2014–15 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season

The 2014–15 season was Milton Keynes Dons' eleventh season in their existence as a professional association football club, and their seventh consecutive season competing in Football League One.

Milton Keynes Dons
2014–15 season
ChairmanPete Winkelman
ManagerKarl Robinson
StadiumStadium mk
League One2nd (promoted to Championship)
FA CupSecond round
League CupFourth round
League TrophySecond round
Top goalscorerLeague: Will Grigg (21)
All: Will Grigg (23)
Highest home attendance26,969 (vs Manchester United)
26 August 2014, League Cup R2
Lowest home attendance4,407 (vs AFC Wimbledon)
7 October 2014, League Trophy R2
Average home league attendance9,452[1]
Biggest win7–0 (vs Oldham Athletic)
20 December 2014, League One
Biggest defeat4–2 (vs Gillingham)
14 February 2015, League One

As well as competing in League One, the club also participated in the FA Cup, League Cup and League Trophy.

The season covers the period from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015.

Season review

With what turned out to be a successful summer transfer window, manager Karl Robinson signed forwards Benik Afobe[2] and Will Grigg[3] on loan from Arsenal and Brentford respectively, as well as former loanee Samir Carruthers from Aston Villa on a permanent deal.[2] Centre-back Kyle McFadzean was also brought in from Crawley Town.[4]

Following a 3–1 home victory over rivals AFC Wimbledon in the first round at the beginning of August,[5] the club were handed a lucrative second round League Cup draw at home to Manchester United. Against all odds, the Dons won the tie 4–0 through goals from Grigg and Afobe against a United team which included established Premier League players David de Gea, Javier Hernandez, Shinji Kagawa and Danny Welbeck.[6]

The result set the tone for the remainder of the season. The Dons spent the majority of the year in promotion contention and achieved several notable victories including a club record 7–0 home win over Oldham Athletic,[7] a 6–0 home win over Colchester United[8] and 6–1 home wins over both Crewe Alexandra and Leyton Orient.[9][10] At the end of the January 2015 transfer window, academy graduate Dele Alli was sold to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur for a club record fee in the region of £5m plus add-on incentives and arrangements which included Alli being loaned back immediately for the remainder of the campaign.[11]

For the final few weeks of the season, the club were in competition with Preston North End and Swindon Town for second place (the final automatic promotion spot). With a considerable points gap to claw back, the Dons managed to obtain 25 points from a possible 27 to ensure the battle for promotion came down to the final day.

With Preston in second place on 89 points and MK Dons in third on 88, Preston faced relegation-threatened Colchester United and only needed to match or better the Dons’ result against already relegated Yeovil Town to ensure promotion.[12] MK Dons went on to defeat Yeovil 5–1. With Preston losing away to Colchester, the Dons secured second place against the odds, achieving promotion to the second tier for the first time since their formation in 2004 along with a club record goal tally of 101 league goals.[13]

Competitions

League One
Main article: 2014–15 Football League One

Final table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1Bristol City (C,P)46291259638+5899
2Milton Keynes Dons (P)462710910144+5791
3Preston North End (P)46251477940+3989
4Swindon Town462310137657+1979
5Sheffield United461914136653+1371

