When MK Dons play Crawley Town this evening, the stakes are low: they need to win by at least three goals at the end of regulation time to have a chance of making it to Wembley.
The Red Devils’ 3-0 humiliation at Broadfield Stadium on Tuesday night has left them in a strong position to face Crewe Alexandra in the championship game. However, the Railwaymen themselves gave Doncaster Rovers hope on Friday night as they overcame a 2-0 first-leg deficit to win and secure their spot in the championship game.
There have been many instances where teams have overturned huge deficits in the second leg, and Dons, who have scored three goals in the first half on five different occasions this season, will be looking to examples of their own. Under Mike Williamson’s leadership, they have also triumphed over each of the nine league losses they have had.
The Dons have an excellent home record as well; they are only surpassed by Mansfield and Wrexham, who both earned automatic promotion, in League Two this season.
Crawley will be making their sixth trip to Stadium MK this evening, but they have to go back more than ten years for their lone victory there. They have lost their last three trips there and have failed to score in each. However, the Red Devils had a good finish to the season when playing away from home, winning six, drawing one, and losing one of their final eight games. Since the start of the season, they have only let up more than three goals in a game twice.
It is referee Sebastian Stockbridge’s 29th game of the season that he will officiate. He has been given 16 penalties, two red cards, and 136 yellow cards. He managed the 2-0 victory over Forest Green Rovers in December, which was his final game as a Don. He has managed the Dons 14 times in all, with the team winning six, drawing four, and losing four times.
Alongside Reserve Assistant Referee Danny Jarvis and Fourth Official Tom Reeves, Matthew Sowerby and Justin Amey will run the lines.
MK Dons are 8/13 to win, Crawley are 15/4 to win, and the draw is 7/2, according to Bet365. Dons are scheduled to arrive at Wembley at 9/2, and Crawley at 1/7.
