2018–19 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season

The 2018–19 season was Milton Keynes Dons' 15th season in their existence, and the club's first season back in League Two following relegation from League One at the end of the 2017–18 season. Along with competing in League Two, the club also competed in the FA Cup, EFL Cup and EFL Trophy.

Milton Keynes Dons

2018–19 season
Chairman	Pete Winkelman
Manager	Paul Tisdale
Stadium	Stadium MK
League Two	3rd (promoted to EFL League One)
FA Cup	First round
EFL Cup	Second round
EFL Trophy	Group stage
Top goalscorer	League: Kieran Agard (20) All: Kieran Agard (22)
Highest home attendance	20,718 (vs Mansfield Town) 4 May 2019, League Two
Lowest home attendance	1,018 (vs Brighton & Hove Albion U21s) 13 November 2018, EFL Trophy Group H
Average home league attendance	8,224[1]
Biggest win	6–0 (vs Cambridge United) 1 January 2019, League Two
Biggest defeat	3–0 (vs Luton Town) 9 October 2018, EFL Trophy Group H 3–0 (vs AFC Bournemouth) 28 August 2018, EFL Cup R2
Home colours Away colours Third colours
← 2017–18 2019–20 →

The season covers the period from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019.

Competitions

League Two

Main article: 2018–19 EFL League Two

Final table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Lincoln City (C,P)	46	23	16	7	73	43	+30	85
2	Bury (P)	46	22	13	11	82	56	+26	79
3	Milton Keynes Dons (P)	46	23	10	13	71	49	+22	79
4	Mansfield Town	46	20	16	10	69	41	+28	76
5	Forest Green Rovers	46	20	14	12	68	47	+21	74

