August 10, 2019	Cardiff City	2019	Undisclosed
14	Kieran Agard		CF	August 10, 2019	Bristol City	2016	Undisclosed
20	Joe Mason		CF	August 10, 2019	Free agent	2019	Free
23	Carlton Morris		CF	August 10, 2019	Norwich City	2020	Loan
27	Sam Nombe		CF	August 10, 2019	Academy	2017	Trainee
Out on loan
12	Laurie Walker		GK	August 10, 2019	Free agent	2019	Free
37	Dylan Asonganyi		CF	August 10, 2019	Academy	2017	Trainee
39	Jay Bird		CF	August 10, 2019	Academy	2019	Trainee
40	Matthew Sorinola		LWB	August 10, 2019	Academy	2019	Trainee
Left club during season
11	Brennan Dickenson		LW	August 10, 2019	Colchester United	2019	Free

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from	Position	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
1 July 2019				Compensation	^[50]
					^[51]
					^[52]
					^[53]
					^[54]
16 July 2019				Undisclosed	^[55]
1 August 2019					^[56]
10 January 2020					^[57]

Transfers out

Date from	Position	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
1 July 2019					^[58]
					^[59]
					^[60]
			Released		^[61]
					^[62]
			Released
			Released
		Liam Sole	Released
			Released
			Released
					^[63]
17 January 2020					^[64]

Loans in

Start date	Position	Name	From	End date	Ref.
8 January 2020				End of season	^[65]
16 January 2020					^[66]
31 January 2020					^[67]

Loans out

Start date	Position	Name	To	End date	Ref.
5 July 2019				End of season	^[68]
9 August 2019		Jay Bird			^[69]
5 September 2019				2 November 2019	^[70]
30 November 2019				3 January 2020
3 January 2020				1 February 2020	^[71]
14 February 2020				End of season
13 March 2020					^[72]

Awards

• EFL League One Player of the Month (December 2019): Alex Gilbey^[73]

