2014–15 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season
# 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.

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 and Will Grigg on loan from Arsenal and Brentford respectively, as well as former loanee Samir Carruthers from Aston Villa on a permanent deal. Centre-back Kyle McFadzean was also brought in from Crawley Town.

Following a 3–1 home victory over rivals AFC Wimbledon in the first round at the beginning of August, 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.

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, a 6–0 home win over Colchester United and 6–1 home wins over both Crewe Alexandra and Leyton Orient. 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.

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. 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.

## Competitions

### League One

Final table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Bristol City (C,P) | 46 | 29 | 12 | 5 | 96 | 38 | +58 | 99 |
| 2 | Milton Keynes Dons (P) | 46 | 27 | 10 | 9 | 101 | 44 | +57 | 91 |
| 3 | Preston North End (P) | 46 | 25 | 14 | 7 | 79 | 40 | +39 | 89 |
| 4 | Swindon Town | 46 | 23 | 10 | 13 | 76 | 57 | +19 | 79 |
| 5 | Sheffield United | 46 | 19 | 14 | 13 | 66 | 53 | +13 | 71 |

Source: Sky Sports

Matches

| Win | Draw | Loss |
| - | - | - |
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | Attendance |
| 9 August 2014 – 15:00 | Gillingham | Home | 4–2 | Hause (o.g.), Grigg, McFadzean, Legge (o.g.) | 7,595 |
| 16 August 2014 – 15:00 | Peterborough United | Away | 2–3 | Alli, Powell | 7,115 |
| 19 August 2014 – 19:45 | Chesterfield | Away | 1–0 | Afobe | 5,811 |
| 23 August 2014 – 15:00 | Coventry City | Home | 0–0 | | 10,600 |
| 30 August 2014 – 15:00 | Crawley Town | Home | 2–0 | Alli, Afobe | 7,148 |
| 13 September 2014 – 15:00 | Barnsley | Away | 5–3 | Afobe, Carruthers, Alli, Grigg, Reeves | 9,192 |
| 16 September 2014 – 19:45 | Bradford City | Home | 1–2 | Lewington | 7,139 |
| 20 September 2014 – 15:00 | Crewe Alexandra | Home | 6–1 | Alli (3), Grigg, Afobe, Reeves | 7,049 |
| 27 September 2014 – 15:00 | Bristol City | Away | 2–3 | Bowditch, Afobe | 13,119 |
| 4 October 2014 – 15:00 | Yeovil Town | Away | 2–0 | Grigg, Powell | 4,000 |
| 18 October 2014 – 15:00 | Leyton Orient | Away | 0–0 | | 5,014 |
| 21 October 2014 – 19:45 | Fleetwood Town | Home | 2–1 | McFadzean, Afobe | 6,736 |
| 25 October 2014 – 15:00 | Doncaster Rovers | Away | 0–0 | | 5,976 |
| 1 November 2014 – 15:00 | Swindon Town | Home | 2–1 | Alli, Kay | 9,494 |
| 22 November 2014 – 15:00 | Port Vale | Home | 1–0 | C. Baker | 12,007 |
| 25 November 2014 – 19:45 | Rochdale | Home | 2–2 | Grigg, Green | 6,720 |
| 29 November 2014 – 15:00 | Colchester United | Home | 6–0 | Alli, Afobe (3), Reeves, Hodson | 7,646 |
| 2 December 2014 – 19:45 | Sheffield United | Away | 1–0 | Alli | 17,030 |
| 13 December 2014 – 15:00 | Preston North End | Away | 1–1 | C. Baker | 9,856 |
| 20 December 2014 – 15:00 | Oldham Athletic | Home | 7–0 | Grigg (2), Bowditch, Potter, Alli, Afobe, C. Baker | 7,998 |
| 26 December 2014 – 15:00 | Notts County | Away | 1–0 | Powell | 5,897 |
| 28 December 2014 – 15:00 | Walsall | Home | 0–3 | | 9,311 |
| 10 January 2015 – 15:00 | Crawley Town | Away | 2–2 | Grigg, Alli | 2,468 |
| 17 January 2015 – 15:00 | Sheffield United | Home | 1–0 | C. Baker | 9,633 |
| 24 January 2015 – 15:00 | Barnsley | Home | 2–0 | Alli, Grigg | 8,310 |
| 27 January 2015 – 19:45 | Scunthorpe United | Away | 1–1 | McFadzean | 3,005 |
| 31 January 2015 – 15:00 | Crewe Alexandra | Away | 5–0 | Cole (2), Bowditch, C. Baker, Powell | 4,319 |
| 7 February 2015 – 15:00 | Bristol City | Home | 0–0 | | 15,642 |
| 9 February 2015 – 19:45 | Bradford City | Away | 1–2 | Alli | 11,948 |
| 14 February 2015 – 15:00 | Gillingham | Away | 2–4 | Cole, Reeves | 5,107 |
| 17 February 2015 – 19:45 | Colchester United | Away | 1–0 | Alli | 2,974 |
| 21 February 2015 – 15:00 | Peterborough United | Home | 3–0 | Grigg, Reeves (2) | 11,162 |
| 28 February 2015 – 15:00 | Coventry City | Away | 1–2 | Powell | 9,934 |
| 3 March 2015 – 15:00 | Chesterfield | Home | 1–2 | L. Baker | 7,335 |
| 7 March 2015 – 15:00 | Preston North End | Home | 0–2 | | 10,618 |
| 14 March 2015 – 15:00 | Walsall | Away | 1–1 | Grigg | 3,887 |
| 17 March 2015 – 19:45 | Oldham Athletic | Away | 3–1 | Bowditch, Powell, Grigg | 2,445 |
| 21 March 2015 – 15:00 | Notts County | Home | 4–1 | C. Baker, L. Baker, Grigg (2) | 11,911 |
| 4 April 2015 – 12:15 | Swindon Town | Away | 3–0 | Powell, Grigg (2) | 10,087 |
| 7 April 2015 – 19:45 | Scunthorpe United | Home | 2–0 | Grigg (2) | 8,087 |
| 11 April 2015 – 15:00 | Port Vale | Away | 0–0 | | 4,379 |
| 14 April 2015 – 19:45 | Fleetwood Town | Away | 3–0 | L. Baker, Grigg, Alli | 2,752 |
| 18 April 2015 – 15:00 | Leyton Orient | Home | 6–1 | Bowditch, Hall (3), Grigg, Alli | 10,137 |
| 21 April 2015 – 15:00 | Doncaster Rovers | Home | 3–0 | Bowditch, C. Baker (2) | 8,159 |
| 25 April 2015 – 15:00 | Rochdale | Away | 3–2 | Carrthers, Bowditch, Powell | 3,501 |
| 3 May 2015 – 15:00 | Yeovil Town | Home | 5–1 | C. Baker, Lewington (2), Potter, Grigg | 16,965 |

