The Voice - Match preview #1: MK Dons vs Bradford City Saturday 10th August 2024 @ 3:00pm

EFL League Two Fixture #1
Saturday 10th August 2024 15:00
MK Dons vs Bradford City
Stadium MK

Record:
Games Won: 11
Games Drawn: 1
Games Lost: 6

Last 5:

28 Feb 2017: Bradford City 2 – 2 MK Dons [League One]
07 Oct 2017: MK Dons 1 – 4 Bradford City [League One]
24 Apr 2018: Bradford City 2 – 0 MK Dons [League One]
24 Oct 2023: MK Dons 4 – 1 Bradford City [League Two]
13 Feb 2024: Bradford City 4 – 0 MK Dons [League Two]

MK Dons:

MK Dons finished 4th in the League Two table last season, although they sat a full 8 points behind the top 3 and rarely troubled the automatic promotion spots. Unfortunately for them, the Milton Keynes outfit ran into a rampant Crawley Town in the EFL League Two Play-Off semi-finals and were hammered 8-1 on aggregate. A 5-1 humbling at Stadium MK gave head coach Mike Williamson food for thought heading into the summer break, but he and his coaching staff are raring to go and ‘putting themselves under pressure’ to go one better and get their side promoted in the 24/25 campaign.

The players that have been released or have otherwise departed at the end of the 23/24 season were:

Michael Kelly – GK [to Accrington Stanley]
Dan Kemp – RW [to Stevenage]
Cameron Norman – RB [to Tranmere Rovers]
Warren O’Hora – CB [to Hibernian]
Ethan Robson – CM [to Carlisle United]
Mohamed Eisa – CF [unattached]
Daniel Harvie – LB [to Wycombe Wanders, Fee Undisclosed]
Max Dean – CF [to KAA Gent, €2,000,000]
Dawson Devoy – CM [to Bohemian, Fee Undisclosed]
Charlie Walker – CB [to Sutton United, Loan]

20 year old 19-goal striker Max Dean will be a huge miss, the former Leeds United youth player making a big money move to Belgium, while 26 year old wing back Daniel Harvie departs after 4 years at Stadium MK for Championship outfit Wycombe Wanderers.

Young midfielder Lewis Bate, goalkeeper Filip Marschall, attacking midfielder Jack Payne, centre back Anthony Stewart, and teenage forward Emre Tezgel all also departed after completing loan spells with the club, making a total of 15 players out the door.

The 11 players that have come in for the start of the 24/25 season are (all free transfers unless otherwise stated):

Tommy Leigh – CM [from Accrington Stanley, Fee Undisclosed]
Connor Lemonheigh-Evans – CAM [from Stockport County]
Laurence Maguire – CB [from Chesterfield]
Luke Offord – CB [from Crewe Alexandra]
Joe Pritchard – CM [from Accrington Stanley]
Sam Sherring – CB [from Northampton Town]
Liam Kelly – CM [from Crawley Town, Fee Undisclosed]
Tom Carroll – CM [from Exeter City]
Callum Hendry – CF [from Salford City, Fee Undisclosed]
Tom McGill – GK [from Brighton and Hove Albion, Loan]
Nico Lawrence – CB [from Southampton, Loan]

The most eye-catching signings may well be Tommy Leigh (8 goals from 42 appearances for Accrington Stanley), Harry Maguire’s brother Laurence (promoted with Crawley Town last season), Luke Offord (former Crewe Alexandra captain and experienced 24 year old), Joe Pritchard (7 goals from 30 appearances for Accrington Stanley), Sam Sherring (40 appearances in League One for Northampton Town), Liam Kelly (promoted with Crawley Town last season), and Tom Carroll (45 appearances for Exeter City in League One). MK Dons do also have a habit of making the most of their loan signings, and in this case will be hoping for big impacts from goalkeeper Tom McGill and defender Nico Lawrence – with the Dons looking particularly well-stocked at Centre Back.

In midfield, the addition of 15 goal pairing Tommy Leigh and Joe Pritchard from rivals Accrington Stanley looks astute. The one place the team look a little short, however, is up front.

