Gameweek 14 of League One brings MK Dons and Doncaster Rovers together at Stadium MK on 31 October 2026, with both sides firmly planted in mid table and desperate to avoid drifting further into the wrong half of it. MK Dons sit 14th with 15 points from 12 games, with back to back wins over Bromley and Stevenage the most recent evidence that home form is holding up. Doncaster are down in 18th with 12 points from the same number of matches and have won once away from home all season, which is precisely the problem they need to solve here. It is also Grant McCann's 250th game in charge, which is a nice milestone but probably less relevant to the result than the fact that his side leaks goals on the road.
There is no meaningful head to head record between Paul Warne and Grant McCann to lean on. Warne took over at Stadium MK in April 2025, replacing Scott Lindsey and has steadily imposed his shape on the club since. McCann has been back at Doncaster since May 2023, when he replaced Danny Schofield for a second stint and the high energy pressing style he favours has become the team's identity. Recent meetings have been close rather than illuminating: Doncaster won 2-1 at Stadium MK in February 2025 and the sides drew 1-1 in September 2024, giving the visitors a slight historical edge without making this feel like a foregone conclusion.
MK Dons come in off a W-W-L-W-L sequence, with the two wins doing most of the talking: a 4-1 hammering of Bromley on 27 October and a tight 1-0 at Stevenage three days earlier. Doncaster's last five read L-W-L-L-W and the most recent result, a 1-3 defeat at Luton on 27 October, leaves them with one away win from six attempts on the road this season.
Warne loses two players he would rather keep. Goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray is out injured and Curtis Nelson is missing with an ankle problem, which means the back three has to reorganise around Charlie Goode. Losing a goalkeeper and an experienced centre back simultaneously is a headache, especially for a side that relies on defensive structure as much as MK Dons do. Doncaster are no better placed: Matty Pearson is injured, removing their primary defensive cover in midfield and James Collins is also sidelined.
Warne runs a 3-5-2 that prioritises structure and set pieces over flair and with MacGillivray and Nelson both absent, keeping that backline organised is more important than ever. Aaron Collins, already on nine league goals this season, is the main outlet, with Sam Nombe in support. Doncaster like to press high and move the ball quickly, with Owen Bailey carrying most of the midfield work and Brandon Hanlan leading the line. Without Pearson screening in front of the defence, though, they look vulnerable to quick transitions and MK Dons have the tools to exploit exactly that. With both squads short handed in defensive positions, expect MK Dons to protect their structure and Doncaster to rely on the press to win the ball rather than either team committing forward freely.
Set pieces are where MK Dons create most of their danger and losing Nelson redistributes rather than removes that threat. Doncaster's road form is the bigger concern going into this one. Their pressing can generate turnovers but has not translated into consistent results away from home and with Pearson absent and no obvious defensive replacement, it is hard to see what structurally changes for McCann on the road.
A 1-1 draw looks the most likely outcome. Aaron Collins, already on nine league goals, is the likeliest scorer for the hosts but the MacGillivray and Nelson absences leave a crack in the defensive shape that Doncaster's press can find. Owen Bailey or Brandon Hanlan feels like the most probable source of the equaliser.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