### FA Cup

Matches

| Win | Draw | Loss |
| - | - | - |
| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | Attendance |
| 8 November 2014 – 15:00 | First round | Port Vale | Away | 4–3 | Afobe (2), C. Baker, Green | 4,120 |
| 6 December 2014 – 15:00 | Second round | Chesterfield | Home | 0–1 | | 5,591 |
| 2 January 2015 – 19:45 | Second round | Chesterfield | Home | 0–1 | | 8,040 |

* ↑ Due to Chesterfield fielding an ineligible player, the FA ruled the tie be replayed.

### League Cup

Matches

| Win | Draw | Loss |
| - | - | - |
| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | Attendance |
| 12 August 2014 – 19:45 | First round | AFC Wimbledon | Home | 3–1 | McFadzean, Powell, Afobe | 7,171 |
| 26 August 2014 – 19:45 | Second round | Manchester United | Home | 4–0 | Grigg (2), Afobe (2) | 26,969 |
| 23 September 2014 – 19:45 | Third round | Bradford City | Home | 2–0 | Afobe (2) | 5,707 |
| 28 October 2014 – 19:45 | Fourth round | Sheffield United | Home | 1–2 | Afobe | 8,520 |

### League Trophy

Matches

| Win | Draw | Loss |
| - | - | - |
| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | Attendance | Ref |
| 7 October 2014 – 19:45 | Second round | AFC Wimbledon | Home | 2–3 | Powell, Afobe | 4,407 | |

