2020–21 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season
# 2020–21 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season

The 2020–21 season was Milton Keynes Dons' 17th season in their existence, and the club's second consecutive season in League One. The club also competed in the FA Cup, EFL Cup and EFL Trophy.

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, league fixtures commenced on 12 September 2020, approximately a month later than previous seasons.

The season covers the period from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021.

## Competitions

### League One

**League table**

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 9 | Ipswich Town | 46 | 19 | 12 | 15 | 46 | 46 | 0 | 69 |
| 10 | Gillingham | 46 | 19 | 10 | 17 | 63 | 60 | +3 | 67 |
| 11 | Accrington Stanley | 46 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 63 | 68 | −5 | 67 |
| 12 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 18 | 12 | 16 | 56 | 61 | −5 | 66 |
| 13 | Milton Keynes Dons | 46 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 64 | 62 | +2 | 65 |
| 14 | Doncaster Rovers | 46 | 19 | 7 | 20 | 63 | 67 | −4 | 64 |
| 15 | Fleetwood Town | 46 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 49 | 46 | +3 | 60 |
| 16 | Burton Albion | 46 | 15 | 12 | 19 | 61 | 73 | −12 | 57 |
| 17 | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 50 | 57 | −7 | 54 |

**Results summary**

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |

Last updated: 9 May 2021. Source: BBC

**Results by matchday**

| Matchday | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Ground | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H |
| Result | D | L | L | D | L | W | L | L | W | D | D | W | L | D | W | L | D | D | L | W | W | L | W | L | W | D | W | W | W | L | D | L | L | L | W | W | W | W | L | D | L | W | W | W | D | L |
| Position | 12 | 18 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 19 | 22 | 23 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 13 |

**Matches**

| Win | Draw | Loss |
| - | - | - |
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | Attendance |
| 12 September 2020 – 15:00 | Doncaster Rovers | Away | 1–1 | Cargill | 0 |
| 19 September 2020 – 15:00 | Lincoln City | Home | 1–2 | Mason | 0 |
| 26 September 2020 – 15:00 | Crewe Alexandra | Away | 0–2 | | 0 |
| 3 October 2020 – 15:00 | Ipswich Town | Home | 1–1 | Harvie | 0 |
| 10 October 2020 – 15:00 | Portsmouth | Away | 1–2 | Fraser | 0 |
| 17 October 2020 – 13:00 | Gillingham | Home | 2–0 | Jerome, Morris | 0 |
| 20 October 2020 – 19:00 | Oxford United | Away | 2–3 | Jerome, Gladwin | 0 |
| 24 October 2020 – 15:00 | Blackpool | Away | 0–1 | | 0 |
| 27 October 2020 – 19:00 | Wigan Athletic | Home | 2–0 | Fraser, S. Walker | 0 |
| 31 October 2020 – 15:00 | AFC Wimbledon | Home | 1–1 | Fraser | 0 |
| 3 November 2020 – 19:45 | Northampton Town | Away | 0–0 | | 0 |
| 14 November 2020 – 15:00 | Sunderland | Away | 2–1 | Jerome, Fraser | 0 |
| 21 November 2020 – 15:00 | Hull City | Home | 1–3 | S. Walker | 0 |
| 24 November 2020 – 19:00 | Shrewsbury Town | Home | 2–2 | Morris, Jerome | 0 |
| 2 December 2020 – 19:45 | Charlton Athletic | Away | 1–0 | Fraser | 2,000 |
| 5 December 2020 – 15:00 | Accrington Stanley | Away | 1–2 | Morris | 0 |
| 12 December 2020 – 15:00 | Burton Albion | Home | 1–1 | Fraser | 2,000 |
| 15 December 2020 – 19:45 | Peterborough United | Home | 1–1 | Jerome | 2,000 |
| 19 December 2020 – 15:00 | Plymouth Argyle | Away | 0–1 | | 2,000 |
| 26 December 2020 – 15:00 | Bristol Rovers | Home | 2–0 | Gladwin, Fraser | 0 |
| 29 December 2020 – 19:00 | Swindon Town | Away | 4–1 | Jerome (2), Harvie, Poole | 0 |
| 16 January 2021 – 15:00 | Peterborough United | Away | 0–3 | | 0 |
| 19 January 2021 – 19:00 | Fleetwood Town | Home | 3–1 | Mason (3) | 0 |
| 26 January 2021 – 19:00 | Charlton Athletic | Home | 0–1 | | 0 |
| 30 January 2021 – 15:00 | AFC Wimbledon | Away | 2–0 | O'Riley, Sorinola | 0 |
| 6 February 2021 – 15:00 | Sunderland | Home | 2–2 | Mason, Jerome | 0 |
| 9 February 2021 – 19:00 | Rochdale | Away | 4–1 | O'Riley, Jules, Fraser, Jerome | 0 |
| 13 February 2021 – 15:00 | Hull City | Away | 1–0 | Fraser | 0 |
| 20 February 2021 – 15:00 | Northampton Town | Home | 4–3 | Surman, Grigg, Jerome, Brown | 0 |
| 23 February 2021 – 19:00 | Shrewsbury Town | Away | 2–4 | Grigg, Brown | 0 |
| 27 February 2021 – 15:00 | Oxford United | Home | 1–1 | Surman | 0 |
| 2 March 2021 – 18:00 | Gillingham | Away | 2–3 | Grigg, O'Hora | 0 |
| 6 March 2021 – 15:00 | Wigan Athletic | Away | 0–3 | | 0 |
| 9 March 2021 – 19:00 | Blackpool | Home | 0–1 | | 0 |
| 13 March 2021 – 15:00 | Accrington Stanley | Home | 3–2 | Jerome (2), O'Riley | 0 |
| 16 March 2021 – 19:00 | Plymouth Argyle | Home | 2–1 | Jerome, Fraser | 0 |
| 20 March 2021 – 15:00 | Burton Albion | Away | 2–1 | Fraser, O'Hora | 0 |
| 27 March 2021 – 15:00 | Doncaster Rovers | Home | 1–0 | Harvie | 0 |
| 5 April 2021 – 15:00 | Crewe Alexandra | Home | 0–2 | | 0 |
| 10 April 2021 – 15:00 | Ipswich Town | Away | 0–0 | | 0 |
| 13 April 2021 – 19:00 | Lincoln City | Away | 0–4 | | 0 |
| 17 April 2021 – 12:30 | Portsmouth | Home | 1–0 | Fraser | 0 |
| 20 April 2021 – 19:00 | Bristol Rovers | Away | 2–0 | Fraser, Grigg | 0 |
| 24 April 2021 – 15:00 | Swindon Town | Home | 5–0 | Grigg (4), Fraser | 0 |
| 1 May 2021 – 15:00 | Fleetwood Town | Away | 1–1 | Brown | 0 |
| 9 May 2021 – 12:00 | Rochdale | Home | 0–3 | | 0 |

