Notts v MK Dons... BIG match preview

Why is life never easy as a Magpies fan? Superb they were in the first half against Dagenham on Saturday, only to let themselves and the fans down in the second with a complacent, sloppy showing that denied what should have been a comfortable three points.

Meadow Lane... Bring on the Dons!

Against the MK Dons they certainly cannot afford to play only for 45 minutes, such is the class in Paul Ince's side.

Instead it will have to be an all-action, 90 minute effort that will hopefully be enough to at least avoid defeat - something Notts desperately need to do to continue the current teo match unbeaten run.

It is the first of two matches in four days at Meadow Lane against two of the best teams in League Two with Rotherham next on Saturday.

Four points from the two would be superb.

MacKenzie... Fit?

Team news

Notts - Neil MacKenzie should be fit to retain his place despite limping off in the second half of the Daggers match. Krystian Pearce sits this out through suspension following his red card meaning Austin McCann is likely to move to left-back, Stephen Hunt to centre back, Myles Weston to left wing and Lawrie Dudfield back to the right, with Spencer Weir-Daley back up top.

MK Dons - Key defender Driss Diallo sits out the second of a three match suspension for the visitors, while Gareth Edds and Paul Mitchell remain out with long term injuries. Mitchell suffered his in a collision with Notts' Hunt in this fixture last term.

Form guide

Notts - Two games unbeaten for Charlie McParland now following Saturday's draw which came off the back of a 2-1 win over Shrewsbury. Before that the Magpies had lost four on the spin. At home in the league Notts have won four, lost four and drew two. Notts are up to seventeenth in the table, twelve points off the playoffs but seven from the drop.

MK Dons - The league leaders are unbeaten so far in December having won three and drew one - suprisingly thew draw came last time out at home to Brentford on Friday. Just one defeat in their last six, that at home to Chesterfield. On their travels this season the Dons have lost just once, winning seven and drawing two. They leads the table by five points.

Wilbraham... Goal last time

Last time out

MK Dons 3-0 Notts County (September 7 2007)

Notts were comfortably beaten on their first ever trip to Stadium:MK, and it could have quite easily been many more. It was infact Notts' first league defeat of the season, but they hadn't won yet either having drew their opening four fixtures.

The win took the Dons to top spot for the first time and came courtesy of Keith Andrews' header just before the break, Danny Swailes just after and finally Aaron Wilbraham with just five minutes left.

Steve Thompson was then in charge and Notts' man of the match on the day was Jay Smith.

Key men

Notts - Myles Weston was awarded NCM's star man award following Saturday's draw with Dagenham, after a first half showing of silky skills, blistering pace and great creative threat. Despite being in an unfamiliar right wing role, the left sided player performed superbly, and looked a real threat every time he touched the ball. If he can reproduce that he can be a big weopan in the Notts armoury, particulary with the Dons being full of pace and power themselves.

MK Dons - Keith Andrews is proving himself to be arguably the best central midfielder in the league this season. The Dons' captain is proving to be Ince's very own Giv'nor with some sterling displays full of determination, heart and creativity - aswell as bags of goals as he leads the way for scoring for his side. If he is given space to dominate it could be curtains for Notts.

Big battle

In the last fixture Lee Canoville was given the right runaround by Lloyd Dyer and that resulted in so many chances for the Dons. Canoville was restored after being dropped for poor form on Saturday, and will need to be at his very best to stop the marauding Dyer. If the Dons man gets the better of Canoville again Kevin Pilkington will have to perform heroics, something that cannot be relied upon.

Possible lineups

Notts (4-4-2) - Kevin Pilkington; Lee Canoville, Adam Tann, Stephen Hunt, Austin McCann; Lawrie Dudfield, Neil MacKenzie, Richard Butcher, Myles Weston; Jason Lee, Spencer Weir-Daley.

MK Dons (4-4-2) - Willy Gueret; Jude Stirling, Sean O'Hanlon, Danny Swailes, Dean Lewington; Alan Navarro, Keith Andrews, Colin Cameron, Lloyd Dyer; Kevin Gallen, Jemal Johnson.

Prediction

I can see goals - for both teams. Notts may just sneak a draw. 2-2