Game Fifty Five - MK Dons away

28 February 2009

Ahhh the designated birthday game for the season. Every fan seems to do it - recognise the game nearest to their birthday as something special and keep an eye out for it when the fixtures are first released. It has the potential to make or break the next milestone in your life and in that respect, it's a game that you always want to win. Mine so happened to fall on potentially one of the biggest games of the season with the top of the table clash at MK Dons. Much has been said on the subject of the team dubbed as "The Franchise" by the majority of fans over the circumstances involving the relocation of the club from London to Milton Keynes, so I won't go into it too much. Whilst I don't agree with what happened, I'm not sure why some people are opting to boycott the games and essentially only punish themselves in the long run. Anyone boycotting this game may argue that they have kept their principles in tact, but at the end of the day, we sold out so MK Dons are not losing out in any way. The club, however, is the complete description of what is wrong with football at the moment with it being not so much about the football but more about what is happening off the pitch and taking away what we love about our sport.

But enough of that and on with the day. Back to the joys of Fox Travel and as per usual these days, accompanied by Jodie but for a one off special, also Jodie's mum completed the party. Bernie was spotted walking around in his own unique fashion but thankfully didn't jump on our coach, instead opting for one of the the other 15 that happened to be leaving the Walkers that day.
The journey itself was a blur.... it happened is the best I can really say about it. After having to get up early that morning to get stuff done, I was out for the count before long and didn't wake till we were well on the way to Milton Keynes. We arrived at the 'stadium' in good time and it appeared that there was very little to keep us amused before kick off so while the mother and daugher combo headed off to Asda, I met up with Katy and Stez and went for a wander around the place. It has a bizarre, half finished feel to it, which I suppose is fair considering the top tier hasn't got any seats in it yet but that doesn't explain the exterior which resembles a disused factory rather than a state of the art stadium.

The odd thing of note was that there was only one bit of branding on the stadium and even that was no bigger than an A4 sized logo over the corporate enterance. You really wouldn't have a clue where you were if you had been plonked in the middle of the place....

.... the other side of the ground gave even less clues! I can only assume that like the rest of Milton Keynes, they will continue to develop the area as the club becomes more successful?

The inside of the ground is actually quite impressive with an open concourse all the way around at ground level with the steps leading down to the pitch. It means that you are nearly always in view of the pitch wherever you move. Plenty of space too so the freedom to move around meant that it was easy to keep bumping into people you knew.

And people you recognise too. Now does anyone know who the guy in the picture below is? I see him at every home and away game, always dressed in a suit and carrying a copy of the Times newspaper. I even saw him on a tube in London on a day when Leicester were not playing. He's always moving around the place when Ive seen him. It appears that Im not alone in noticing him as Katy and Stez have apparentley commented on him as well.

A massive 4,500 away fans had made the short journey to Milton Keynes and with it being the first away game of the season for many of them, we wern't optimistic for anything relating to an atmosphere from the "prawn sandwhich" brigade on their day trip. We, however were quite fortunate with our tickets and being on the back row meant that we could stand freely and we joined by some like minded others who didn't want to use the padded seats but to stand and sing.

The game itself started at a frantic pace and in only the second minute, Mattock found himself in space but dragged his shot wide of the post. Two minutes later though and we struck the first real blow. A long free kick was flicked on by Howard, Fryatt controlled and despite being surrounded by three defenders, managed to twist and turn away and curl a shot past the keeper and into the corner of the net. Great finish and we hoped that would settle us down....

.... not the case though as the goal seemed to wake up the home side and Chadwick missed a sitter after 10 minutes with the goal begging. It was all the Dons at this time and they tried their luck from long range at every opportunity without troubling Bunn in between the sticks. All we could offer in reply was a few corners and a deflected effort from Dyer as we struggled to cope with their slick passing, moving the ball quickly from side to side.

With all those long range efforts, it was inevitable that one would soon find the target and that was the case on 36 minutes when some neat build up saw the ball fall for Leven who smashed the ball home from 25 yards with the ball skidding past the keeper. A big blow but it had been coming and it could have been worse but for a great goal line clearance from Oakley on the goal line after a corner hadnt been fully cleared.

At half time, I headed over to find Helen and Jobber and me and her had a bit of a natter while he caught up with people - he seems to know everyone that guy! Headed back over to my seat for the start of the second half, hoping for a better performance than the first.

City had the first real chance of the second period after a quick free kick released Dyer but his cross couldnt be diverted goalwards by Howard with the ball instead ballooning over the bar. The home side took the lead just after the hour mark though with a well worked goal. A low pass was dummied by two players before a neat pass set in Leven whose shot was well saved by Bunn who saw the rebound spin up and hit the striker before rebounding into the net. Horrible goal to conceed and so unlucky for the on-loan goal keeper.

From then on, there wern't many real chances for either team as MK dons defended well and didn't allow us any time to play, and restricted us to playing outside of their 30 yard area forthe majority of the game. As time inched away, we knew it was all over. The unbeaten run was gonna go and against our closest rivals.

As the fourth official indicated an incredible five minutes injury time which stunned both sets of fans, we knew that we might get one more chance to snatch something from the game.... and in the 96th minute, that chance came. Fryatt was judged to have been fouled on the edge of the area, 25 yards from goal. Substitute Max Gradel was the man charged with taking it and we held our breath as he prepared to take it. Time seemed to stand still as the ball was struck, over the wall and skimming the defender on the lines head on it's way into the top corner. He couldn't have placed it any better if he tried and the scenes in the away end were chaotic. Random huggers celebrating together, hugging everyone that moved and charging round like idiots. As the free kick was taken, I was on the back row. By the time the Dons had kicked off again, I was half way down the stairs with Jodie somehow. It was all a blur but one of the biggest rushes I've had as we all felt the game had passed us by.

The referee didn't end the game there though and in the 99th minute, he awarded a free kick to MK Dons in a similar place from where Gradel had struck. Once again we held our breath and I felt nervous in a way I hadn't felt since that infamous Stoke game back in May. A draw and we were still in pole position... if this free kick went in, MK Dons could be right on our tails once more.... Thankfully it struck the wall and the referee called a hault to proceedings and let us celebrate like we had won the world cup.

As we made our way out, high fiving and hugging people we knew, I met up again with Katy and Stez who had kindly offered to give me a lift home seeing as they were heading back to sunny Syston so it was a nice easy journey home with us all still buzzing in the car.

Up until that late goal, it had been a fairly miserable away game and one of the worst of the season so far. We just never really got going and were outplayed by a better team on the day in front of a disappointing atmosphere. There were no exceptionally fond memories, and it was almost like being back in the championship again. Gradel's goal though has changed things and MK Dons will always be the place that saw those epic celebrations when the ball hit the net. Come May, if we are top by only a point or so, we can look back and know that the league was won at Stadium MK.