Source: Sky Sports

Matches

Win

Draw

Loss

Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Scorers	Attendance	Ref
4 August 2018 – 15:00	Oldham Athletic	Away	2–1	Agard, Harley	4,764	[2]
11 August 2018 – 15:00	Bury	Home	1–0	Cissé	6,897	[3]
18 August 2018 – 15:00	Crewe Alexandra	Away	0–0		3,505	[4]
21 August 2018 – 19:45	Grimsby Town	Home	1–1	Simpson	6,800	[5]
25 August 2018 – 15:00	Exeter City	Home	1–0	Agard	7,672	[6]
1 September 2018 – 15:00	Swindon Town	Away	1–1	Walsh	6,620	[7]
15 September 2018 – 15:00	Forest Green Rovers	Home	1–1	Aneke	6,638	[8]
22 September 2018 – 15:00	Lincoln City	Away	1–2	Healey	9,322	[9]
25 September 2018 – 19:45	Yeovil Town	Away	1–1	Agard	2,634	[10]
29 September 2018 – 15:00	Tranmere Rovers	Home	1–1	Aneke	7,048	[11]
2 October 2018 – 19:45	Port Vale	Away	2–0	Aneke, Agard	3,399	[12]
6 October 2018 – 15:00	Cheltenham Town	Home	3–0	Aneke, Healey, Simpson	6,503	[13]
13 October 2018 – 15:00	Cambridge United	Away	1–0	Aneke	5,106	[14]
20 October 2018 – 15:00	Northampton Town	Home	1–0	Agard	9,618	[15]
23 October 2018 – 19:45	Notts County	Home	2–1	Aneke, Healey	6,501	[16]
27 October 2018 – 15:00	Mansfield Town	Away	1–1	Houghton	4,329	[17]
3 November 2018 – 15:00	Crawley Town	Away	4–0	Healey (2), Agard, Aneke	2,667	[18]
17 November 2018 – 15:00	Macclesfield Town	Home	2–0	Aneke, Agard	7,087	[19]
24 November 2018 – 15:00	Stevenage	Away	2–3	Healey, Agard	3,263	[20]
27 November 2018 – 19:45	Morecambe	Home	2–0	Gilbey (2)	5,726	[21]
8 December 2018 – 19:45	Carlisle United	Home	2–0	Houghton, Agard	5,849	[22]
22 December 2018 – 15:00	Colchester United	Home	0–1		7,765	[23]
26 December 2018 – 15:00	Cheltenham Town	Away	1–3	Aneke	3,226	[24]
29 December 2018 – 15:00	Northampton Town	Away	2–2	Gilbey, Aneke	6,963	[25]
1 January 2019 – 15:00	Cambridge United	Home	6–0	Healey (2), Agard (2), Aneke, Sow	8,128	[26]
12 January 2019 – 15:00	Bury	Away	3–4	Moore-Taylor, Lewington, Stokes (o.g.)	4,072	[27]
19 January 2019 – 15:00	Crewe Alexandra	Home	0–1		8,347	[28]
26 January 2019 – 15:00	Grimsby Town	Away	0–1		3,862	[29]
29 January 2019 – 19:45	Oldham Athletic	Home	2–1	Aneke, Agard	5,950	[30]
2 February 2019 – 15:00	Exeter City	Away	1–3	Walsh	5,766	[31]
9 February 2019 – 15:00	Swindon Town	Home	2–3	Hesketh, Agard	7,864	[32]
12 February 2019 – 19:45	Newport County	Away	1–0	Aneke	2,860	[33]
16 February 2019 – 15:00	Carlisle United	Away	3–2	McGrandles, Hesketh, Agard	10,459	[34]
23 February 2019 – 15:00	Newport County	Home	2–0	Cissé, Aneke	6,984	[35]
2 March 2019 – 15:00	Crawley Town	Home	1–0	Agard	6,889	[36]
9 March 2019 – 15:00	Macclesfield Town	Away	3–1	Brittain, Wheeler, Agard	2,017	[37]
12 March 2019 – 19:45	Morecambe	Away	2–4	Agard (2)	1,460	[38]
16 March 2019 – 15:00	Stevenage	Home	1–1	Aneke	7,365	[39]
23 March 2019 – 15:00	Yeovil Town	Home	2–0	Harley, Aneke	7,593	[40]
30 March 2019 – 15:00	Forest Green Rovers	Away	2–1	Agard, Martin	3,220	[41]
6 April 2019 – 15:00	Lincoln City	Home	0–2		15,851	[42]
13 April 2019 – 15:00	Tranmere Rovers	Away	1–2	Agard	8,357	[43]
19 April 2019 – 15:00	Notts County	Away	2–1	Wheeler, Aneke	7,130	[44]
22 April 2019 – 15:00	Port Vale	Home	1–1	Wheeler	8,386	[45]
27 April 2019 – 15:00	Colchester United	Away	0–2		5,000	[46]
4 May 2019 – 15:00	Mansfield Town	Home	1–0	Wheeler	20,718	[47]

FA Cup

Main article: 2018–19 FA Cup

Win

Draw

Loss

Date	Round	Opponent	Venue	Result	Scorers	Attendance	Ref
10 November 2018 – 15:00	First round	Grimsby Town	Away	1–3	Agard	1,991	[48]

EFL Cup

Main article: 2018–19 EFL Cup

Win

Draw

Loss

Date	Round	Opponent	Venue	Result	Scorers	Attendance	Ref
14 August 2018 – 19:45	First round	Charlton Athletic	Away	3–0	Asonganyi, Watson, Cummings (o.g.)	3,052	[49]
28 August 2018 – 19:45	Second round	AFC Bournemouth	Away	0–3		9,747	[50]

EFL Trophy

Main article: 2018–19 EFL Trophy

Southern Group H Table

Pos	Div	Team	Pld	W	PW	PL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	L1	Luton Town (Q)	3	2	0	0	1	6	3	+3	6	Second round
2	L1	Peterborough United (Q)	3	1	0	2	0	7	6	+1	5
3	ACA	Brighton & Hove Albion U21 (E)	3	1	1	0	1	6	6	0	5
4	L2	Milton Keynes Dons (E)	3	0	1	0	2	5	9	−4	2

Matches

Win

Draw

Loss

Date	Round	Opponent	Venue	Result	Scorers	Attendance	Ref
4 September 2018 – 19:45	Group stage	Peterborough United	Home	3–3[a]	Aneke (2), Healey	2,404	[51]
9 October 2018 – 19:45	Group stage	Luton Town	Away	0–3		875	[52]
13 November 2018 – 19:45	Group stage	Brighton & Hove Albion U21	Home	2–3	Agard, Hancox	1,018	[53]

1. After 90 minutes. Milton Keynes Dons gained an extra point with a 6–5 win on penalties.

Squad

Note: Players' ages as of the club's opening fixture of the 2018–19 season.

