Our prediction for this FA Cup match:
A place in the FA Cup last 64 will be at stake when Portsmouth and MK Dons face each other at Fratton Park on Saturday afternoon. The Pompey are fighting hard to book their place in the League One playoffs, but they have big ambitions for the FA Cup as well. All Joe Rafferty, Michael Jacobs, and Louis Thompson should miss out with injuries, while the opposition back-line should have Colby Bishop at bay.
The Dons, on the other hand, suffered a 3-1 loss to Barnsley in their last league match, with the team remaining in the relegation zone. Portsmouth are more of a team than MK Dons, and we predict that the hosts are going to advance to the next FA Cup round. A man to watch in the away side will be William Grigg, who has netted five goals so far this term.
Highlighted Player (Will Grigg):
Wighan Athletic striker Will Grigg became a viral sensation during the European Championship in France but the chances are any avid football fan will have been well aware of his goalscoring exploits even before 2016. The 27-year-old forward began his career at Stratford Town but it was in Walsall that the world took notice of his presence after 27 goals in 99 performances for the club.
He first came to prominence during the 2012/13 season when he was voted the club’s Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season, but a loan spell at Milton Keynes Dons during his rather unfortunate two-year spell over at Brentford proved crucial for his career.
The total of 20 goals in 44 appearances at Stadium MK was where Wigan Athletic noticed the Northern Ireland man and moved in to sign him on a three year contract for a £1 million fee in 2015. ‘Will Grigg’s on Fire’ was the hit song of the Euro 2016 even though the Northern Ireland striker ended up not getting a chance to make a bow in the tournament.
Highlighted Team (MK Dons):
Based in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes Dons are a League One club that welcome their rivals at Stadium MK. The venue was opened in 2007 and can hold up to 30,500 spectators. Milton Keynes Dons play their home games in white shirts and white shorts, whilst their away kit is red.
The Dons are one of the youngest clubs in England as they were founded in 2004, but they are well known for youth development. English attacker is the club’s all-time top goal-scorer, netting 62 goals in 165 appearances for MK Dons. Dele Alli, who currently plays for Tottenham Hotspur, is the most famous footballer to have played for the Milton Keynes Dons, netting 18 goals in 62 appearances for the club in the league.
Speaking of notable coaches, it has to be noted that former Liverpool superstar Robbie Fowler and ex German international Dietmar Hamman were in charge of the club.