Chafing at the bit! Moors goalkeeping Farrier is ready for the big match. Managerless Dons are good to go too

Just two days to go until the 9^th stop on the Road to Wembley from Scotland. I am really looking forward to seeing the FA Cup First Round tie between MK Dons and Spennymoor Town at Stadium MK on Saturday. As the preparations are completed MK Dons are looking to Caretaker Manager Richie Barker for inspiration and The Moors recorded yet another high scoring win in midweek.

For two weeks now the Dons have been searching for a new manager to replace the young, talented and, dare I say it, harshly treated former boss Karl Robinson who left a fortnight ago. Paul Mitchell remains the odds on favourite for the vacant post but Ryan Giggs has now had his odds shortened to 3/1 and would be a popular appointment with the fans. The club have now announced that there will be no deal done before the weekend and Richie Barker will be in the Dons dugout for the big game.

Barker and Robinson together at Stadium MK in happier times

 I note from various sources that Barker is unlikely to pick a ‘squad team’ for this tie. He is keen to make an impression as he too is in the running to land the job on a permanent basis and is currently 14/1 with most bookmakers. He will probably field the strongest team available to try to see off the Moors in some style. This may mean that the young Scots players Hendry and Furlong miss out on selection.

There is still a possibility that a Scotsman could be the next MK Dons boss with Steven Pressley, Dougie Freedman and Billy Davies all still quoted in the betting. Unfortunately the controversial Scot Steve Evans is also still quoted but I am pleased to note that his odds are lengthening.

Other news from the club in advance of the tie notes that the Dons have a 100% record when playing at home in the FA Cup against a non league team. Still, there is a first time for everything.

Meanwhile up in County Durham the Moors had league business to attend to on Tuesday evening. They were once again in fine high-scoring form seeing off the challenge of Workington by 4 goals to 1 in an Evostik League fixture. Armstong, Anderson, Fisher and Tait were all on the scoresheet. With the game wrapped up just after the hour mark manager Jason Ainsley took the opportunity to make substitutions with 25 minutes to go to rest a few key players in advance of the match in Milton Keynes.

The Moors keeper Dan Lowson has been in the news ahead of Saturday’s tie. The Sun have written an article on the custodian highlighting the fact that he is trainee Farrier! See

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/2105351/fa-cup-first-round-dan-lowson-will-go-from-nags-to-riches-if-spennymoor-beat-mk-dons/

Neigh bother! Moors keeper Dan Lowson is a shoe-in to play in goal on Saturday

The Sun reckon that a good performance on Saturday will see him go from ‘nags to riches’. There is one thing for sure he will be chafing at the bit right now. Come back here on Sunday for a full report of Milton Keynes Dons v Spennymoor Town on the Road to Wembley from Scotland. Will Barker be woofing with delight or will The Farrier keep a clean sheet and let in neigh goals? Keep reading.