Scott Parker’s First Competitive Game At AFCB

Written by billythekid

As we start another new football season, the first game to be played is the First round of the League Cup. Our opponents at Dean Court on Saturday at 3 pm are League 1 side MK Dons. MK Dons manager is Russell Martin, he has been in charge after taking up the manager role in November 2019 after previously signing for them in January of that year as a player from Walsall. He is now reported as the favourite to take the manager’s role at Championship side Swansea City, so it remains to be seen if that is before our game with MK Dons. The Cherries will have another new man at the helm and this game will be Scott Parker’s first competitive game in charge of his new club.

Last season MK Dons were drawn at home in the League Cup against Championship side Coventry City in the first round, MK Dons lost 0-1 at the first hurdle. Jason Tindall was in charge of AFCB and started off in the League Cup in the second round with a home game against Premier League side Crystal Palace at Dean Court. The game was decided on penalties after the game ended 0-1. AFCB finally won after a long penalty shootout that finally finished 11-10 in the Cherries favour. The Cherries couldn’t have had a tougher tie in the third round when they were drawn away to Manchester City and went out after losing 2-1.

The last time we played MK Dons it was in this cup in the second round in August 2018, AFCB won 3-0, with goals from Lys Mousset, Ryan Fraser and Jordan Ibe.

In all competitions between the two clubs, AFCB have W 6, D 3, L 4.

AFCB Team News
In previous cup games, our club has normally fielded a mixture of first-team regulars with a blend of youth and ‘reserves’. It will be interesting to see which way Scott Parker looks at this fixture with his team selection. He may give his new loan signing Leif Davis a start to get a look at him and give him his first game with his new teammates. With the transfer window still wide open, there could still be new players arriving at Dean Court and others going in the opposite direction.
Players missing, Steve Cook (injured), Lewis Cook (injured), Arnaut Danjuma (injured), Jefferson Lerma (suspended), Chris Mepham (suspended), Leif Davis (injured) and Ben Pearson (ill).

AFCB Player To Watch
Not knowing who will be starting, but probably the new faces Emialiano Marcondes in midfield and Leif Davis in defence.

MK Dons Team News
They have lost their two leading scorers from last season. Scott Fraser in midfield scored 14 goals, has joined Ipswich Town and Forward Cameron Jerome scored 13 goals, has joined Luton Town. They have brought in a number of new players, the latest being Tennai Watson after he left Reading. He becomes the club’s eighth new signing, along with Scott Twine, Franco Ravizzoli, Ethan Robson, Josh Martin, Max Watters, Mo Eisa and Aden Baldwin.

MK Dons Player To Watch
They signed Matt O’Riley a 20-year-old midfielder from Scott Parker’s old club Fulham in January this year. He seems to have played well for them and is a strong all-round player. Also, they signed Scott Twine an attacking midfielder from Swindon Town, another young strong all-round player, two years older than O’Riley.

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