### FA Cup

Matches

| Win | Draw | Loss |
| - | - | - |
| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | Attendance |
| 8 November 2020 – 12:45 | First round | Eastleigh | Away | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (4–3 p) | | 0 |
| 29 November 2020 – 13:30 | Second round | Barnet | Away | 1–0 | Jerome | 0 |
| 9 January 2021 – 15:00 | Third round | Burnley | Away | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (3–4 p) | Jerome | 0 |

### EFL Cup

Matches

| Win | Draw | Loss |
| - | - | - |
| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | Attendance | Ref |
| 5 September 2020 – 15:00 | First round | Coventry City | Home | 0–1 | | 0 | |

### EFL Trophy

Southern Group C Table

| Pos | Div | Teamvte | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | L1 | Milton Keynes Dons | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 6 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 2 | L1 | Northampton Town | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 5 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 3 | L2 | Stevenage | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | |
| 4 | ACA | Southampton U21 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 8 | −5 | 3 | |

Matches

| Win | Draw | Loss |
| - | - | - |
| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | Attendance |
| 8 September 2020 – 19:00 | Group stage | Northampton Town | Home | 3–1 | Poole, Nombe, Sorinola | 0 |
| 6 October 2020 – 17:30 | Group stage | Stevenage | Away | 3–2 | Morris, Bird (2) | 0 |
| 11 November 2020 – 19:00 | Group stage | Southampton U21 | Home | 1–2 | Sorinola | 0 |
| 8 December 2020 – 19:45 | Round of 32 | Norwich City U21 | Home | 6–0 | Agard (2), Sørensen, Poole (2), S. Walker | |
| 12 January 2021 – 19:45 | Round of 16 | Northampton Town | Away | 2–0 | S. Walker (2) | 0 |
| 2 February 2021 – 18:30 | Quarter-final | Sunderland | Home | 0–3 | | 0 |

## Player details

    Note: Players' ages as of the club's opening fixture of the 2020–21 season.