External links

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

Notes and References

1. Web site: Club statement: Paul Tisdale . . 3 November 2019.
2. Web site: Russell Martin appointed MK Dons First-Team Manager . . 3 November 2019.
3. Web site: League One 2019/20 - Attendance . WorldFootball.net . 14 August 2019 .
4. Web site: Coronavirus: Premier League and EFL suspended in England - Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland halt games . . 13 March 2020 . 9 June 2020 .
5. Web site: League One & League Two clubs vote to end seasons early . . 9 June 2020 . 9 June 2020 .
6. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 1–0 Shrewsbury Town . BBC Sport . 10 August 2019 . 11 August 2019 .
7. Web site: Wycombe Wanderers 3–2 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 17 August 2019 . 17 August 2019 .
8. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 2–1 Lincoln City . BBC Sport . 20 August 2019 . 20 August 2019 .
9. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 0–4 Peterborough United . BBC Sport . 24 August 2019 . 24 August 2019 .
10. Web site: Accrington Stanley 2–1 Milton Keynes Dons . . 31 August 2019.
11. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 2–0 AFC Wimbledon . . 7 September 2019.
12. Web site: Blackpool 0–3 Milton Keynes Dons . . 14 September 2019 . 14 September 2019.
13. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 0–1 Ipswich Town . . 17 September 2019 . 18 September 2019.
14. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 0–1 Southend United . . 21 September 2019 . 22 September 2019.
15. Web site: Sunderland 2–1 Milton Keynes Dons . . 29 September 2019.
16. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 0-3 Burton Albion . . 5 October 2019.
17. Web site: Bristol Rovers 1-0 Milton Keynes Dons . . 12 October 2019.
18. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 0-0 Coventry City . . 20 October 2019.
19. Web site: Rochdale 2-0 Milton Keynes Dons . . 22 October 2019.
20. Web site: Fleetwood Town 1-0 Milton Keynes Dons . . 26 October 2019.
21. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 1-3 Tranmere Rovers . . 2 November 2019.
22. Web site: Bolton Wanderers 0-1 Milton Keynes Dons . . 16 November 2019.
23. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 2–3 Rotherham United . . 23 November 2019.
24. Web site: Doncaster Rovers 1-1 Milton Keynes Dons . . 8 December 2019.
25. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 1-0 Oxford United . . 15 December 2019.
26. Web site: Gillingham 3-1 Milton Keynes Dons . . 21 December 2019.
27. Web site: Southend United 2-2 Milton Keynes Dons . . 26 December 2019.
28. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 3-1 Portsmouth . . 29 December 2019.
29. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 3-0 Bristol Rovers . . 2 January 2020.
30. Web site: Coventry City 1-1 Milton Keynes Dons . . 12 January 2020.
31. News: Burton Albion 1–0 Milton Keynes Dons . 14 January 2020 . BBC.
32. News: Milton Keynes Dons 0–1 Sunderland . 19 January 2020 . BBC.
33. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 2-1 Rochdale . . 28 January 2020.
34. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 2-0 Wycombe Wanderers . . 1 February 2020 .
35. Web site: Shrewsbury Town 1-1 Milton Keynes Dons . . 8 February 2020 .
36. Web site: Lincoln City 1-1 Milton Keynes Dons . . 11 February 2020 .
37. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 1-0 Bolton Wanderers . . 22 February 2020 .
38. News: Portsmouth 3-1 Milton Keynes Dons . 25 February 2020 . BBC.
39. Web site: Rotherham United 1-1 Milton Keynes Dons . . 29 February 2020 .
40. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 0–1 Doncaster Rovers . . 8 March 2020 .
41. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 0–1 Port Vale . . 9 November 2019 . 9 November 2019.
42. Web site: AFC Wimbledon 2-2 Milton Keynes Dons (2-4 pens) . BBC Sport . 13 August 2019 . 14 August 2019 .
43. Web site: Southend United 1-4 Milton Keynes Dons . BBC Sport . 27 August 2019 . 27 August 2019 .
44. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 0–2 Liverpool . . 25 September 2019.
45. Web site: Report: Stevenage 0-3 MK Dons . MKDons.com . 3 September 2019 . 3 September 2019 .
46. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 1–0 Fulham U21 . Soccerway . 1 October 2019.
47. Web site: Report: MK Dons 1-2 Wycombe Wanderers . Milton Keynes Dons . 12 November 2019 . 13 November 2019 .
48. Web site: Milton Keynes Dons 2–0 Coventry City . Soccerway . 3 December 2019 .
49. Web site: Newport County 3–0 Milton Keynes Dons . . 7 January 2020.
50. Web site: Transfers - May 2019 . BBC Sport . 10 June 2019 .
51. Web site: Dons secure Bowery . Milton Keynes Dons . 11 June 2019 . 11 June 2019 .
52. Web site: Joe Mason: MK Dons sign former Wolves forward on a free transfer . BBC Sport . 4 June 2019 . 10 June 2019 .
53. Web site: Dons sign former Manchester United defender Regan Poole . . 14 June 2019.
54. Web site: Laurie Walker is a Don . Milton Keynes Dons . 1 July 2019 . 1 July 2019 .
55. Web site: Healey joins MK Dons on permanent deal . . 16 July 2019 . 16 July 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190716164847/https://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/news/2019/july/healey-joins-mk-dons-on-permanent-deal/ . dead .
56. Web site: Ben Reeves: Milton Keynes Dons re-sign midfielder after two years at Charlton Athletic . BBC News . 1 August 2019 . 1 August 2019.
57. Web site: MK Dons grab Gladwin . MK Dons Official Site. 10 January 2020.
58. Web site: Addicks complete signing of striker Chuks Aneke . . 28 June 2019.
59. Web site: Mathieu Baudry Becomes Fourth Summer Signing . . 18 June 2019.
60. Web site: Ousseynou Cisse: Gillingham sign former MK Dons midfielder . BBC Sport . 24 June 2019 . 24 June 2019 .
61. Web site: MK Dons retained list . Milton Keynes Dons . 17 May 2019 . 10 June 2019 .
62. Web site: Hancox becomes first summer signing . Solihull Moors . 24 May 2019 . 10 June 2019 . 10 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190610133050/http://www.solihullmoorsfc.co.uk/news/hancox-becomes-first-summer-signing-2429125.html . dead .
63. Web site: Ryan Watson: Northampton Town sign MK Dons midfielder . BBC Sport . 3 June 2019 . 10 June 2019 .
64. Web site: Brennan Dickenson: Exeter City sign Milton Keynes Dons winger on short-term deal . . 17 January 2020 .
65. Web site: Martin makes Morris his first signing . Milton Keynes Dons . 8 January 2020 . 8 January 2020 .
66. News: Thompson becomes signing number three . 16 January 2020 . Milton Keynes Dons F.C..
67. Web site: Fisher makes move to MK . . 31 January 2020 . 31 January 2020 .
68. Web site: Walker comes to the Beveree . . 5 July 2019 . 5 July 2019 .
69. Web site: FOUR ARRIVE BEFORE LEAGUE OPENER . Hitchin Town . 9 August 2019 . 9 August 2019 .
70. Web site: Patto joins Kings Langley on loan . Milton Keynes Dons . 5 September 2019 . 5 September 2019 .
71. Web site: Pattison extends Biggleswade Town stay . Milton Keynes Dons . 3 January 2020 . 3 January 2020 .
72. Web site: Loan Deals Done Asonganyi and Acquah arrive . pitchero.com . Maidenhead United F.C. . 14 March 2020 . 13 March 2020.
73. Web site: Sky Bet League One: December Manager and Player of the Month winners . . 10 January 2020 .