2019–20 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season
# 2019–20 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season

The 2019–20 season was Milton Keynes Dons' 16th season in their existence, and the club's first season back in League One following promotion from League Two at the end of the 2018–19 season. Along with competing in League One, the club also competed in the FA Cup, EFL Cup and EFL Trophy.

Fixtures were suspended on 13 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Clubs later voted to end the season prematurely with immediate effect on 9 June 2020, with the final table decided upon by an unweighted points-per-game system resulting in the club finishing the season in 19th place.

The season covered the period from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020.

## Competitions

### League One

Final table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 19 | Milton Keynes Dons | 35 | 10 | 7 | 18 | 36 | 47 | −11 | 37 | 1.06 |
| 20 | AFC Wimbledon | 35 | 8 | 11 | 16 | 39 | 52 | −13 | 35 | 1.00 |
| 21 | Tranmere Rovers (R) | 34 | 8 | 8 | 18 | 36 | 60 | −24 | 32 | 0.94 |
| 22 | Southend United (R) | 35 | 4 | 7 | 24 | 39 | 85 | −46 | 19 | 0.54 |
| 23 | Bolton Wanderers (R) | 34 | 5 | 11 | 18 | 27 | 66 | −39 | 14 | 0.41 |

Source: Sky Sports

* ↑ Bolton Wanderers deducted 12 points under EFL Regulations (12pts).

Matches

| Win | Draw | Loss |
| - | - | - |
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | Attendance |
| 10 August 2019 – 15:00 | Shrewsbury Town | Home | 1–0 | Healey | 7,967 |
| 17 August 2019 – 15:00 | Wycombe Wanderers | Away | 2–3 | Bowery, Houghton | 5,243 |
| 20 August 2019 – 19:45 | Lincoln City | Home | 2–1 | Brittain, Williams | 8,166 |
| 24 August 2019 – 15:00 | Peterborough United | Home | 0–4 | | 9,402 |
| 31 August 2019 – 15:00 | Accrington Stanley | Away | 1–2 | Agard | 2,218 |
| 6 September 2019 – 12:00 | AFC Wimbledon | Home | 2–1 | Nombe, Healey | 8,627 |
| 14 September 2019 – 15:00 | Blackpool | Away | 3–0 | Martin, Houghton, Kasumu | 8,283 |
| 17 September 2019 – 19:45 | Ipswich Town | Home | 0–1 | | 10,167 |
| 21 September 2019 – 15:00 | Southend United | Home | 0–1 | | 7,493 |
| 28 September 2019 – 15:00 | Sunderland | Away | 1–2 | Bowery | 29,954 |
| 5 October 2019 – 15:00 | Burton Albion | Home | 0–3 | | 9,111 |
| 12 October 2019 – 15:00 | Bristol Rovers | Away | 0–1 | | 7,864 |
| 19 October 2019 – 15:00 | Coventry City | Home | 0–0 | | 13,621 |
| 22 October 2019 – 19:45 | Rochdale | Away | 0–2 | | 2,286 |
| 26 October 2019 – 15:00 | Fleetwood Town | Away | 0–1 | | 2,722 |
| 2 November 2019 – 15:00 | Tranmere Rovers | Home | 1–3 | Reeves | 7,171 |
| 16 November 2019 – 15:00 | Bolton Wanderers | Away | 0–1 | | 11,819 |
| 23 November 2019 – 15:00 | Rotherham United | Home | 2–3 | Gilbey, Mason | 7,811 |
| 7 December 2019 – 15:00 | Doncaster Rovers | Away | 1–1 | Gilbey | 7,193 |
| 14 December 2019 – 15:00 | Oxford United | Home | 1–0 | Mason | 10,031 |
| 21 December 2019 – 15:00 | Gillingham | Away | 1–3 | Gilbey | 4,739 |
| 26 December 2019 – 15:00 | Southend United | Away | 2–2 | Mason, Healey | 6,189 |
| 29 December 2019 – 15:00 | Portsmouth | Home | 3–1 | Healey, McGrandles, Gilbey | 12,788 |
| 1 January 2020 – 15:00 | Bristol Rovers | Home | 3–0 | Healey, Nombe, Agard | 8,236 |
| 11 January 2020 – 15:00 | Coventry City | Away | 1–1 | Morris | 6,666 |
| 14 January 2020 – 19:45 | Burton Albion | Away | 0–1 | | 2,005 |
| 18 January 2020 – 15:00 | Sunderland | Home | 0–1 | | 13,327 |
| 28 January 2020 – 19:45 | Rochdale | Home | 2–1 | Morris, Healey | 6,393 |
| 1 February 2020 – 15:00 | Wycombe Wanderers | Home | 2–0 | Healey, Gladwin | 9,699 |
| 8 February 2020 – 15:00 | Shrewsbury Town | Away | 1–1 | Healey | 5,791 |
| 11 February 2020 – 19:45 | Lincoln City | Away | 1–1 | Healey | 7.783 |
| 22 February 2020 – 15:00 | Bolton Wanderers | Home | 1–0 | Healey | 8,539 |
| 25 February 2020 – 19:45 | Portsmouth | Away | 1–3 | Gilbey | 16,577 |
| 29 February 2020 – 15:00 | Rotherham United | Away | 1–1 | Healey | 8,883 |
| 7 March 2020 – 15:00 | Doncaster Rovers | Home | 0–1 | | 7,880 |