Source: Sky Sports

Matches

Win Draw Loss
Date Opponent Venue Result Scorers Attendance Ref
9 August 2014 – 15:00GillinghamHome4–2Hause (o.g.), Grigg, McFadzean, Legge (o.g.)7,595[14]
16 August 2014 – 15:00Peterborough UnitedAway2–3Alli, Powell7,115[15]
19 August 2014 – 19:45ChesterfieldAway1–0Afobe5,811[16]
23 August 2014 – 15:00Coventry CityHome0–0 10,600[17]
30 August 2014 – 15:00Crawley TownHome2–0Alli, Afobe7,148[18]
13 September 2014 – 15:00BarnsleyAway5–3Afobe, Carruthers, Alli, Grigg, Reeves9,192[19]
16 September 2014 – 19:45Bradford CityHome1–2Lewington7,139[20]
20 September 2014 – 15:00Crewe AlexandraHome6–1Alli (3), Grigg, Afobe, Reeves7,049[9]
27 September 2014 – 15:00Bristol CityAway2–3Bowditch, Afobe13,119[21]
4 October 2014 – 15:00Yeovil TownAway2–0Grigg, Powell4,000[22]
18 October 2014 – 15:00Leyton OrientAway0–0 5,014[23]
21 October 2014 – 19:45Fleetwood TownHome2–1McFadzean, Afobe6,736[24]
25 October 2014 – 15:00Doncaster RoversAway0–0 5,976[25]
1 November 2014 – 15:00Swindon TownHome2–1Alli, Kay9,494[26]
22 November 2014 – 15:00Port ValeHome1–0C. Baker12,007[27]
25 November 2014 – 19:45RochdaleHome2–2Grigg, Green6,720[28]
29 November 2014 – 15:00Colchester UnitedHome6–0Alli, Afobe (3), Reeves, Hodson7,646[8]
2 December 2014 – 19:45Sheffield UnitedAway1–0Alli17,030[29]
13 December 2014 – 15:00Preston North EndAway1–1C. Baker9,856[30]
20 December 2014 – 15:00Oldham AthleticHome7–0Grigg (2), Bowditch, Potter, Alli, Afobe, C. Baker7,998[7]
26 December 2014 – 15:00Notts CountyAway1–0Powell5,897[31]
28 December 2014 – 15:00WalsallHome0–3 9,311[32]
10 January 2015 – 15:00Crawley TownAway2–2Grigg, Alli2,468[33]
17 January 2015 – 15:00Sheffield UnitedHome1–0C. Baker9,633[34]
24 January 2015 – 15:00BarnsleyHome2–0Alli, Grigg8,310[35]
27 January 2015 – 19:45Scunthorpe UnitedAway1–1McFadzean3,005[36]
31 January 2015 – 15:00Crewe AlexandraAway5–0Cole (2), Bowditch, C. Baker, Powell4,319[37]
7 February 2015 – 15:00Bristol CityHome0–0 15,642[38]
9 February 2015 – 19:45Bradford CityAway1–2Alli11,948[39]
14 February 2015 – 15:00GillinghamAway2–4Cole, Reeves5,107[40]
17 February 2015 – 19:45Colchester UnitedAway1–0Alli2,974[41]
21 February 2015 – 15:00Peterborough UnitedHome3–0Grigg, Reeves (2)11,162[42]
28 February 2015 – 15:00Coventry CityAway1–2Powell9,934[43]
3 March 2015 – 15:00ChesterfieldHome1–2L. Baker7,335[44]
7 March 2015 – 15:00Preston North EndHome0–2 10,618[45]
14 March 2015 – 15:00WalsallAway1–1Grigg3,887[46]
17 March 2015 – 19:45Oldham AthleticAway3–1Bowditch, Powell, Grigg2,445
21 March 2015 – 15:00Notts CountyHome4–1C. Baker, L. Baker, Grigg (2)11,911[47]
4 April 2015 – 12:15Swindon TownAway3–0Powell, Grigg (2)10,087[48]
7 April 2015 – 19:45Scunthorpe UnitedHome2–0Grigg (2)8,087[49]
11 April 2015 – 15:00Port ValeAway0–0 4,379[50]
14 April 2015 – 19:45Fleetwood TownAway3–0L. Baker, Grigg, Alli2,752[51]
18 April 2015 – 15:00Leyton OrientHome6–1Bowditch, Hall (3), Grigg, Alli10,137[10]
21 April 2015 – 15:00Doncaster RoversHome3–0Bowditch, C. Baker (2)8,159[52]
25 April 2015 – 15:00RochdaleAway3–2Carrthers, Bowditch, Powell3,501[12]
3 May 2015 – 15:00Yeovil TownHome5–1C. Baker, Lewington (2), Potter, Grigg16,965[13]

FA Cup
Main article: 2014–15 FA Cup

Matches

Win Draw Loss
Date Round Opponent Venue Result Scorers Attendance Ref
8 November 2014 – 15:00First roundPort ValeAway4–3Afobe (2), C. Baker, Green4,120[53]
6 December 2014 – 15:00Second roundChesterfieldHome0–1[lower-alpha 1] 5,591[55]
2 January 2015 – 19:45Second roundChesterfieldHome0–1 8,040[56]
  1. Due to Chesterfield fielding an ineligible player, the FA ruled the tie be replayed.[54]

League Cup
Main article: 2014–15 Football League Cup

Matches

Win Draw Loss
Date Round Opponent Venue Result Scorers Attendance Ref
12 August 2014 – 19:45First roundAFC WimbledonHome3–1McFadzean, Powell, Afobe7,171[5]
26 August 2014 – 19:45Second roundManchester UnitedHome4–0Grigg (2), Afobe (2)26,969[6]
23 September 2014 – 19:45Third roundBradford CityHome2–0Afobe (2)5,707[57]
28 October 2014 – 19:45Fourth roundSheffield UnitedHome1–2Afobe8,520[58]

League Trophy
Main article: 2014–15 Football League Trophy

Matches

Win Draw Loss
Date Round Opponent Venue Result Scorers Attendance Ref
7 October 2014 – 19:45Second roundAFC WimbledonHome2–3Powell, Afobe4,407[59]

