Stevenage vs MK Dons Prediction: Can Revell's Side Capitalise on Dons' Draw Habit?

Stevenage welcome Milton Keynes Dons to the Lamex Stadium on 24 October 2026, with the home side sitting ninth and MK Dons rooted to the foot of the table in twentieth after managing just one win from their ten League One games so far.

This is the first time Alex Revell and Paul Warne have faced each other in the dugout, with Revell having taken charge at Stevenage in May 2024 after replacing Steve Evans and Warne arriving at MK Dons on 15 April 2025 following Scott Lindsey's departure, Ben Gladwin serving as interim between them.

Stevenage arrive in good shape after a 3-0 victory over Plymouth Argyle on 20 October, part of an alternating W-L-W-L-W sequence across their last five league outings, a rhythm Revell will want to smooth out. MK Dons have had a rougher time: a 0-2 loss at Blackpool on 20 October followed a 2-1 win over Luton Town on 17 October and a heavy 1-5 defeat at Reading on 10 October, leaving their last five at L-W-L-D-D. Six draws and one win from ten games does the talking.

Stevenage will be without Louis Thompson and Wanya Marcal-Madivadua, both sidelined through injury. Thompson's absence removes a dependable midfield presence while Marcal-Madivadua's loss thins the options in wide areas, leaving Revell with less flexibility to rotate or react. MK Dons have it considerably worse, with Kane Wilson, Curtis Nelson and Ryan Barnett all out injured, collectively stripping Warne of options at full back, in central defence and across the wide positions and clean sheets were already scarce before those three went down.

Stevenage operate in a fairly orthodox 4-2-3-1, with Josh Magennis holding play up front and linking with runners behind him, while Daniel Kemp arrives late into the box from midfield. Without Thompson screening the back four, the central midfield pair will carry extra responsibility but the structure should remain intact. MK Dons have been similarly pragmatic since gaining promotion while struggling to turn possession into chances and one win from ten says as much. Aaron Collins has been the exception, scoring seven league goals in ten appearances and forming an encouraging partnership with Sam Nombe, though with no reliable supply from wide or from full back, the two will be largely isolated.

The game will probably hinge on whether Stevenage's midfield can keep Collins and Nombe quiet while the home side build through set pieces, where Magennis is a real aerial threat. MK Dons' defensive injury problems make them especially vulnerable from dead balls, which is exactly what Revell will be looking to exploit and a side already missing three defenders has precious little margin for error when Magennis is waiting at the far post.

Stevenage are hard to break down from dead balls and dangerous when they win them, particularly with Magennis in the box. MK Dons will need to stay disciplined in those moments, a harder ask with their defensive personnel already stretched and six draws from ten games makes a first away win of the season look unlikely. The 3-0 win over Plymouth is a reminder of what Stevenage can do when everything clicks.

Stevenage 2-1 MK Dons. Revell's side has the organisational advantage and the set piece threat to make life difficult for a depleted visiting defence and Collins is good enough to grab a consolation. But a side with six draws from ten games and three key absentees is not well placed to win away from home against a Stevenage team sitting ninth and coming off their most convincing performance of the season.