| # | Name | Position | Date of birth (age) | Signed from | Signed in | Transfer fee |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||
| 1 | Lee Nichols | GK | (1992-10-05)5 October 1992 (aged 27) | Free agent | 2016 | Free |
| 13 | Andy Fisher | GK | (1998-02-12)12 February 1998 (aged 22) | Blackburn Rovers | 2020 | Undisclosed |
| Defenders ||||||||
| 3 | Dean Lewington | CB | (1984-05-18)18 May 1984 (aged 36) | Wimbledon | 2004 | Free |
| 4 | Zak Jules | CB | (1997-07-02)2 July 1997 (aged 23) | Walsall | 2021 | Undisclosed |
| 6 | Harry Darling | CB | (1999-08-08)8 August 1999 (aged 21) | Cambridge United | 2021 | Undisclosed |
| 12 | Ethan Laird | RWB | (2001-08-05)5 August 2001 (aged 19) | Manchester United | 2021 | Loan |
| 15 | Warren O'Hora | CB | (1999-04-19)19 April 1999 (aged 21) | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2021 | Undisclosed |
| 21 | Daniel Harvie | LWB | (1998-07-14)14 July 1998 (aged 22) | Ayr United | 2020 | Undisclosed |
| 28 | Jack Davies | CB | (2002-12-03)3 December 2002 (aged 17) | Academy | 2020 | Trainee |
| 29 | Matthew Sorinola | LWB | (2001-02-19)19 February 2001 (aged 19) | Academy | 2019 | Trainee |
| Midfielders ||||||||
| 5 | Josh McEachran | CM | (1993-03-01)1 March 1993 (aged 27) | Free agent | 2019 | Free |
| 7 | Ben Gladwin | CM | (1992-06-08)8 June 1992 (aged 28) | Free agent | 2020 | Free |
| 8 | David Kasumu | CM | (1999-10-05)5 October 1999 (aged 20) | Academy | 2017 | Trainee |
| 10 | Scott Fraser | AM | (1995-03-30)30 March 1995 (aged 25) | Free agent | 2020 | Free |
| 16 | Andrew Surman | DM | (1986-08-20)20 August 1986 (aged 34) | Free agent | 2020 | Free |
| 17 | Matt O'Riley | AM | (2000-11-21)21 November 2000 (aged 19) | Free agent | 2021 | Free |
| 17 | Lasse Sørensen | CM | (1999-10-21)21 October 1999 (aged 20) | Stoke City | 2020 | Loan |
| 23 | Louis Thompson | DM | (1994-12-19)19 December 1994 (aged 25) | Norwich City | 2020 | Loan |
| 24 | Jordan Houghton | DM | (1995-11-05)5 November 1995 (aged 24) | Free agent | 2018 | Free |
| Forwards ||||||||
| 9 | Will Grigg | CF | (1991-07-03)3 July 1991 (aged 29) | Sunderland | 2021 | Loan |
| 11 | Charlie Brown | CF | (1999-09-23)23 September 1999 (aged 20) | Chelsea | 2021 | Undisclosed |
| 14 | Kieran Agard | CF | (1989-10-10)10 October 1989 (aged 30) | Bristol City | 2016 | Undisclosed |
| 20 | Joe Mason | CF | (1991-05-13)13 May 1991 (aged 29) | Free agent | 2019 | Free |
| 27 | Jay Bird | CF | (2001-05-06)6 May 2001 (aged 19) | Academy | 2019 | Trainee |
| 35 | Cameron Jerome | CF | (1986-08-14)14 August 1986 (aged 34) | Free transfer | 2020 | Free |
| 36 | Lewis Johnson | LW | (2004-01-09)9 January 2004 (aged 16) | Academy | 2020 | Trainee |
| Out on loan ||||||||
| 19 | Sam Nombe | CF | (1998-10-22)22 October 1998 (aged 21) | Academy | 2017 | Trainee |
| 22 | Laurie Walker | GK | (1989-10-14)14 October 1989 (aged 30) | Free agent | 2019 | Free |
| 26 | Hiram Boateng | AM | (1996-01-08)8 January 1996 (aged 24) | Exeter City | 2019 | Compensation |
| 30 | John Freeman | CM | (2001-11-04)4 November 2001 (aged 18) | Academy | 2019 | Trainee |
| Left club during season ||||||||
| 2 | George Williams | RB | (1993-04-14)14 April 1993 (aged 27) | Barnsley | 2016 | Free |
| 4 | Richard Keogh | CB | (1986-08-11)11 August 1986 (aged 34) | Free agent | 2020 | Free |
| 5 | Regan Poole | CB | (1998-06-18)18 June 1998 (aged 22) | Manchester United | 2019 | Free |
| 6 | Baily Cargill | CB | (1995-07-05)5 July 1995 (aged 25) | Free agent | 2018 | Free |
| 9 | Carlton Morris | CF | (1995-12-16)16 December 1995 (aged 24) | Norwich City | 2020 | Loan |
| 11 | Stephen Walker | SS | (2000-10-11)11 October 2000 (aged 19) | Middlesbrough | 2020 | Loan |
| 25 | Callum Brittain | RB | (1998-03-12)12 March 1998 (aged 22) | Academy | 2016 | Trainee |

