Review of friendlies so far

WBA (h) 13^th July

A virtually full premiership squad for the Dons to face, but the most outstanding player for the baggies was their rookie goalkeeper who kept the Dons out on many occasions when he played in the second half. West Brom won the game with a simple header from Geoff Horsfield on 4 minutes, but the Dons played some really good football, with Gary Smith striking a post from 30 yds with Holt just left as an onlooker. We can take a lot of positives from the game and Brian Robson heaped praised on Wilson’s side for their efforts.

Buckingham Town (a) 16^th July

The Dons were always expected to cruise this one, but with a bumpy pitch it leveled the game somewhat, another keeper in magnificent form until “sent off” for handling the ball out side the box, but under an agreement he was “subbed”, it would have spoiled the game at that point as it was still 0-0. As the game wore on the Robins ran out of steam on a glorious afternoon and goals from McLeod, an Edds strike after a good move and a first ever goal in a Dons shirt, for Aaron Wibrahams sealed the win.

Tour to Portugal 17^th- 20^th July

Varzim Sporting Club 18^th July

The first of two games in two days in 30 degree heat for the traveling Dons saw them take on a side who finished 18^th in Portugal’s second tier, in a very exciting encounter for a 0-0 draw the Dons adapted well to a differing style to their own, coping well with attacks made on their goal, man of the match Matt Baker, kept out everything thrown at him pulling off a few saves that show he has recovered from his operation in May.

Desportivo Das Aves 19^th July

In a much more physical encounter against the side who finished fourth in the second tier, the Dons had to battle and they did so as a team who believe they wont let many goals in, with captain Ben Chorley marshalling his back four and linking well with the midfield Dons fans should take heart and see who much things have changed. Despite the lack of goals scored what should be remembered about this game is we played in 30+ degrees for the second day in a row and in this game the opposition changed their entire eleven at half time and we came away without losing

Newport Pagnell Town (a) 23^rd July

Don’s fans were looking forward to returning to Willen Road about ten minutes after leaving it last year. This fixture is THE most important one for us, by far. The MK Dons made their first appearance here on the 10^th July 2004, the result against The Swans is not the objective in this fixture it’s the party we have while there. The spread they put on for us is superb a bbq and beer tent, no hint of a problem .If it matters to anyone we won 6-0 it didn’t to me and many others, we were already asking when next years game was going to be.