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Spurs have no history with Milton Keynes Dons.

The reason for the above statement is of course familar to anyone with a knowledge of the transfer of the former Wimbledon franchise from its lodgings at Selhurst Park, to the present temporary home at The National Hockey Stadium, Milton Keynes. The team colours were changed, and in reality there is no genuine link between MK Dons and what we used to know as Wimbledon.

Three years ago, Spurs were invited to play a friendly at Milton Keynes in their first pre-season under the new guise. Our club was persuaded not to play this proposed fixture and therefore "legitimise" Milton Keynes, whilst so many of the old club's genuine fans were struggling to re-build a Wimbledon football club near Wimbledon where it belongs!

AFC Wimbledon play in the Ryman Premier League. Their stadium is in Kingston-upon-Thames, and the club President is none other than Dickie Guy, the famous goalkeeper who played so heroically to keep the mighty Leeds at bay in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup in 1975. The "Wombles" took Leeds to a replay, and then only lost to a deflected own goal. Guy made a string of saves, including a penalty by Peter Lorimer, so he is a most appropriate Club President.

AFC Wimbledon's hope to re-emerge in the not too distant future as a League force.

The official record books do however concede a genetic link between MK Dons and the club we knew as Wimbledon, who we did famously meet in the Worthington Cup semi-final in 1999, when we won through over the two legs, thanks to a magnificent lobbed goal by Steffen Iversen at Selhurst Park. A full match report can be read here. Spurs of course went on to win the Worthington Cup, and this was the season, when we had to grind our way (players and spectators) through 5 matches, which included 4 against Wimbledon, as we met them in the FA Cup (replayed) too.

Whilst acknowledging the offence to AFC Wimbledon, here is the Spurs v Wimbledon Cup History:-

F.A. CUP

15.03.87    Q-F(A)   Won 2-0
Scorers:- Hoddle, Waddle
14.02.93    Rd 5(H)  Won 3-2
Scorers:- Anderton, Barmby, 
          Sheringham
23.01.99    Rd 4(A)  Drew 1-1
Scorer:-  Ginola
02.01.99    Rd 4R(H) Won 3-0
Scorers:- Sinton, Nielsen (2)

LEAGUE CUP

31.08.77    Rd 2(H)  Won 4-0
Scorers:- Duncan (3), Osgood
06.11.85    Rd 3(H)  Won 2-0
Scorers:- Mabbutt, Leworthy
27.01.99    S-F1(H)  Drew 0-0
16.02.99    S-F2(A)  Won 1-0
Scorer:- Iversen

Thus Spurs have won 6 out of 6 of the Cup Ties, and have yet to concede a goal in the League Cup.

The story goes that former Brentford manager Martin Allen was on his way to take the vacant job at Tranmere, when he received a call from MK Dons Chairman Peter Winkelman; accepted an invitation to meet;liked what he heard, and accepted the job to manage this club instead. Allen is apparently smitten with the new stadium that is planned in Milton Keynes to open next year. In the meantime, he must try to get the MK Dons back up to League One status.

Currently the club sit in the play-off places in League Two, with 26 points from 15 games. They lost last Saturday at home to Hereford, and also lost their previous home game to Peterborough.

To get to this stage of the Carling Cup, The Dons have achieved good results to beat Colchester and Barnsley (the latter away) in the first two rounds. 27 year old Aaron Wilbraham scored both the goals that beat Barnsley, but only has three other goals to his credit this season. Top scorer for MK Dons is 22 year old Izale McLeod, who has got 7 in 10 league starts this term, and a total of 40 goals in 93 league games.

The Hockey Stadium only holds 8,630. Logically, Spurs should pass this obstacle with ease, but we said that last year about Grimsby and Leicester. Martin Jol has enough flexibility to rest a few players, but I fancy that the Spurs "League Cup team" will feature plenty of strength.

Martin Jol has said as much today (Tuesday), indicating that Spurs will field a strong side. The definite absentees are Tainio, Malbranque and Zokora, but a strong side might still feature Cerny, Stalteri, Gardner, Davenport, Lee, Murphy, Ghaly, Keane and even Berbatov - none of whom started last Sunday. I fancy that Ledley King will get a rest, and if he is back from France under 18 duties, it would not surprise me to see Dorian Dervite in the squad. He has been really impressive in his Reserve and Academy outings to date.

Correspondent Marc Jones of the Dons Trust has called for Spurs to spank the Franchise Doppelgangers. I sincerely hope that it happens, and confidently predict a win.

· Please spank the Franchise Doppelgangers!

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