Roberto Di Matteo makes six changes from the weekend side that beat Huddersfield 3-1, with first starts of the season for Drissa Diallo, Jemal Johnson, Paul Mitchell, Craig Dobson, and a first competitive start for 16-year-old Adam Chicksen.
The full starting eleven reads as follows: Gueret, Cummings, Diallo, Stirling, Lewington, Johnson, Mitchell, Navarro, Chicksen, Dobson, Baldock.
The seven allocated substitutes for the visitors read as follows: Abbey, Regan, O'Hanlon, King, Belson, Wright, Leven.
Apologies from Vital Dons for reporting that on-loan Chelsea defender Shaun Cummings was ineligible for the tie. Clearly it appears our information was false as he lines up at right-back.
For our Welsh hosts this evening, it is a strong line-up, which reads as follows: Heaton, Capaldi, R. Johnson, Blake, Purse, Whittingham, Scimeca, Ledley, McPhail, McCormack, E. Johnson.
Their bench looks like this: Enckelman, Morris, Comminges, Dennehy, Parry, Bothroyd, Thompson.
1st Half
The Dons start decently, winning a corner after just three minutes from Paul Mitchell. The delivery is good, swinging in towards the near post by Johnson, but is headed away from danger.
After a few minutes settling-down time, the hosts begin to start passing the ball more freely, and it's the Dons on the back-foot as the game progresses.
A nice move from the visitors, as Dobson reads Baldock's flicked header to spin down the channel, before being prevented by Blake.
The first change of the game on 11 minutes, and an unfortunate sight as Tony Capaldi, making his long-awaited return from injury, is forced to withdraw. Miguel Comminges is his replacement.
The Dons look to capitalise on the Bluebirds brief uncertainty after their change, and enjoy a decent spell of possession down the right between Cummings and Johnson. Cardiff are defending resolutely though, making it difficult to even breach far enough to deliver a cross.
Goalkeeper Willy Gueret, a former Swansea City player, is taking a lot of abuse from the home supporters behind his goal at every goalkick.
A quarter of an hour on the clock in Wales, and neither goalkeeper yet having to make a save of note. The MK Dons again enjoying more good possession on either flank, but without it being penetrative.
Things aren't going quite to plan for Cardiff manager Dave Jones, as he is forced into his second change of the match after just 20 minutes. Darcy Blake is the latest injured party, and it is Paul Parry coming on to replace him.
The first meaningful attack from either side on 21 minutes, as Stirling's slip allows in McCormack down the right. The striker tries to find substitute Parry at the far post, but some good defending from Cummings prevents an opportunity arising.
Cardiff beginning to finally settle now, as McPhail finds Whittingham, whose 25-yard drive flashes past Gueret's post.
It has been a game of very few notable chances thus far. Baldock has a run at goal from his own half, before his shot is charged down.
On 34 minutes the Dons launch an attack of their own, as Johnson brings the ball forward before playing it to Baldock in the right-hand channel. The striker holds onto the ball well, before laying off to Cummings, whose cross is cleared to safety.
Some further good play from the visitors, as the bright Johnson gets another attack started. He feeds the ball to Chicksen, whose interplay with Baldock wins another Dons corner. Once again, however, the chance is wasted and Darren Purse heads away.
On 40 minutes the hosts look to break the deadlock, as Parry runs at Cummings down the Cardiff left. His cross, though, is over-hit, and is dealt with soundly by Chicksen.
A minute later, one of the two goalkeepers is called into action for the first time. McCormack's cross finding debutant Eddie Johnson, whose effort is experty saved by Gueret, for a Cardiff corner.
Whittingham delivers the corner from the right. Lewington manages to block Purse's effort, before a scramble inside the area, amidst falling bodies, and then the referee's whistle signalling a penalty.
Scimeca appears to have been the man upended by Diallo, and recieves treatment on the field from the physios, thus further delaying the kick. The Cardiff midfielder doesn't seem in a good way, and will have to be replaced. That will be the home side's third change, all enforced by injuries.
Before McCormack can take this penalty kick, the medics solemnly carry Sciema from the field on a stretcher. He is replaced by Aaron Morris.
Meanwhile, McCormack steps up to put a touch of gloss on a nightmare first-half for Cardiff. He sends Gueret the wrong way by slotting the ball to the keeper's right.
CARDIFF CITY 1-0 MK DONS - McCormack (pen)
There are a few minutes of injury time still to play at the end of this half, after the delay before the spot-kick with Sciema's knock. The Dons respond well, with Baldock running intently through the middle before being stopped by Purse. Johnson fires the loose ball goalwards and it deflects just past the post.
HALF TIME - CARDIFF 1-0 MK DONS
****
Not registered to Vital Dons? Here's your chance!
Click Here To Register
Join the FREE Telegraph League One Fantasy Football League!
Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.
|
