Preview: MK Dons vs Oldham Athletic - prediction, team news, lineups

MK Dons and Oldham Athletic kick off their League Two campaigns this Saturday afternoon when the two teams meet at Stadium MK.

Following a woeful campaign last year, the Dons will be looking for significant improvements in their third straight League Two season. The Owls, on the other hand, will be hoping to make a statement in what will be their first season back in the Football League in three years.

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Match preview

The 2024-25 season was truly a forgettable one for MK Dons, who slipped from one nightmare situation to the next throughout the course of the year.

The club went through five different head coaches, were dumped out of the FA Cup in the first round by arch rivals AFC Wimbledon, and finished their league campaign in a lowly 19th spot.

Avoiding relegation was the only positive for the Dons, who will now be looking to raise their game under current head coach Paul Warne.

With four promotions to his name, Dons fans will be hoping Warne can mastermind his fifth as the club set sights on what would be a miraculous League One return.

Speaking of returns, Oldham will be playing in the Football League for the first time since their disappointing League Two relegation back in 2022.

It took the Owls three seasons to find their way out of the National League, and they ultimately sealed their promotion courtesy of a dramatic extra-time victory over Southend United in their play off final at Wembley.

Micky Mellon, who has been in charge of Oldham since October 2023, will now be looking to lead another successful league campaign in the fourth tier of English football.

One of the big challenges for the head coach will be dealing with the large overhaul in playing talent at the club; a total of 13 players were released at the end of the season, with nine new names coming in over the summer.

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Team News

MK Dons could not have had worse luck in their match preparations, with the team losing four defenders to injuries in a space of a week.

Laurence Maguire suffered a hamstring tendon injury over in Spain, Sam Sherring pulled his hamstring 20 minutes into a pre-season game with Peterborough, Jack Sanders picked up a knock in training, and Nathan Thompson also suffered a niggle.

Warne will be looking to unleash some of his new signings, such as Callum Paterson, Will Collar, Aaron Collins and Nathaniel Mendes-Laing.

Oldham, meanwhile, will be without newly acquired defender Stefan Stam, who also picked up a hamstring injury.

Loanee goalkeeper Michael Poke will join him on the sidelines after fracturing a finger in training.

MK Dons possible starting lineup: MacGillivray; Tomlinson, Offord, Waller, Scholtz; Collar, Kelly; Crowley, Paterson, Mendez‑Laing; Hendry

Oldham Athletic possible starting lineup: Hudson; Ogle, Monthe, Daniels; Leake, Morris, Evans, Pett; Fondop, Garner, Waters

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We say: MK Dons 1-2 Oldham Athletic

The season has yet to get underway, yet MK Dons are already struggling with injuries – especially at the back.

Oldham have got serious momentum following their Wembley heroics, and we are backing them to bag a big win on the road.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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