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. Pos Nat Player TotalLeague OneFA CupLeague CupLeague Trophy
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1 GK David Martin 470390304010
2 DF Lee Hodson 151141001000
3 DF Dean Lewington 493413304010
4 DF Tom Flanagan 9060201000
5 DF Kyle McFadzean 494413304110
6 DF Antony Kay 491451103000
7 MF Danny Green 182141212000
8 MF Darren Potter 472402204010
9 FW Dean Bowditch 407357103010
10 MF Ben Reeves 367307204000
11 FW Will Grigg 50224420303200
12 DF Jordan Spence 440380302010
14 MF Dele Alli 44163916104000
15 MF Mark Randall 13090201010
16 GK Ian McLoughlin 8080000000
17 FW Daniel Powell 4910428204111
18 DF George Baldock 14090203000
19 FW Tom Hitchcock 140120001010
20 MF Giorgio Rasulo 1000100000
21 MF Keith Andrews 5050000000
22 MF Samir Carruthers 382322203010
23 FW Benik Afobe 30192210324611
23 FW Jonson Clarke-Harris 5050000000
23 DF Joe Walsh 2020000000
24 DF Ben Tilney 0000000000
25 DF Harry Hickford 0000000000
26 MF Will Summerfield 0000000000
27 FW Kabongo Tshimanga 1000100000
28 FW Devante Cole 153153000000
29 GK Charlie Burns 0000000000
34 MF Lewis Baker 124124000000
35 FW George C Williams 4040000000
38 FW Rob Hall 7373000000

Transfers

Transfers in
Date from Position Name From Fee Ref.
1 July 2014MF Danny GreenCharlton AthleticFree transfer[60]
FW Tom HitchcockFree agent[lower-alpha 1][3]
DF Kyle McFadzeanCrawley TownUndisclosed[4]
6 August 2014MF Samir CarruthersAston Villa[2]
21 August 2014DF Jordan SpenceFree agent[lower-alpha 2]Free transfer[2]
26 September 2014MF Carl BakerFree agent[lower-alpha 3][61]

Transfers out
Date from Position Name To Fee Ref.
1 July 2014MF Luke ChadwickCambridge UnitedFree transfer[4]
MF Stephen GleesonBirmingham City
FW Ryan HallRotherham United
FW Izale McLeodCrawley Town
MF Alan SmithNotts County[60]
2 August 2014DF Brendan GallowayEvertonUndisclosed[2]
2 February 2015MF Dele AlliTottenham Hotspur£5,000,000[lower-alpha 4][11]

Loans in
Start date Position Name From End date Ref.
18 July 2014FW Will GriggBrentfordEnd of season[3]
4 August 2014FW Benik AfobeArsenal[2]
16 January 2015FW Jonson Clarke-HarrisRotherham United21 February 2015[62]
22 January 2015FW Devante ColeManchester CityEnd of season
2 February 2015MF Dele AlliTottenham Hotspur[63]
MF Keith AndrewsBolton Wanderers
16 February 2015FW George C WilliamsFulhamMarch 2015[lower-alpha 5]
25 February 2015MF Lewis BakerChelseaEnd of season
2 March 2015DF Joe WalshCrawley Town[64]
26 March 2015FW Rob HallBolton Wanderers

Loans out
Start date Position Name To End date Ref.
31 October 2014FW Tom HitchcockFleetwood Town28 December 2014[65]
9 January 2015DF Tom FlanaganPlymouth Argyle10 February 2015[62]
12 February 2015DF George BaldockOxford UnitedEnd of season[63]
19 February 2015MF Giorgio Rasulo26 March 2015[lower-alpha 6]
26 March 2015MFAldershot TownEnd of season[66]
  1. Previous club: Queens Park Rangers.
  2. Previous club: West Ham United.
  3. Previous club: Coventry City.
  4. Plus add-ons and loan back until end of season.
  5. Recalled due to injury. Originally until end of season.
  6. Recalled. Originally until end of season.