Winger/forward Jonathan Leko played the first half of last season at Stadium MK, before making an ill-fated loan switch to League One Burton Albion, where he reinjured his ACL after just 5 minutes, ruling him out for the rest of the season, as well as the start of this. Ellis Harrison got 8 goals in 35 games for MK Dons last season, while Matthew Dennis played just once. Callum Hendry is likely to find himself first choice striker, though his tally of 9 goals in 30 appearances at Salford City last season is not exactly exceptional.

Expect the majority of MK Dons’ goal threat to come from midfield, then, with Harrison and Hendry likely to set personal targets for goals in double figures this time out.

Captain Dean Lewington, now 40 years old, has signed on for another campaign, while Vice Captain Alex Gilbey will look to improve on a 13-goal haul last year.

Expect a well-drilled side with lofty ambitions. Manager Mike Williamson has declared himself “really satisfied” with preseason preparations, which they rounded out with a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Plymouth Argyle this past weekend. Overall, the Dons have won 3, drawn 1, and lost 2 across their 6 friendly games, Williamson will be happy to have limited injuries to just 2: goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray, and attacking midfielder Connor Lemonheigh-Evans.

First team coach Carl Magnay said the new signings had “fit in seamlessly” as they go again with their “demanding” style.

Magnay added MK Dons were ready to “attack the league”.

Bradford City:

It was heartbreak for Bradford City at the climax of the 23/24 regular season campaign, as despite winning 6 games in a 7 game run right at the end under Graham Alexander, the club were unable to climb into the League Two Play-Offs, finally finishing 9th. A 4-1 win over Newport County on the final day ultimately proved a dead rubber fixture for both sides, but Alexander and his team will have been proud to have run it so close in the end. Just 1 point separated the Bantams from 7th placed Crawley Town (who eventually won promotion at the expense of MK Dons and Crewe Alexandra), although City did have a worse goal difference as well.

The second lowest scorers in the top half of the table, things did nonetheless pick up in terms of goals when experienced manager Mark Hughes was replaced by the man sacked by MK Dons around the same time – the aforementioned Graham Alexander. As part of his improvements to City’s form, he impressievly avenged a 4-1 defeat at Stadium MK with a scintillating 4-0 victory at Valley Parade – quite the reversal! Home fans will be hoping for another dominant performance against his old side, although much of the side will have changed for the Dons.

There hasn’t quite been the same level of overhaul at Valley Parade. So far, Graham Alexander has been true to his word in terms of reducing squad size, and has said goodbye to the following players:

Ash Taylor – CB [to Bruno’s Magpies]
Finn Cousin-Dawson – CB [to Yeovil Town]
Matty Platt – CB [to Notts County]
Heath Richardson – GK [to Cleethorpes Town]
Harvey Rowe – RB [to Farsley Celtic]
Dylan Youmbi – CF [to Farsley Celtic]
Noah Wadsworth – LB [to Hull City]
Luke Hendrie – RB [to Morecambe]
Sam Bentley – CB [unattached]
Harry Chapman – CAM [unattached]
Matt Derbyshire – CF [unattached]
Liam Ridehalgh – LB [unattached]
Isaac Robinson – CF [unattached]
Timi Odusina – CB [to Woking, Fee Undisclosed]

Matty Platt is likely to be the biggest miss, the commanding Centre Back opting to ply his trade for Notts County after City allowed his contract to expire. The 26 year old made 89 appearances across 2 seasons for City across all competitions but opted to move to the Magpies after turning down an offer of a contract extension.

With 14 players out, Alexander has moved to bring in just 6 (for free unless otherwise stated):

Neill Byrne – CB [from Stockport County, Fee Undisclosed]
Aden Baldwin – CB [from Notts County]
Callum Johnson – RB [from Mansfield Town]
Antoni Sarcevic – CM [from Stockport County]
Tyreik Wright – LW [from Plymouth Argyle, Fee Undisclosed]
Jack Shepherd – CB [from Barnsley, Loan]

With exactly half of the new boys coming in being centre backs, it’s clear where Alexander felt his side were left shortest after the losses of Matty Platt and Ash Taylor. Wide man Tyreik Wright returns to the club on a permanent transfer, while lower league standout Antoni Sarcevic should add some guile in the centre of the park, though injury-prone Callum Johnson has already succumbed to a “niggle” and will be unavailable early on. Neill Byrne, Aden Baldwin and Jack Shepherd will be tasked with shoring up the back line, joining the likes of Sam Stubbs, Lewis Richards, and Ciaran Kelly in vying for 3 available spots (most likely).

