Milton Keynes Dons in League Cup Round Two

Pre-Franchise...
By Chris O'Brien
August 29 2004

Milton Keynes Dons are the opponents for Cardiff City in the second round of the League Cup following the victory over Kidderminster Harriers. The Bluebirds make the trip to the National Hockey Stadium on the week commencing September 20th.

Cardiff City will face Milton Keynes Dons in the second round of the League Cup at the National Hockey Stadium. The League One outfit are tipped for a second consecutive relegation as club problems mount, so the Bluebirds have a good chance of progressing to the third round of the Carling-sponsored competition.

City made it through with a lucky penalty shoot-out victory over Kidderminster Harriers. Robert Earnshaw netted what could be his last goal for the club as the two teams drew 1-1, with the visiting side winning 5-4 during the lottery of spot-kicks at Aggborough. Dons stunned Peterborough in the opening round with a 3-0 away win.

The last meeting between the two sides was at Ninian Park last season. Still under the name of Wimbledon, the visitors grabbed a deserved 1-1 draw playing only for pride with relegation already a mathematical certainty. John Robinson had given Cardiff the lead, only for Stuart Murdoch's side to equalise minutes later.

There is a lot at stake for the winners. Not only a place in the Third Round, but a chance to draw one of the country's biggest clubs with the teams who qualified for Europe entering the competition at this stage. Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool, Newcastle United, Millwall and Middlesbrough will be in the hat for the next round.

Matches will be played in the week beginning 20 September. The complete draw is as follows:

Burnley v Wolverhampton
Coventry v Sheff Wed
Milton Keynes Dons v Cardiff City
Leicester v Mansfield or Preston
Oldham v Tottenham
Colchester v West Brom
Reading v Watford
Wrexham v Sheff Utd
Nottm Forest v Rotherham
Norwich v Bristol Rovers
Crewe v Sunderland
Tranmere v Portsmouth
Man City v Barnsley
Birmingham v Lincoln
Northampton v Southampton
Blackburn v Bournemouth
Grimsby v Charlton
Crystal Palace v Hartlepool
Boston/Luton v Fulham
West Ham v Notts County
Leeds v Swindon
Aston Villa v QPR
Doncaster v Ipswich
Yeovil v Bolton
Bristol City v Everton