Wycombe Wanderers host Milton Keynes Dons on 5 September 2026 in an early season League One fixture that doubles as the Buckinghamshire derby, with both sides near the foot of the table and still waiting for a first league win. Wycombe are 24th on two points from two draws and two defeats, whereas MK Dons sit 23rd on three points from three draws and one defeat.
Wycombe drew 1-1 with Blackpool and 1-1 with Plymouth Argyle in their opening two matches but have since lost 1-5 at Stockport County and 1-2 at Sheffield Wednesday on 1 September, picking up just one point from their last three outings. MK Dons drew their first three, including a 0-0 at Leicester City on 29 August, before losing 1-3 at Wigan Athletic on 2 September.
Wycombe have already conceded nine goals in four games and Duff, appointed in September 2025 after replacing Mike Dodds and with no prior record against Warne, is without left back Dan Harvie through injury, while Warne, in charge since April 2025, has a full squad available.
Wycombe under Duff are organised and direct, leaning on set pieces and midfield discipline, though the defensive shape has yet to produce a clean sheet. Losing Harvie exposes the left flank Warne will target and while Cauley Woodrow, Fred Onyedinma and Ewan Henderson make up the attacking unit, it is defensive exposure that defines Wycombe's situation more than anything they produce going forward.
Aaron Collins, already on three league goals this season, is MK Dons' clearest threat and Wycombe's backline has given him exactly the kind of space he exploits: nine goals conceded in four games, three of them in the 1-5 collapse at Stockport. Daniel Barlaser anchors midfield, winning the ball and distributing quickly to trigger counters and without Harvie there is a ready-made avenue on that left side with Collins running in behind a makeshift left back while Barlaser plays early balls over the top.
MK Dons have the better of this fixture historically, leading 7 wins to 6 across 15 meetings with 2 draws. Both sides rely heavily on dead balls, with Wycombe having scored from their own routines but also been caught on quick breaks when clearances break down and MK Dons carrying real aerial threat at set pieces through Collins and Nombe. For Wycombe especially, another defeat would leave them staring at a double digit gap to mid table before September is out.
MK Dons to win 2-1. Wycombe's defensive record was already shaky before losing Harvie and with Collins on three for the season and Barlaser feeding him in transition, the exposed left side and nine goals already conceded is a combination that favours the visitors. Wycombe will probably grab a set piece goal before the end but it is unlikely to be enough.
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?.
