A place in the final of the 2022/23 EFL Trophy edges ever closer as we reach the round of 16 stage. On the 13th of December we have a meeting in the southern section of the draw as Bristol Rovers play Milton Keynes Dons at the Memorial Stadium.
The hosts are currently in 12th place in League One while the visitors are 23rd in League One.
💪 Sealing the 🎄 points! #BristolRovers @aaroncollinsx pic.twitter.com/cQE0GdBfqv— Bristol Rovers (@Official_BRFC) December 11, 2022
💪 Sealing the 🎄 points! #BristolRovers @aaroncollinsx pic.twitter.com/cQE0GdBfqv
Bristol Rovers come into the match on the back of a 1-0 home win over Port Vale in League One on the weekend. The only goal of the game was scored in the 87th minute to the delight of the home fans and that result saw Bristol Rovers close the gap to just 1 point between themselves and Port Vale in the league table.
The victory over Port Vale means Bristol Rovers are undefeated in 6 of their last 7 fixtures in all competitions and have lost only 2 of their 16 most recent matches in all competitions.
Bristol Rovers were drawn with Plymouth Argyle, Swindon Town, and Crystal Place U21s in Group E of the EFL Trophy southern section. They lost after penalties against Plymouth Argyle following a 1-1 draw away and beat Swindon Town and Crystal Palace U21s at home.
Home form in the EFL Trophy shows Bristol Rovers have won 3 of their last 4 matches. In each of those 3 victories, Bristol Rovers kept a clean sheet.
Milton Keynes Dons travel to the Memorial Stadium having lost 2-1 at home to Fleetwood Town in League One on the weekend. Milton Keynes Dons opened the scoring shortly after half time but the joy of the fans was short lived as Fleetwood Town equalised in the 72nd minute and scored the winner at the end of the game.
That result means Milton Keynes Dons have recorded just a single victory from their last 6 matches in all competitions. The win came at home against Newport County in the round of 32 of the EFL Trophy but away form shows Milton Keynes Dons have failed to win their last 3 fixtures, losing 2 of those games.
In terms of the EFL Trophy, Milton Keynes Dons won all 3 of their group fixtures, beating West Ham United U21s and Newport County at home plus Walsall away. However, Milton Keynes Dons have failed to score a goal in 2 of their last 3 away EFL Trophy games.
Team news and Bristol Rovers club captain Paul Coutts made a return from injury on the weekend and could start again in this match. Trevor Clarke is a doubt and John Marquis could come into the starting XI.
Milton Keynes Dons parted company with head coach Liam Manning following the loss on the weekend. Much of his backroom team have also left the club. It will be interesting to see what changes are made to the starting XI as a result.
Bristol Rovers will feel confident of winning this match. Milton Keynes Dons are in a period of upheaval and we expect to see the hosts keep a clean sheet and progress to the quarter final thanks to a 1-0 win.