2007–08 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season

The 2007–08 season was the fourth season of competitive association football in the Football League played by Milton Keynes Dons Football Club, a professional football club based in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England. Their fourth-place finish in 2006–07 and loss to Shrewsbury Town in the play-offs meant it was their second successive season in League Two. After the closure of the National Hockey Stadium this was the first season where the MK Dons played home fixtures at Stadium mk. The season ran from 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008.

Milton Keynes Dons
2007–08 season
ChairmanPete Winkelman
ManagerPaul Ince
StadiumStadium mk
League Two1st (promoted to League One)
FA CupFirst round
League CupSecond round
League TrophyWinners
Top goalscorerLeague: Mark Wright (13)
All: Mark Wright (15)
Highest home attendance17,250 (vs Morecambe)
3 May 2008, League Two
Lowest home attendance5,087 (vs Peterborough United)
9 October 2007, League Trophy R2
Average home league attendance9,456[1]
Biggest win5–0 (vs Accrington Stanley)
8 December 2007, League Two
Biggest defeat0–2 (vs Stockport County)
27 October 2007, League Two

Paul Ince, starting his first season as Milton Keynes Dons manager, made nine permanent summer signings. After the eighth round of League Two fixtures the MK Dons reached first place and occupied this spot in thirty-seven of the remaining thirty-eight game weeks; they ended the season as champions of the twenty-four-team 2007–08 Football League Two. MK Dons also won their first national knockout competition, with a 2–0 victory over Grimsby Town at Wembley Stadium in the 2008 Football League Trophy Final. They lost in their opening round match in the 2007–08 FA Cup, and were eliminated in the second round of the Football League Cup.

Thirty-one players made at least one appearance in nationally organised first-team competition, and there were sixteen different goalscorers. Defender Dean Lewington missed only two of the fifty-five first-team matches over the season. Mark Wright finished as leading scorer with fifteen goals, of which thirteen came in league competition and two came in the Football League Trophy. Keith Andrews won the Football League Two Player of the Year Award.[2]

Background and pre-season

The 2007–08 season saw the Milton Keynes Dons move into Stadium mk.

The 2006–07 season was Martin Allen first season as manager of Milton Keynes Dons, after Danny Wilson was sacked at the end of the 2005–06 season for failing to save the club from relegation to League Two. Having been second come the start of 2007, the team finished in fourth-place in the 2006–07 Football League Two – one point below an automatic promotion place; this meant that the team participated in the League Two play-offs. MK Dons were beaten 2–1 on aggregate by Shrewsbury Town in the play-off semi-final. In May 2007 Allen moved on to manage Championship side Leicester City after both clubs had negotiated a compensation package.[citation needed]

Ahead of 2007–08, MK Dons released Adolfo Baines, Lee Harper, Junior Lewis, Nick Rizzo, Jamie Smith and Oliver Thorne. Players sold were Paul Butler to Chester City, Dominic Blizzard to Stockport County, Gary Smith to Brentford, Izale McLeod to Charlton Athletic and Clive Platt to Colchester United. Milton Keynes Dons made nine summer signings, those being goalkeepers Nathan Abbey from Brentford and Willy Guéret from Swansea City; defender Jude Stirling from Peterborough United; midfielders Colin Cameron from Coventry City, Luke Howell from Gillingham, Alan Navarro from Macclesfield Town and Mark Wright from Walsall; and forwards Drewe Broughton from Chester City and Kevin Gallen from Queens Park Rangers.[citation needed]

Summary and aftermath

Dean Lewington made the most appearances for the club in the 2007–08 season.

On 29 September 2007 Milton Keynes Dons reached first place and stayed there for the rest of the season except for one game week. The lowest position the club occupied was 19th after the first round of fixtures. For the first time in their history, the MK Dons had a better record away than at home in the league. The team won 18 matches, drew three and lost two away, compared to winning 11, drawing seven and losing five at home. Dean Lewington recorded the highest number of appearances during the season, appearing in 53 of the MK Dons' 55 matches. Mark Wright was the Dons' top scorer in the league and in all competitions, with 11 league goals and 15 in total. Three other players, Keith Andrews, Lloyd Dyer and Aaron Wilbraham, reached double figures.

As a result of their promotion the Milton Keynes Dons returned to Football League One after two seasons in League Two. Prior to the club's return to League One, the MK Dons released Drewe Broughton, Matt Carbon, Sam Collins, Liam Kelly, Jake Livermore and Kieran Murphy, while Mustapha Carayol, Lloyd Dyer and Gareth Edds left on their own accord for Torquay United, Leicester City and Tranmere Rovers. New players to join were midfielders Flavien Belson from FC Metz, Peter Leven from Chesterfield and Florian Sturm from FC Vaduz.