### FA Cup

Matches

| Win | Draw | Loss |
| - | - | - |
| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | Attendance | Ref |
| 9 November 2019 – 15:00 | First round | Port Vale | Home | 0–1 | | 3,598 | |

### EFL Cup

Matches

| Win | Draw | Loss |
| - | - | - |
| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | Attendance |
| 13 August 2019 – 19:45 | First round | AFC Wimbledon | Away | 2–2 | McGrandles, Kasumu | 2,191 |
| 27 August 2019 – 19:45 | Second round | Southend United | Away | 4–1 | Healey, Brittain, Boateng, Nombe | 2,433 |
| 25 September 2019 – 19:45 | Third round | Liverpool | Home | 0–2 | | 28,521 |

* ↑ After 90 minutes. MK Dons won 4–2 on penalties.

### EFL Trophy

Southern Group G Table

| Pos | Div | Teamvte | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | L1 | Milton Keynes Dons | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 6 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 2 | L2 | Stevenage | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 5 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 3 | ACA | Fulham U21 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | |
| 4 | L1 | Wycombe Wanderers | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 3 | |

Matches

| Win | Draw | Loss |
| - | - | - |
| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | Attendance |
| 3 September 2019 – 19:45 | Group stage | Stevenage | Away | 3–0 | McGrandles, Nombe (2) | |
| 1 October 2019 – 19:45 | Group stage | Fulham U21 | Home | 1–0 | Agard | |
| 12 November 2019 – 19:45 | Group stage | Wycombe Wanderers | Home | 1–2 | Dickenson | 1,101 |
| 3 December 2019 – 19:45 | Second round | Coventry City | Home | 2–0 | Agard, Mason | 1,686 |
| 7 January 2020 – 19:30 | Third round | Newport County | Away | 0–3 | | 767 |

## Player details

    Note: Players' ages as of the club's opening fixture of the 2019–20 season.

| # | Name | Position | Date of birth (age) | Signed from | Signed in | Transfer fee |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||
| 1 | Lee Nicholls | GK | (1992-10-05)5 October 1992 (aged 26) | Free agent | 2016 | Free |
| 13 | Andy Fisher | GK | (1998-02-12)12 February 1998 (aged 21) | Blackburn Rovers | 2020 | Loan |
| Defenders ||||||||
| 2 | George Williams | RB | (1993-04-14)14 April 1993 (aged 26) | Barnsley | 2016 | Free |
| 3 | Dean Lewington | LB | (1984-05-18)18 May 1984 (aged 35) | Wimbledon | 2004 | Free |
| 4 | Joe Walsh | CB | (1992-05-13)13 May 1992 (aged 27) | Crawley Town | 2015 | Undisclosed |
| 5 | Regan Poole | CB | (1998-06-18)18 June 1998 (aged 21) | Manchester United | 2019 | Free |
| 6 | Baily Cargill | CB | (1995-07-05)5 July 1995 (aged 24) | Free agent | 2018 | Free |
| 15 | Jordan Moore-Taylor | CB | (1994-01-24)24 January 1994 (aged 25) | Exeter City | 2018 | Free |
| 16 | Russell Martin | CB | (1986-01-04)4 January 1986 (aged 33) | Free agent | 2019 | Free |
| 25 | Callum Brittain | RB | (1998-03-12)12 March 1998 (aged 21) | Academy | 2016 | Trainee |
| Midfielders ||||||||
| 7 | Ben Reeves | AM | (1991-11-19)19 November 1991 (aged 27) | Free agent | 2019 | Free |
| 8 | Alex Gilbey | AM | (1994-12-09)9 December 1994 (aged 24) | Wigan Athletic | 2017 | Undisclosed |
| 17 | Ben Gladwin | CM | (1992-06-08)8 June 1992 (aged 27) | Free agent | 2020 | Free |
| 18 | Conor McGrandles | CM | (1999-10-21)21 October 1999 (aged 19) | Norwich City | 2017 | Free |
| 19 | Louis Thompson | DM | (1994-12-19)19 December 1994 (aged 24) | Norwich City | 2020 | Loan |
| 24 | Jordan Houghton | DM | (1995-11-05)5 November 1995 (aged 23) | Free agent | 2018 | Free |
| 26 | Hiram Boateng | AM | (1996-01-08)8 January 1996 (aged 23) | Exeter City | 2019 | Compensation |
| 29 | David Kasumu | CM | (1999-10-05)5 October 1999 (aged 19) | Academy | 2017 | Trainee |
| 33 | Ryan Harley | AM | (1985-01-22)22 January 1985 (aged 34) | Exeter City | 2018 | Free |
| 38 | Charlie Pattison | AM | (2000-12-28)28 December 2000 (aged 18) | Academy | 2019 | Trainee |
| Forwards ||||||||
| 9 | Jordan Bowery | CF | (1991-07-02)2 July 1991 (aged 28) | Crewe Alexandra | 2019 | Free |
| 10 | Rhys Healey | CF | (1994-12-06)6 December 1994 (aged 24) | Cardiff City | 2019 | Undisclosed |
| 14 | Kieran Agard | CF | (1989-10-10)10 October 1989 (aged 29) | Bristol City | 2016 | Undisclosed |
| 20 | Joe Mason | CF | (1991-05-13)13 May 1991 (aged 28) | Free agent | 2019 | Free |
| 23 | Carlton Morris | CF | (1995-12-16)16 December 1995 (aged 23) | Norwich City | 2020 | Loan |
| 27 | Sam Nombe | CF | (1998-10-22)22 October 1998 (aged 20) | Academy | 2017 | Trainee |
| Out on loan ||||||||
| 12 | Laurie Walker | GK | (1989-10-14)14 October 1989 (aged 29) | Free agent | 2019 | Free |
| 37 | Dylan Asonganyi | CF | (2000-12-10)10 December 2000 (aged 18) | Academy | 2017 | Trainee |
| 39 | Jay Bird | CF | (2001-05-06)6 May 2001 (aged 18) | Academy | 2019 | Trainee |
| 40 | Matthew Sorinola | LWB | (2001-02-19)19 February 2001 (aged 18) | Academy | 2019 | Trainee |
| Left club during season ||||||||
| 11 | Brennan Dickenson | LW | (1993-02-26)26 February 1993 (aged 26) | Colchester United | 2019 | Free |