## Player details

    Note: Players' ages as of the club's opening fixture of the 2014–15 season.

| # | Name | Position | Date of birth (age) | Signed from | Signed in | Transfer fee |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||
| 1 | David Martin | GK | (1986-01-22)22 January 1986 (aged 28) | Liverpool | 2010 | Free |
| 16 | Ian McLoughlin | GK | (1991-08-09)9 August 1991 (aged 23) | Ipswich Town | 2011 | Free |
| 29 | Charlie Burns | GK | (1995-05-27)27 May 1995 (aged 19) | Academy | 2014 | Trainee |
| Defenders ||||||||
| 2 | Lee Hodson | RB | (1991-10-02)2 October 1991 (aged 22) | Free agent | 2013 | Free |
| 3 | Dean Lewington | LB | (1984-05-18)18 May 1984 (aged 30) | Wimbledon | 2004 | Free |
| 4 | Tom Flanagan | CB | (1991-10-21)21 October 1991 (aged 22) | Academy | 2010 | Trainee |
| 5 | Kyle McFadzean | CB | (1987-02-28)28 February 1987 (aged 27) | Crawley Town | 2014 | Undisclosed |
| 6 | Antony Kay | CB | (1982-10-21)21 October 1982 (aged 31) | Huddersfield Town | 2012 | Free |
| 12 | Jordan Spence | RB | (1990-05-24)24 May 1990 (aged 24) | Free agent | 2014 | Free |
| 23 | Joe Walsh | CB | (1992-05-13)13 May 1992 (aged 22) | Crawley Town | 2015 | Loan |
| 24 | Ben Tilney | LB | (1997-02-28)28 February 1997 (aged 17) | Academy | 2014 | Trainee |
| 25 | Harry Hickford | CB | (1996-06-23)23 June 1996 (aged 18) | Academy | 2014 | Trainee |
| Midfielders ||||||||
| 8 | Darren Potter | DM | (1984-12-21)21 December 1984 (aged 29) | Sheffield Wednesday | 2011 | Free |
| 10 | Ben Reeves | AM | (1991-11-19)19 November 1991 (aged 22) | Free agent | 2013 | Free |
| 13 | Carl Baker | AM | (1982-12-26)26 December 1982 (aged 31) | Free agent | 2014 | Free |
| 14 | Dele Alli | CM | (1996-04-11)11 April 1996 (aged 18) | Tottenham Hotspur | 2015 | Loan |
| 15 | Mark Randall | CM | (1989-09-28)28 September 1989 (aged 24) | Free agent | 2014 | Free |
| 21 | Keith Andrews | DM | (1980-09-13)13 September 1980 (aged 33) | Bolton Wanderers | 2015 | Loan |
| 22 | Samir Carruthers | AM | (1993-04-04)4 April 1993 (aged 21) | Aston Villa | 2014 | Undisclosed |
| 26 | Will Summerfield | CM | (1995-11-08)8 November 1995 (aged 18) | Academy | 2014 | Trainee |
| 34 | Lewis Baker | CM | (1995-04-25)25 April 1995 (aged 19) | Chelsea | 2015 | Loan |
| Forwards ||||||||
| 7 | Danny Green | RW | (1988-07-09)9 July 1988 (aged 26) | Free agent | 2013 | Free |
| 9 | Dean Bowditch | LW | (1986-06-15)15 June 1986 (aged 28) | Yeovil Town | 2011 | Free |
| 11 | Will Grigg | CF | (1991-07-03)3 July 1991 (aged 23) | Brentford | 2014 | Loan |
| 17 | Daniel Powell | LW | (1991-03-12)12 March 1991 (aged 23) | Academy | 2008 | Trainee |
| 19 | Tom Hitchcock | CF | (1992-10-01)1 October 1992 (aged 21) | Queens Park Rangers | 2014 | Free |
| 27 | Kabongo Tshimanga | CF | (1997-07-22)22 July 1997 (aged 17) | Academy | 2014 | Trainee |
| 28 | Devante Cole | CF | (1995-05-10)10 May 1995 (aged 19) | Manchester City | 2015 | Loan |
| 38 | Rob Hall | RW | (1993-10-20)20 October 1993 (aged 20) | Bolton Wanderers | 2015 | Loan |
| Out on loan ||||||||
| 18 | George Baldock | RB | (1993-03-09)9 March 1993 (aged 21) | Academy | 2009 | Trainee |
| 20 | Giorgio Rasulo | CM | (1997-01-23)23 January 1997 (aged 17) | Academy | 2012 | Trainee |
| Left club during season ||||||||
| 23 | Benik Afobe | CF | (1993-02-12)12 February 1993 (aged 21) | Arsenal | 2014 | Loan |
| 23 | Jonson Clarke-Harris | CF | (1994-07-21)21 July 1994 (aged 20) | Rotherham United | 2015 | Loan |
| 35 | George Williams | LW | (1995-09-07)7 September 1995 (aged 18) | Fulham | 2015 | Loan |