Competitions

League Two

Final table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
1Milton Keynes Dons (C,P)46261078237+4597
2Peterborough United (P)46288108443+4192
3Hereford United (P)462610107241+3188
4Stockport County (P)462410127254+1882
5Rochdale462311127754+2380

Source: Sky Sports

Matches

WinDrawLoss
DateOpponentVenueResultScorersAttendancePositionRef
11 August 2007 – 15:00BuryHome1–2Andrews7,74019[3]
18 August 2007 – 15:00Macclesfield TownAway3–3Andrews, Knight, Cameron2,25717[4]
25 August 2007 – 15:00Shrewsbury TownHome3–0Knight, Wilbraham, Dyer7,38010[5]
1 September 2007 – 15:00RochdaleAway2–3Gallen (2)2,74312[6]
7 September 2007 – 19:45Notts CountyHome3–0Andrews, Swailes, Wilbraham7,9778[7]
15 September 2007 – 15:00BrentfordAway3–0Andrews (2), Johnson4,4766[8]
22 September 2007 – 15:00DarlingtonHome1–0Diallo7,9015[9]
29 September 2007 – 15:00MorecambeAway1–0Dyer2,6881[10]
2 October 2007 – 19:45Mansfield TownAway2–1Stirling, Dyer1,9841[11]
6 October 2007 – 15:00Bradford CityHome2–1Andrews, Swailes7,9031[12]
14 October 2007 – 13:30Lincoln CityHome4–0Knight (2), Dyer, Wilbraham13,0371[13]
20 October 2007 – 15:00Hereford UnitedAway1–0Wright3,9361[14]
27 October 2007 – 15:00Stockport CountyHome0–2 8,2901[15]
3 November 2007 – 15:00Wycombe WanderersAway1–1Cameron5,9291[16]
6 November 2007 – 19:45Grimsby TownHome2–0Wilbraham, Wright6,7971[17]
17 November 2007 – 15:00Chester CityAway2–0Wright, Johnson3,1021[18]
24 November 2007 – 15:00ChesterfieldHome1–2Wright9,6381[19]
4 December 2007 – 19:45Dagenham & RedbridgeAway1–0Diallo1,8801[20]
8 December 2007 – 15:00Accrington StanleyHome5–0Andrews, Navarro, Cameron, Dyer (2)6,9171[21]
15 December 2007 – 15:00Peterborough UnitedAway2–1Gallen, Andrews10,3511[22]
21 December 2007 – 19:45BrentfordHome1–1Gallen8,4451[23]
26 December 2007 – 15:00Notts CountyAway2–1Wright, Johnson5,1061[24]
29 December 2007 – 15:00DarlingtonAway1–0Johnson5,3041[25]
1 January 2008 – 15:00Mansfield TownHome1–0Andrews9,5831[26]
5 January 2008 – 15:00Rotherham UnitedAway1–0Wright5,4211[27]
12 January 2008 – 15:00BarnetHome0–1 9,8811[28]
19 January 2008 – 15:00WrexhamAway0–1 4,3191[29]
26 January 2008 – 15:00RochdaleHome0–1 7,8821[30]
29 January 2008 – 19:45Macclesfield TownHome1–1O'Hanlon6,4831[31]
2 February 2008 – 15:00BuryAway5–1Wright (3), Dyer, Gallen2,2411[32]
9 February 2008 – 15:00Rotherham UnitedHome1–1Gallen9,4551[33]
12 February 2008 – 19:45Shrewsbury TownAway3–3Wright (2), Gallen5,4741[34]
23 February 2008 – 15:00BarnetAway2–0Navarro, Dyer2,4951[35]
1 March 2008 – 15:00Chester CityHome1–0Swailes8,1721[36]
7 March 2008 – 19:45Grimsby TownAway1–0O'Hanlon4,1061[37]
10 March 2008 – 19:45ChesterfieldAway2–1Andrews, Dyer3,8341[38]
15 March 2008 – 15:00Dagenham & RedbridgeHome4–0Wilbraham (2), Dyer, Gallen9,4171[39]
21 March 2008 – 15:00Peterborough UnitedHome1–1Wilbraham14,5211[40]
24 March 2008 – 15:00Accrington StanleyAway1–0Wright1,5591[41]
4 April 2008 – 19:45Lincoln CityAway2–1Regan, Johnson3,8962[42]
8 April 2008 – 19:45WrexhamHome4–1Swailes, Wilbraham (2), O'Hanlon8,6461[43]
12 April 2008 – 15:00Wycombe WanderersHome2–2Wilbraham, O'Hanlon12,7471[44]
15 April 2008 – 19:45Hereford UnitedHome0–0 11,4281[45]
19 April 2008 – 15:00Stockport CountyAway3–2Wright, Navarro, Andrews8,8381[46]
26 April 2008 – 15:00Bradford CityAway2–1Stirling, Dyer14,6091[47]
3 May 2008 – 15:00MorecambeHome1–1Wilbraham17,2501[48]

FA Cup

Matches

WinDrawLoss
DateRoundOpponentVenueResultScorersAttendanceRef
10 November 2007 – 15:00First roundCrewe AlexandraAway1–2Johnson3,049[49]

League Cup

Matches

WinDrawLoss
DateRoundOpponentVenueResultScorersAttendanceRef
14 August 2007 – 19:45First roundIpswich TownHome3–3[a]Knight, Bruce (o.g.), Gallen7,496[50]
28 August 2007 – 19:45Second roundSheffield UnitedHome2–3[b]Broughton, McGovern7,943[51]

