MK Dons v Ipswich Town match preview: Focus on the Dons

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It's been quite the turnaround, in a bad way, for the MK Dons. Last season, they were one of the third tier's top sides under highly-rated young coach - and ex-Town product - Liam Manning, falling just short of promotion.

Then they lost a host of stars in the summer, including big names like Scott Twine and Harry Darling, and have yet to really recover.

Liam Manning was sacked in December

Manning paid for it with his job in December, with the Dons sitting 23rd in the table after a dreadful start to the season.

Leeds United first team coach Mark Jackson took over on December 23, but there have been no Christmas miracles since.

The Dons are now 22nd, two points adrift of safety, and are on another dreadful run of form.

They've taken just four points from their last 18, and shipped five goals in both of their last two games - a 5-0 spanking at Bolton, followed by a 5-2 pasting at leaders Sheffield Wednesday last weekend.

They did twice lead against the Owls though, so they have shown they can compete - and score - against top sides, at least in patches.

Jackson brought in five new players in January - young striker Max Dean from Leeds, forward Jonathan Leko from Birmingham, Brentford midfielder Paris Maghoma (loan), winger Sully Kaikai of Wycombe and Aberdeen defender Anthony Stewart (loan).

He's also moved the Dons away from the slick technical football played under Manning to a style built around power and pace.

Time will tell if the additions and changes in approach will save them.

Mark Jackson says his MK Dons have to be 'bang at it' against Ipswich Town (Image: PA)

Jackson on Town

The Dons boss knew his side were up against it in a three-match stretch which has seen them facing some of the league's best outfits.

And, having lost heavily to Bolton and Wednesday, he's determined his charges won't emerge from that run with nothing.

"We’re fully aware of the challenge ahead,” said Jackson. "We knew this period of fixtures would be challenging but we still thought we could come out with something.

"So far that hasn’t been the case but now it’s all about getting results and we need that soon.

"To do that, we need to defend better, collectively as well as individually, and that’s not just the back four - it’s all of the players as a whole.

"We need to action on that quickly and we have made that clear, and the players know that as a team.

"We are going to try and go into the game and make sure we are bang at it as regards to our defensive duties and responsibilities.

"We have to know what we are doing when we face Ipswich, because they are an extremely good team."

The MK Dons have been awful at home this season (Image: PA Images)

Home woes

One of MK's big issues this season has been their woeful home form, which is the worst in the league.

They've won just twice at home, drawing four and losing ten, and have only scored 11 goals in front of their home faithful.

Of course this weekend it might well feel more like an away game for them, with Town fans likely to eclipse the home support in the stadium.

Former Norwich City star Bradley Johnson has scored five goals for the MK Dons this season (Image: PA Images)

Familiar faces

Town won't face former loanee Louie Barry tomorrow - the Aston Villa talent, who didn't last long at Portman Road last season, has moved on again having spent the first half of the campaign at Stadium MK.

He played 32 games for the Dons, scoring once, before heading off another loan to League Two Salford last month.

They will, however, probably face a villain of East Anglian derby days past at some point, midfielder Bradley Johnson.

Now 35, Johnson has played 36 games and scored five goals for MK this season.

Mo Eisa is the leading scorer for MK Dons this season (Image: PA Images)

Ones to watch

Forward Mo Eisa is the Dons' leading scorer this season with eight goals in 23 games.

Striker Will Grigg - remember when he was on fire? - has bagged seven in 34, followed by the aforementioned Johnson.

Midfielder Dawson Devoy is the top provider, with seven assists, followed by Conor Grant (not the former Town loanee) on four.

Josh McEachran, meanwhile, is MK's leading creator, having laid on 34 chances.

The pitch at MK was criticised after England Women beat South Korea there last week (Image: PA Images)

Pitch not perfect

The state of the pitch at Stadium MK has drawn much ire this season, with matters coming to a head last week when no lesser figure than England Women's boss Sarina Wiegman called the playing surface 'unacceptable' after the Lionesses had devoured South Korea there.

The Dons have acknowledged the issue, saying the pitch is well past its original intended lifespan of ten years.

Head of estates Andy Lee said: "The grass coverage is low, but that's quite normal for a shady stadium like this one.

"The pitch is old, it was first laid in 2006/07 and like anything, it deteriorates over time and we're beyond that expected lifetime of the pitch.

"In the last few years, we've seen the pitch get a lot worse at this time of year. 

"When we get to December and January, we lose coverage because we haven't got light or the temperatures to encourage growth. At this time of year, it's just dormant."

Possible starting XI (4-2-3-1): Cumming; Watson, Tucker, Jules, Harvie; McEachran, Maghoma; Leko, Devoy, Kaikai; Eisa