Milton Keynes Dons 0 - West Bromwich Albion 1

Date:	Wednesday 13th July 2005
Competition:	Friendly
MK Dons:	Baker, Oyedele (Crooks, HT), Morgan, Chorley, Lewington, Small (Kamara, 78), Smith (Edds, HT), Mitchell (McKoy, 78), Rizzo (Puncheon, HT), McLeod (Chaib, 62), Wilbraham (Makofo, 86)
WBA:	Hoult (Kuszczak, HT), Scimeca, Purse (Hodgkiss, 15), Clement, Albrechtsen, Smikle (Gera, HT), Wallwork, Davies (Inamoto, HT), Greening, Horsfield, Elvins (Nicholson, 67) Unused subs: Forsyth
Scorers:	Horsfield (4)
Referee:	Keith Woolmer (Northamptonshire)
Attendance:	3,755

Chiang Mai Baggie:

Just after I got on to the commentary we scored with our first chance of the game. Albrechtsen broke down the wing and Horsfield converted his cross. Apparently it was all Dons pressure before that.

Albion used several of the youngsters, who seemed to be struggling a bit compared to the week before. Purse went off injured after about 20 minutes.

Hoult replacedd by our Pole in goal, and Inamoto and Gera both on in midfield for a couple of youngsters.

Kuszczak played very well in goal to save several times when the Dons should have scored. He certainly seems to be staking his claim to the #1 shirt. Apart from that Albion were rather poor, lacking any real passing moves. At least BR will have had a look at a few players, and they will have had a run around. Apparently the rest of the squad will play on Friday night at Crewe.

Cuzer:

Scrappy game, nothing like the free flowing football I witnessed on Saturday at Telford, but enough about that kick about in the car park!

Seriously we were second best for long period tonights, in between the wayward passes and kamakaze defending we did create some good chances mind. Wallwork, Smikle missing two chances they both should have burried.

Plus points were

Wallwork, who way my MOTM (Yes, I kid you not!) just seems a lot fitter than last season, touch was assured and passing crisp
Clem - Another solid game at the back, wish he would just win a higher percentage of 1st headers mind
The Horse - Held the ball up well, battled for the full 90 minutes
The Pole in Goal - Couple of late blinding saves

In-betweeners

Alby was OK, great run and cross for the goal
Greening - Not involved enough
Ina - Tidy player but just doesn't seem to want the ball enough
Zoltan - Caught in possesion a few times, did some good stuff with the ball as well though, finding his feet

Poor Shows

Elvins struggled against two bigger centre halfs, definately one to loan out to Div 1/2 for a season
Davis - Did OK in the middle of the park but played things too safe
Scimeca - Can't defend high balls
Purse - Ropey start and then went off injured after 15, looked quite bad
Hoult - Kicking as bloody awful as usual

Right, Bed!

Lee Ward:

just got back (via pub and mates house) after wathcing a poor performance at the hockey ground.

Plus points

kuszcazk who made some great saves and kept us in it. he has to be our number 2 keeper after kirkland.
albrecthsens cross for horses goal. superb
wallwork who never once gave it away.
inamoto. didnt do much but looked bright thru-out
greening who seemed to be the dons fans boo-boy after kicking ball away

bad points.

Hoult lasted one half and doesnt look right. has the walk of someone who has not quite made it to the gents in time
purse got injured and looked in a lot of pain
scimica. not a right back. poor all the way through
our play in second half. we let mkd run at us. im hoping it was a case of it being a freindly and them raising there game.

Glad to say there was a lot of albion fans. So much for the boycot. In fact it was a good atmosphere allround with the people of Milton keynes making more noise than half the prem teams we played last year.