Preston North End Vs MK Dons Match Preview
Npower League One Saturday 7th April 2012
Venue: Deepdale
Kick Off: 15:00
Referee: Christopher Sarginson
Form:
Preston North End: LWDDLL
MK Dons: WDWDLL
With Saturday’s clash with the Dons of Milton Keynes being billed as Sir Tom Finney Day, what greater incentive could Graham Westley’s side have to secure their League One status than to record victory on such a great occasion?
A win would see the Lilywhites reach the 50-point mark of relative safety with a half century of points deemed enough to ensure of a League One place next term, certainly judging from the previous ten third-tier campaigns.
However, with talks of rifts and divisions within the camp currently plaguing the current crop of Preston players, such a feat won’t come easy.
Accordingly, the Deepdale faithful are simply urging those who are lucky enough to wear that famous white shirt to put aside any personal agendas and simply do it for Sir Tom.
In their current guise this is the MK Dons’ first ever visit to Deepdale, Preston fans will be hoping it will be one to forget for those travelling from Buckinghamshire.
Previous Meetings (Click here for head-to-head stats)
As mentioned above, as the MK Dons, this is the first ever visit to Deepdale for Karl Robinson’s men.
Thus, the only meeting between these two sides was earlier in the current campaign when the Lilywhites snatched a 1-0 win at Stadium:MK.
A 7th minute header from Paul Parry was enough to see Graham Alexander and David Unsworth notched up their first win as joint caretaker managers.
Team News
After an unexpected inclusion of defender Aaron Brown to North End’s forward line against the Owls it would be futile to speculate on whom is going to make Westley’s first eleven come 3PM on Saturday.
It has been reported that the aforementioned Aaron Brown will miss out thanks to a dislocated shoulder
Thorsten Stuckmann was carrying a knock going into the Hillsborough clash but is expected to feature.
Danny Mayor could return as could David Gray.
The visitors will have to do without the services of James Tavernier who has recently been recalled by his parent club Newcastle United.
Also, Dean Bowditch and Mathias Kouo-Doumbe are both major doubts with groin strains, as is former Manchester United midfielder Luke Chadwick (knee).
Gary MacKenzie is deemed to be 50/50 as to whether he will be fit enough for the trip up the M6.