Club Captain Richie Smallwood might be the most relieved to see reinforcements, however, with Antoni Sarcevic joining him alongside box-to-box midfielder Alex Pattison, who spent most of last season sidelined with injury. Both good players, Smallwood might feel a little less exposed alongside a more creative-looking central midfield line up. Alex Gilliead and Jamie Walker will also be looking for starts, while players like Clarke Oduor and Adam Wilson may look to either slot in here, or out wide. Bobby Pointon, last year’s emerging starlet, will also seek to make the most of any opportunities he’s given.

Up front, Andy Cook will be once again joined by 20 year old Calum Kavanagh, an exciting signing from Middlesbrough last January, while Vadaine Oliver and Jake Young are currently back up players – though there are rumours one or both might be available for transfer. Tyler Smith is likely to settle in as third choice forward, and has the pace to be a nuisance off the bench.

Manager Graham Alexander has reported that Bradford City are “90 percent” there in terms of their preparations, and an impressive 2-1 win over Sunderland at Valley Parade has been an obvious highlight of a preseason campaign that saw 2 wins, 1 draw, and 2 defeats. Graham believes the fitness levels are there, but there is a little more to do in terms of tactics and sharpness. City fans will hope he will be proved right in trimming the squad down, and will be hoping for a result on Game Day One at Stadium MK.

 

Prediction:

MK Dons look to have strengthened well despite a higher turnover, maintaining the bulk of the experience in a squad that finished 4th in League Two last season. The loss of Max Dean up front will be a huge blow, though, as will Daniel Harvie’s absence at left wing back – but with a restocked central midfield area and a new-look defence, Williamson will hope that filling his first XI with players of a good age and with plenty of recent, relevant game time, this squad will be capable of going even further.

Expect goal threat from the centre of the park and from range, while both Callum Hendry and Ellis Harrison will look to prove that there is life after Max Dean up front. Whether Mike Williamson’s self-described “simple” philosophy of playing attractive, possession-based football reminiscent of the teams at the very highest level of the English football pyramid translates any better to combatting Graham Alexander’s more direct approach remains to be seen. Last season Graham got the better of Mike in their only career meeting to date to the tune of 4-0 – but much of that MK Dons side is now gone, and still out-competed City in the League Two table overall. An off-day? No question, though MK Dons had a habit of losing badly when they did, in fact, lose.

Not only did Crawley put 8 past them across the two Play-Off semi-final legs, Mansfield Town (4-1), Stockport County (5-0), Bradford City (4-0), Doncaster Rovers (3-0) and Brighton U21s (4-0) all trounced Mike Williamson’s men, though such capitulations remained infrequent.

Can City put in a similar performance at Stadium MK on the first game of the season? Well, City’s side won’t have changed too much, but the additions of Antoni Sarcevic and the return from injury of Alex Pattison look to have added real ability in the midfield area. The defence has been reinforced by arrivals from Notts County, Stockport County, and Barnsley, while Tyreik Wright is likely to start at left wing back following his arrival on a permanent transfer after two loan spells with the club. Stalwarts like Brad Halliday, Andy Cook and Jamie Walker will all hope for another impactful season, while Calum Kavanagh might prove the player to watch. At just 20 years of age, Kavanagh has looked outstanding a times, both quick and athletic, as well as physical enough to hold his own. His eye for goal saw him return 5 goals in just 11 league starts, and such a ratio might keep the likes of Tyler Smith and Bobby Pointon on the bench early on in the season – particularly as Pointon stares down an impressive looking midfield 3 as competition for his place.

With both sides looking to make a fast start and impress their managers after an industrious preseason, this will be about hard work, keeping mistakes to a minimum, and fighting for the shirt. A contest that should revolve around a pair of superb central midfield line ups, City will most likely look to spring counter attacks and unlock the MK Dons with a fast, effective press. MK Dons will know they will need to be on their toes if they are to play their possession-based style and make the most of it – and they will be hopeful they now have the players to do so even more effectively.

Both teams have eye-catching, proven players, and the pick will be a hard-fought, engaging 1-1 draw.

Final Score:
MK Dons 1 – 1 Bradford City