## Transfers

### Transfers in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 July 2019 | DM | Hiram Boateng | Exeter City | Compensation |
| 1 July 2019 | CF | Jordan Bowery | Crewe Alexandra | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2019 | LM | Brennan Dickenson | Colchester United | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2019 | CF | Joe Mason | Free agent | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2019 | CB | Regan Poole | Manchester United | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2019 | GK | Laurie Walker | Free agent | Free transfer |
| 16 July 2019 | CF | Rhys Healey | Cardiff City | Undisclosed |
| 1 August 2019 | AM | Ben Reeves | Free agent | Free transfer |
| 10 January 2020 | CM | Ben Gladwin | Free agent | Free transfer |

### Transfers out

| Date from | Position | Name | To | Fee |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 July 2019 | CF | Chuks Aneke | Charlton Athletic | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2019 | CB | Mathieu Baudry | Swindon Town | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2019 | DM | Ousseynou Cissé | Gillingham | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2019 | CM | Lawson D'Ath | Released | Released |
| 1 July 2019 | LB | Mitch Hancox | Solihull Moors | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2019 | CB | Oran Jackson | Released | Released |
| 1 July 2019 | CF | Robbie Simpson | Released | Released |
| 1 July 2019 | CM | Liam Sole | Released | Released |
| 1 July 2019 | CB | Finn Tapp | Released | Released |
| 1 July 2019 | LW | Brandon Thomas-Asante | Released | Released |
| 1 July 2019 | DM | Ryan Watson | Northampton Town | Free transfer |
| 17 January 2020 | LM | Brennan Dickenson | Exeter City | Free transfer |

### Loans in

| Start date | Position | Name | From | End date |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 8 January 2020 | CF | Carlton Morris | Norwich City | End of season |
| 16 January 2020 | DM | Louis Thompson | Norwich City | End of season |
| 31 January 2020 | GK | Andrew Fisher | Blackburn Rovers | End of season |

### Loans out

| Start date | Position | Name | To | End date |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 5 July 2019 | GK | Laurie Walker | Hampton & Richmond Borough | End of season |
| 9 August 2019 | CF | Jay Bird | Hitchin Town | End of season |
| 5 September 2019 | CM | Charlie Pattison | Kings Langley | 2 November 2019 |
| 30 November 2019 | CM | Charlie Pattison | Biggleswade Town | 3 January 2020 |
| 3 January 2020 | CM | Charlie Pattison | Biggleswade Town | 1 February 2020 |
| 14 February 2020 | LB | Matthew Sorinola | Beaconsfield Town | End of season |
| 13 March 2020 | CF | Dylan Asonganyi | Maidenhead United | End of season |

* ↑ Previous club: Wolverhampton Wanderers.
* ↑ Previous club: Hemel Hempstead Town.
* ↑ Joined Yeovil Town on 3 August 2019.
* ↑ Joined ÍBV on 18 July 2019.
* ↑ Joined Chelmsford City on 15 August 2019.
* ↑ Joined Nottingham Forest on 28 October 2019.
* ↑ Joined Oxford City on 19 July 2019.
* ↑ Joined Ebbsfleet United on 9 August 2019.

## Awards

* EFL League One Player of the Month (December 2019): Alex Gilbey