#	Name	Nationality	Position	Date of birth (age)	Signed from	Signed in	Transfer fee
Goalkeepers
1	Lee Nicholls		GK	(1992-10-05)5 October 1992 (aged 25)	Free agent	2016	Free
22	Stuart Moore		GK	(1994-09-08)8 September 1994 (aged 23)	Free agent	2018	Free
Defenders
2	George Williams		RB	(1993-04-14)14 April 1993 (aged 25)	Barnsley	2016	Free
3	Dean Lewington		LB	(1984-05-18)18 May 1984 (aged 34)	Wimbledon	2004	Free
4	Joe Walsh		CB	(1992-05-13)13 May 1992 (aged 26)	Crawley Town	2015	Undisclosed
5	Mathieu Baudry		CB	(1988-02-24)24 February 1988 (aged 30)	Free agent	2018	Free
12	Mitch Hancox		LB	(1993-11-09)9 November 1993 (aged 24)	Macclesfield Town	2018	Free
15	Jordan Moore-Taylor		CB	(1994-01-24)24 January 1994 (aged 24)	Exeter City	2018	Free
16	Russell Martin		CB	(1986-01-04)4 January 1986 (aged 32)	Free agent	2019	Free
25	Callum Brittain		RB	(1998-03-12)12 March 1998 (aged 20)	Academy	2016	Trainee
26	Baily Cargill		CB	(1995-07-05)5 July 1995 (aged 23)	Free agent	2018	Free
28	Oran Jackson		CB	(1998-10-16)16 October 1998 (aged 19)	Academy	2016	Trainee
31	Finn Tapp		CB	(1999-11-09)9 November 1999 (aged 18)	Academy	2016	Trainee
Midfielders
6	Ousseynou Cissé		DM	(1991-04-07)7 April 1991 (aged 27)	Tours	2017	Free
7	Ryan Watson		AM	(1993-07-07)7 July 1993 (aged 25)	Barnet	2018	Free
8	Alex Gilbey		AM	(1994-12-09)9 December 1994 (aged 23)	Wigan Athletic	2017	Undisclosed
11	Jake Hesketh		AM	(1996-03-27)27 March 1996 (aged 22)	Southampton	2019	Loan
18	Conor McGrandles		CM	(1999-10-21)21 October 1999 (aged 18)	Norwich City	2017	Free
20	Lawson D'Ath		CM	(1992-12-24)24 December 1992 (aged 25)	Luton Town	2018	Free
20	David Wheeler		RM	(1990-10-04)4 October 1990 (aged 27)	Queens Park Rangers	2019	Loan
24	Jordan Houghton		DM	(1995-11-05)5 November 1995 (aged 22)	Free agent	2018	Free
29	David Kasumu		CM	(1999-10-05)5 October 1999 (aged 18)	Academy	2017	Trainee
33	Ryan Harley		AM	(1985-01-22)22 January 1985 (aged 33)	Exeter City	2018	Free
38	Charlie Pattison		AM	(2000-12-28)28 December 2000 (aged 17)	Academy	2019	Trainee
Forwards
10	Chuks Aneke		CF	(1993-07-03)3 July 1993 (aged 25)	Zulte Waregem	2016	Free
14	Kieran Agard		CF	(1989-10-10)10 October 1989 (aged 28)	Bristol City	2016	Undisclosed
19	Robbie Simpson		CF	(1985-03-15)15 March 1985 (aged 33)	Free agent	2018	Free
34	Stephen Walker		CF	(2000-10-11)11 October 2000 (aged 17)	Middlesbrough	2018	Loan
37	Dylan Asonganyi		CF	(2000-10-10)10 October 2000 (aged 17)	Academy	2017	Trainee
Out on loan
27	Brandon Thomas-Asante		LW	(1998-12-29)29 December 1998 (aged 19)	Academy	2016	Trainee
27	Sam Nombe		CF	(1998-10-22)22 October 1998 (aged 19)	Academy	2017	Trainee
30	Liam Sole		RW	(1999-12-21)21 December 1999 (aged 18)	Academy	2018	Trainee
Left club during season
9	Osman Sow		CF	(1990-04-22)22 April 1990 (aged 28)	Free agent	2017	Free
11	Peter Pawlett		LW	(1991-02-03)3 February 1991 (aged 27)	Aberdeen	2017	Free
12	Wieger Sietsma		GK	(1995-07-11)11 July 1995 (aged 23)	Free agent	2017	Free
21	Aidan Nesbitt		AM	(1997-02-05)5 February 1997 (aged 21)	Celtic	2017	Undisclosed
32	Rhys Healey		CF	(1994-12-06)6 December 1994 (aged 23)	Cardiff City	2018	Loan