League Trophy

Matches

WinDrawLoss
DateRoundOpponentVenueResultScorersAttendanceRef
9 October 2007 – 19:45Second roundPeterborough UnitedHome3–1Wright (2), Cameron5,087[52]
13 November 2007 – 19:45Quarter-final (South)BournemouthAway2–0Andrews, Swailes3,247[53]
8 January 2008 – 19:45Semi-final (South)GillinghamAway1–1[a]Johnson3,717[54]
19 February 2008 – 19:45Area final (South) 1st legSwansea CityAway1–0Johnson10,125[55]
25 February 2008 – 19:45Area final (South) 2nd legSwansea CityHome0–1[b] 9,757[56]
30 March 2008 – 13:15FinalGrimsby TownNeutral2–0Andrews, O'Hanlon56,618[57]

Player details

List of squad players, including number of appearances by competition.
Players with squad numbers struck through and marked † left the club during the playing season.
No.PosNatPlayerTotalLeague TwoFA CupLeague CupOther[a]
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1GK  NGAAdemola Bankole0000000000
2DF  ENGJude Stirling412342002050
3DF  ENGDean Lewington530450101060
4MF  IRLKeith Andrews45144112000042
5DF  GUIDrissa Diallo352302001040
6DF  ENGSean O'Hanlon515434101061
7MF  SCOJon-Paul McGovern5130002100
8FW  ENGKevin Gallen319248102140
9FW  GERFelix Bastians0000000000
9FW  ENGLeon Knight185174001100
10FW  SCOColin Cameron354293100051
11FW  ENGLloyd Dyer50114511002030
12GK  FRAWilly Guéret520460000060
13MF  AUSGareth Edds11070102010
14FW  ENGMark Wright41153413102042
15FW  ENGDrewe Broughton191130101140
16FW  ENGAaron Wilbraham40103510102020
17DF  ENGKieran Murphy5030002000
18FW  ENGJohn Miles120120000000
18FW  ENGScott Taylor2000000020
19FW  ENGJohn Hastings0000000000
19DF  ENGCarl Regan9191000000
20MF  ENGAlan Navarro473393102050
21MF  ENGLuke Howell11080001020
22MF  ENGJake Livermore5050000000
22MF  RSABally Smart11080100020
23FW  USAJemal Johnson468395110062
24DF  ENGMatt Carbon4030000010
25DF  ENGDanny Swailes475404101051
26DF  ENGSam Page0000000000
27DF  ENGSam Collins0000000000
28MF  SCOLiam Kelly0000000000
29GK  ENGNathan Abbey3000102000
30MF  GAMMustapha Carayol2000001010
31GK  ENGLaurie Walker0000000000
32MF  ENGJordan Hadfield130130000000
35DF  ENGAdam Chicksen0000000000
36FW  ENGSam Baldock9050100030

Transfers

Transfers in

Date fromPositionNameFromFeeRef.
5 July 2007FW Kevin GallenFree agent[a]Free transfer[58]
11 July 2007MF Mark WrightFree agent[b]
25 July 2007FW Drewe BroughtonFree agent[c][58]
1 August 2007MF Colin CameronFree agent[d][59]
3 August 2007FW Mustapha CarayolFree agent[e][59]
10 August 2007GK Nathan AbbeyFree agent[f][59]
MF Alan NavarroFree agent[g][59]
11 August 2007GK Willy GuéretFree agent[h][59]
DF Luke HowellFree agent[i][59]
19 August 2007DF Danny SwailesMacclesfield TownUndisclosed[59]
31 August 2007FW Jemal JohnsonWolverhampton Wanderers[59]
4 December 2007DF Matt CarbonFree agent[j]Free transfer
1 February 2008DF Carl ReganMacclesfield TownUndisclosed[60]
MF Craig DobsonStevenage Borough[60]

Transfers out

Date fromPositionNameToFeeRef.
1 July 2007MF Ben HardingReleased[k]
MF Gary SmithReleased[l]
3 July 2007FW Clive PlattColchester United£300,000[58]
9 August 2007FW Izale McLeodCharlton Athletic£1,100,000[59]
31 August 2007MF Jon-Paul McGovernSwindon TownUndisclosed[59]

Loans in

Start datePositionNameFromEnd dateRef.
15 November 2007MF Jordan HadfieldMacclesfield TownEnd of season[m][61]
25 January 2008FW John MilesAccrington StanleyEnd of season[62]

Loans out

Start datePositionNameToEnd dateRef.
18 September 2007MF John HastingsEbbsfleet United18 October 2007[63]
28 September 2007FW Sam CollinsKettering TownUnknown[63]
15 October 2007DF Sam PageHendon15 December 2007[64]
18 October 2007FW Scott TaylorRochdale18 November 2007[64]
26 October 2007FW Mustapha CarayolCrawley TownEnd of season[61]
16 November 2007DF Kieran Murphy[61]
20 November 2007MF John HastingsMaidenhead UnitedUnknown[61]
22 November 2007FW Sam CollinsHendon[61]
25 January 2008FW Drewe Broughton WrexhamApril 2008[62]

References