Awards

References
  1. "League One 2014/2015". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  2. "Transfers - August 2014". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  3. "Transfers - July 2014". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  4. "Transfers - June 2014". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
  5. "Milton Keynes Dons 3-1 AFC Wimbledon". BBC Sport. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  6. "Milton Keynes Dons 4-0 Manchester United". BBC Sport. 26 August 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  7. "Milton Keynes Dons 7-0 Oldham Athletic". BBC Sport. 20 December 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  8. "Milton Keynes Dons 6-0 Colchester United". BBC Sport. 29 November 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  9. "Milton Keynes Dons 6-1 Crewe Alexandra". BBC Sport. 20 September 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  10. "Milton Keynes Dons 6-1 Leyton Orient". BBC Sport. 18 April 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  11. "Dele Alli: Tottenham sign £5m MK Dons midfielder & loan him back". BBC Sport. 2 February 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  12. "Rochdale 2-3 Milton Keynes Dons". BBC Sport. 25 April 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  13. "Milton Keynes Dons 5-1 Yeovil Town". BBC Sport. 3 May 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  14. "Milton Keynes Dons 4-2 Gillingham". BBC Sport. 9 August 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  15. "Peterborough United 3-2 MK Dons". BBC Sport. 16 August 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  16. "Chesterfield 0-1 MK Dons". BBC Sport. 19 August 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  17. "Milton Keynes Dons 0-0 Coventry City". BBC Sport. 23 August 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  18. "Milton Keynes Dons 2-0 Crawley Town". BBC Sport. 30 August 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  19. "Barnsley 3-5 Milton Keynes Dons". BBC Sport. 13 September 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  20. "Milton Keynes Dons 1-2 Bradford City". BBC Sport. 16 September 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  21. "Bristol City 3-2 Milton Keynes Dons". BBC Sport. 27 September 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  22. "Yeovil Town 0-2 Milton Keynes Dons". BBC Sport. 4 October 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  23. "Leyton Orient 0-0 Milton Keynes Dons". BBC Sport. 18 October 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  24. "Milton Keynes Dons 2-1 Fleetwood Town". BBC Sport. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
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  39. "Bradford City 2-1 Milton Keynes Dons". BBC Sport. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  40. "Gillingham 4-2 Milton Keynes Dons". BBC Sport. 14 February 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  41. "Colchester United 0-1 Milton Keynes Dons". BBC Sport. 17 February 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  42. "Milton Keynes Dons 3-0 Peterborough United". BBC Sport. 21 February 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  43. "Coventry City 2-1 Milton Keynes Dons". BBC Sport. 28 February 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  44. "Milton Keynes Dons 1-2 Chesterfield". BBC Sport. 3 March 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  45. "MK Dons 0-2 Preston North End". BBC Sport. 7 March 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  46. "Walsall 1-1 Milton Keynes Dons". BBC Sport. 14 March 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  47. "Milton Keynes Dons 4-1 Notts County". BBC Sport. 21 March 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  48. "Swindon Town 0-3 Milton Keynes Dons". BBC Sport. 4 April 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  49. "Milton Keynes Dons 2-0 Scunthorpe United". BBC Sport. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  50. "Port Vale 0-0 Milton Keynes Dons". BBC Sport. 11 April 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  51. "Fleetwood Town 0-3 Milton Keynes Dons". BBC Sport. 14 April 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  52. "MK Dons 3-0 Doncaster Rovers". BBC Sport. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  53. "Port Vale 3-4 Milton Keynes Dons". BBC Sport. 8 November 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  54. "FA Cup: Chesterfield replay frustrates MK Dons boss". BBC Sport. 17 December 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  55. "Milton Keynes Dons 0-1 Chesterfield". BBC Sport. 6 December 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  56. "Milton Keynes Dons 0-1 Chesterfield". BBC Sport. 2 January 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  57. "Milton Keynes Dons 2-0 Bradford City". BBC Sport. 23 September 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  58. "Milton Keynes Dons 1-2 Sheffield United". BBC Sport. 28 October 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  59. "MK Dons 2-3 AFC Wimbledon". Sky Sports. 7 October 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  60. "Transfers - May 2014". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  61. "MK Dons: Carl Baker joins League One side". BBC Sport. 26 September 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  62. "Transfers - January 2015". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  63. "Transfers - February 2015". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  64. "Transfers - March 2015". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  65. "Tom Hitchcock: Fleetwood sign MK Dons striker on loan". BBC Sport. 31 October 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  66. "Rasulo swaps U's for Shots". Milton Keynes Dons F.C. 26 March 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  67. "League One Team of the Year: Five Bristol City players selected". BBC Sport. 26 April 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  68. "Milton Keynes Dons' Dele Alli named Football League Young Player of the Year". EFL. 23 April 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  69. "Carl Baker named Sky Bet League One Player of the Month". the Football League. 5 December 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  70. "England U19s and MK Dons youngster Dele Alli lands League One prize". The Football Association.
  71. "Dele Alli named Football League Young Player of the Month". EFL. 19 September 2014. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  72. "Karl Robinson named Sky Bet League 1 Manager of the Month". EFL. 6 February 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  73. "Karl Robinson named Sky Bet League 1 Manager of the Month". EFL. 1 May 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
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