Transfers

Transfers in

Date from	Position	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
1 July 2018	MF	Lawson D'Ath	Luton Town	Free transfer	[54]
	DF	Mitch Hancox	Macclesfield Town	Free transfer	[55]
	DF	Jordan Moore-Taylor	Exeter City
	MF	Ryan Watson	Barnet
6 July 2018	MF	Jordan Houghton	Free agent[a]		[56]
9 July 2018	MF	Ryan Harley	Free agent[b]
	FW	Robbie Simpson
30 July 2018	DF	Mathieu Baudry	Free agent[c]
1 August 2018	DF	Baily Cargill	Free agent[d]		[57]
2 August 2018	GK	Stuart Moore	Swindon Town	Compensation
15 January 2019	DF	Russell Martin	Free agent[e]	Free transfer	[58]

Transfers out

Date from	Position	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
1 July 2018	MF	Connor Furlong	Released[f]		[59]
	MF	Hugo Logan	Released
	MF	Giorgio Rasulo	Released[g]
	MF	Nigel Reo-Coker	Released
	MF	Ed Upson	Bristol Rovers	Free transfer	[60]
	DF	Scott Wootton	Plymouth Argyle
31 August 2018	FW	Robbie Muirhead	Dunfermline Athletic	Undisclosed	[61]
2 January 2019	MF	Aidan Nesbitt	Released[h]		[62]
3 January 2019	GK	Wieger Sietsma	Released[i]		[63]
31 January 2019	MF	Peter Pawlett	Dundee United	Undisclosed	[64]
	FW	Osman Sow

Loans in

Start date	Position	Name	From	End date	Ref.
24 August 2018	FW	Rhys Healey	Cardiff City	January 2019	[57]
25 January 2019	FW	David Wheeler	Queens Park Rangers	End of season	[58]
31 January 2019	MF	Jake Hesketh	Southampton
	FW	Stephen Walker	Middlesbrough

Loans out

Start date	Position	Name	To	End date	Ref.
30 October 2018	FW	Sam Nombe	Oxford City	31 December 2018	[65]
16 November 2018	DF	Finn Tapp	Staines Town	1 January 2019	[66]
23 November 2018	FW	Brandon Thomas-Asante	Sutton United	19 January 2019	[67]
14 December 2018	FW	Liam Sole	Hampton & Richmond Borough	25 January 2019	[68]
11 January 2019	FW	Sam Nombe	Maidenhead United	End of season	[69]
25 January 2019	FW	Liam Sole	St Albans City		[70]
28 January 2019	FW	Brandon Thomas-Asante	Oxford City		[71]

1. Previous club: Chelsea.
2. Previous club: Exeter City.
3. Previous club: Doncaster Rovers.
4. Previous club: Bournemouth.
5. Previous club: Walsall.
6. Joined Bedford Town on 10 August 2018.
7. Joined Brackley Town on 9 August 2018.
8. Mutual contract termination. Joined Dundee United on 4 January 2019.
9. Mutual contract termination. Joined Hoang Anh Gia Lai on 16 January 2019.

Awards

• EFL League Two Manager of the Month (October 2018): Paul Tisdale^[72]