## Transfers

### Transfers in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 July 2014 | MF | Danny Green | Charlton Athletic | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2014 | FW | Tom Hitchcock | Free agent | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2014 | DF | Kyle McFadzean | Crawley Town | Undisclosed |
| 6 August 2014 | MF | Samir Carruthers | Aston Villa | Undisclosed |
| 21 August 2014 | DF | Jordan Spence | Free agent | Free transfer |
| 26 September 2014 | MF | Carl Baker | Free agent | Free transfer |

### Transfers out

| Date from | Position | Name | To | Fee |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 July 2014 | MF | Luke Chadwick | Cambridge United | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2014 | MF | Stephen Gleeson | Birmingham City | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2014 | FW | Ryan Hall | Rotherham United | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2014 | FW | Izale McLeod | Crawley Town | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2014 | MF | Alan Smith | Notts County | Free transfer |
| 2 August 2014 | DF | Brendan Galloway | Everton | Undisclosed |
| 2 February 2015 | MF | Dele Alli | Tottenham Hotspur | £5,000,000 |

### Loans in

| Start date | Position | Name | From | End date |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 18 July 2014 | FW | Will Grigg | Brentford | End of season |
| 4 August 2014 | FW | Benik Afobe | Arsenal | End of season |
| 16 January 2015 | FW | Jonson Clarke-Harris | Rotherham United | 21 February 2015 |
| 22 January 2015 | FW | Devante Cole | Manchester City | End of season |
| 2 February 2015 | MF | Dele Alli | Tottenham Hotspur | End of season |
| 2 February 2015 | MF | Keith Andrews | Bolton Wanderers | End of season |
| 16 February 2015 | FW | George C Williams | Fulham | March 2015 |
| 25 February 2015 | MF | Lewis Baker | Chelsea | End of season |
| 2 March 2015 | DF | Joe Walsh | Crawley Town | End of season |
| 26 March 2015 | FW | Rob Hall | Bolton Wanderers | End of season |

### Loans out

| Start date | Position | Name | To | End date |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 31 October 2014 | FW | Tom Hitchcock | Fleetwood Town | 28 December 2014 |
| 9 January 2015 | DF | Tom Flanagan | Plymouth Argyle | 10 February 2015 |
| 12 February 2015 | DF | George Baldock | Oxford United | End of season |
| 19 February 2015 | MF | Giorgio Rasulo | Oxford United | 26 March 2015 |
| 26 March 2015 | MF | Giorgio Rasulo | Aldershot Town | End of season |

* ↑ Previous club: Queens Park Rangers.
* ↑ Previous club: West Ham United.
* ↑ Previous club: Coventry City.
* ↑ Plus add-ons and loan back until end of season.
* ↑ Recalled due to injury. Originally until end of season.
* ↑ Recalled. Originally until end of season.

## Awards

* PFA Team of the Year 2014–15 League One: Dele Alli
* EFL Young Player of the Year 2014–15: Dele Alli
* EFL League One Player of the Month November 2014: Carl Baker
* EFL League One Player of the Month January 2015: Dele Alli
* EFL Young Player of the Month August 2014: Dele Alli
* EFL League One Manager of the Month January 2015: Karl Robinson
* EFL League One Manager of the Month April 2015: Karl Robinson