## Transfers

### Transfers in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 27 July 2020 | LB | Daniel Harvie | Ayr United | Undisclosed |
| 28 July 2020 | CM | Ben Gladwin | Free agent | Free transfer |
| 7 August 2020 | CB | Richard Keogh | Free agent | Free transfer |
| 12 August 2020 | GK | Laurie Walker | Free agent | Free transfer |
| 24 August 2020 | CF | Joe Mason | Free agent | Free transfer |
| 25 August 2020 | RB | Callum Brittain | Free agent | Free transfer |
| 9 September 2020 | AM | Scott Fraser | Free agent | Free transfer |
| 9 October 2020 | CF | Cameron Jerome | Free agent | Free transfer |
| 16 October 2020 | GK | Andy Fisher | Blackburn Rovers | Undisclosed |
| 17 November 2020 | CM | Andrew Surman | Free agent | Free transfer |
| 13 January 2021 | CF | Charlie Brown | Chelsea | Undisclosed |
| 18 January 2021 | CB | Warren O'Hora | Brighton & Hove Albion | Undisclosed |
| 22 January 2021 | CB | Harry Darling | Cambridge United | Undisclosed |
| 24 January 2021 | CM | Matt O'Riley | Free agent | Free transfer |
| 1 February 2021 | CB | Zak Jules | Walsall | Undisclosed |
| 1 March 2021 | CM | Josh McEachran | Free agent | Free transfer |

### Transfers out

| Date from | Position | Name | To | Fee | Ref. |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 July 2020 | CF | Dylan Asonganyi | Released | Released | |
| 1 July 2020 | CF | Jordan Bowery | Mansfield Town | Free transfer | |
| 1 July 2020 | CM | Ryan Harley | Released | Released | Released |
| 1 July 2020 | CB | Russell Martin | Retired | Retired | Retired |
| 1 July 2020 | GK | Stuart Moore | Released | Released | Released |
| 1 July 2020 | CB | Jordan Moore-Taylor | Released | Released | Released |
| 1 July 2020 | CM | Charlie Pattison | Released | Released | Released |
| 1 July 2020 | AM | Ben Reeves | Released | Released | Released |
| 1 July 2020 | CB | Joe Walsh | Released | Released | Released |
| 27 July 2020 | CM | Conor McGrandles | Lincoln City | Free transfer | |
| 12 August 2020 | CM | Alex Gilbey | Charlton Athletic | Undisclosed | |
| 27 August 2020 | CF | Rhys Healey | Toulouse | Undisclosed | |
| 10 October 2020 | RB | Callum Brittain | Barnsley | Undisclosed | |
| 7 January 2021 | CB | Baily Cargill | Forest Green Rovers | Undisclosed | |
| 19 January 2021 | CB | Richard Keogh | Huddersfield Town | Undisclosed | |
| 21 January 2021 | RB | George Williams | Bristol Rovers | Undisclosed | |
| 30 January 2021 | RB | Regan Poole | Lincoln City | Undisclosed | |

### Loans in

| Start date | Position | Name | From | End date |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 24 July 2020 | CF | Carlton Morris | Norwich City | 6 January 2021 |
| 18 August 2020 | CM | Louis Thompson | Norwich City | End of season |
| 21 August 2020 | CB | Warren O’Hora | Brighton & Hove Albion | 18 January 2021 |
| 4 September 2020 | CM | Lasse Sørensen | Stoke City | End of season |
| 16 October 2020 | SS | Stephen Walker | Middlesbrough | 13 January 2021 |
| 8 January 2021 | RB | Ethan Laird | Manchester United | End of season |
| 1 February 2021 | SS | Will Grigg | Sunderland | End of season |

### Loans out

| Start date | Position | Name | To | End date |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 9 October 2020 | DM | Hiram Boateng | Cambridge United | End of season |
| 16 October 2020 | CF | Sam Nombe | Luton Town | End of season |
| 13 March 2021 | GK | Laurie Walker | Oldham Athletic | End of season |
| 20 April 2021 | CM | John Freeman | Woking | End of season |

* ↑ Joined Oxford United on 18 August 2020.
* ↑ Joined Bath City on 31 August 2020.
* ↑ Continued as manager of the first team.
* ↑ Joined Wealdstone on 1 December 2020.
* ↑ Joined Forest Green Rovers on 21 July 2020.
* ↑ Joined Plymouth Argyle on 3 September 2020.
* ↑ Joined Lincoln City on 13 August 2020.
* ↑ Originally on loan until end of season, made permanent on 18 January 2021.
* ↑ Originally until January 2021, later extended.
* ↑ Originally until 20 March 2021, later extended.
