# 2009–10 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season

The 2009–10 season was Milton Keynes Dons' sixth season in their existence as a professional association football club, and their second consecutive season competing in Football League One.
As well as competing in League One, the club also participated in the FA Cup, League Cup and League Trophy.
The season covers the period from 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010.

## Season overview

It was manager Paul Ince's single season in charge of the club during his second spell as manager. He had replaced former manager, Roberto Di Matteo who had moved to take over the manager's role at West Bromwich Albion. Ince resigned in April 2010 blaming proposed budget cuts as a reason for his departure. Ince's assistant manager was Karl Robinson who would go on to replace him as manager in May 2010.
Top scorer for the season was Welsh striker, Jermaine Easter who was Ince's second singing for the club, in July 2009. Also signed by Ince in July 2009 was former Chelsea and Watford goalkeeper, Stuart Searle who was signed to serve as back-up goalkeeper to Willy Guéret. Milton Keynes Dons finished in 12th position in League One, 20 points outside of the play-off positions. A long injury list and a poor disciplinary record undermined their chances of success. Although in fifth place and in the play-off places on Boxing Day, 2009, following a 4–1 win against Stockport County, they lost their next game, away to Huddersfield Town, and did not regain a place in the play-off positions for the rest of the season. They fell away badly from the league leaders towards the end of the season, failing to win any of their last 11 games. A season total of 236,663 people watched the team play their 23 home League One games giving an average attendance of 10,290 per match, the 7th highest in the league.
MK Dons reached the Third Round of the FA Cup before being beaten 2–1 in Milton Keynes by Burnley. Managed by Owen Coyle the creativity of Chris Eagles and the thrust in attack of Steven Fletcher were prominent features of the game. A goal from Fletcher and a penalty by Graham Alexander won the match with a single goal from MK Dons' Dean Morgan in response.
They played only in the First Round of the League Cup before being eliminated 1–4 by Swindon Town. The defeat was manager Ince's first since returning to the club. The opening goal for Swindon was a 40 yards (37 m) lob of the goalkeeper, Willy Guéret by Jon-Paul McGovern.
They reached the Southern Area Final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy before being beaten 4–1 on aggregate by Southampton.

## Competitions
### League One

Final table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 10 | Walsall | 46 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 60 | 63 | −3 | 62 |
| 11 | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 19 | 5 | 22 | 59 | 70 | −11 | 62 |
| 12 | Milton Keynes Dons | 46 | 17 | 9 | 20 | 60 | 68 | –8 | 60 |
| 13 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 46 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 56 | 60 | −4 | 59 |
| 14 | Carlisle United | 46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 63 | 66 | −3 | 58 |
Source: Sky Sports
Matches
| Win | Draw | Loss |
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | Attendance |
| 8 August 2009 – 15:00 | Hartlepool United | Home | 0–0 | | 8,965 |
| 15 August 2009 – 15:00 | Swindon Town | Away | 0–0 | | 6,692 |
| 18 August 2009 – 19:45 | Tranmere Rovers | Away | 1–0 | Ibehre | 5,744 |
| 22 August 2009 – 15:00 | Colchester United | Home | 2–1 | Easter, Carrington | 8,633 |
| 29 August 2009 – 15:00 | Exeter City | Away | 2–1 | Easter (2) | 5,333 |
| 5 September 2009 – 15:00 | Huddersfield Town | Home | 2–3 | Johnson, Easter | 9,772 |
| 14 September 2009 – 19:45 | Norwich City | Home | 2–1 | Puncheon, Leven | 10,354 |
| 19 September 2009 – 15:00 | Wycombe Wanderers | Away | 1–0 | Kouo-Doumbé | 6,127 |
| 26 September 2009 – 15:00 | Leeds United | Home | 0–1 | | 16,713 |
| 29 September 2009 – 19:45 | Oldham Athletic | Away | 1–2 | Brill (o.g.) | 3,630 |
| 3 October 2009 – 15:00 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Away | 1–0 | Easter | 6,419 |
| 10 October 2009 – 15:00 | Walsall | Home | 1–0 | Easter | 8,919 |
| 17 October 2009 – 15:00 | Gillingham | Home | 2–0 | Easter, Wilbraham | 11,764 |
| 24 October 2009 – 15:00 | Southampton | Away | 1–3 | Puncheon | 21,387 |
| 31 October 2009 – 15:00 | Bristol Rovers | Home | 2–1 | Leven, Puncheon | 9,711 |
| 14 November 2009 – 15:00 | Charlton Athletic | Away | 1–5 | Wilbraham | 17,188 |
| 20 November 2009 – 19:45 | Southend United | Away | 1–2 | Baldock | 6,957 |
| 24 November 2009 – 19:45 | Carlisle United | Home | 3–4 | Baldock, Chadwick (2) | 9,459 |
| 1 December 2009 – 19:45 | Millwall | Away | 2–3 | Easter (2) | 7,883 |
| 5 December 2009 – 15:00 | Yeovil Town | Home | 2–2 | Baldock, Leven | 8,965 |
| 12 December 2009 – 15:00 | Leyton Orient | Away | 2–1 | Morgan, Quashie | 3,959 |
| 19 December 2009 – 15:00 | Brentford | Home | 0–1 | | 9,520 |
| 26 December 2009 – 15:00 | Stockport County | Home | 4–1 | Easter, Quashie, Puncheon (2) | 9,661 |
| 28 December 2009 – 15:00 | Huddersfield Town | Away | 0–1 | | 16,086 |
| 16 January 2010 – 15:00 | Hartlepool United | Away | 5–0 | Easter, Liddle (o.g.), Leven, Baldock, Puncheon | 3,211 |
| 23 January 2010 – 15:00 | Tranmere Rovers | Home | 1–0 | Puncheon | 9,438 |
| 26 January 2010 – 19:45 | Colchester United | Away | 0–2 | | 3,601 |
| 30 January 2010 – 15:00 | Exeter City | Home | 1–1 | Baldock | 8,740 |
| 6 February 2010 – 15:00 | Stockport County | Away | 3–1 | Easter, Wilbraham, Townsend | 3,720 |
| 13 February 2010 – 15:00 | Carlisle United | Away | 0–5 | | 4,930 |
| 20 February 2010 – 15:00 | Southend United | Home | 3–1 | Carrington (2), Townsend | 9,801 |
| 23 February 2010 – 19:45 | Millwall | Away | 1–3 | Wilbraham | 10,610 |
| 27 February 2010 – 15:00 | Yeovil Town | Away | 0–1 | | 3,844 |
| 6 March 2010 – 15:00 | Leyton Orient | Home | 1–0 | Carrington | 14,323 |
| 9 March 2010 – 19:45 | Swindon Town | Home | 2–1 | Wilbraham, Tunnicliffe | 8,764 |
| 13 March 2010 – 15:00 | Brentford | Away | 3–3 | Wilbraham (2), Easter | 5,209 |
| 20 March 2010 – 15:00 | Southampton | Home | 0–3 | | 10,570 |
| 27 March 2010 – 15:00 | Gillingham | Away | 2–2 | McCracken, Easter | 5,465 |
| 3 April 2010 – 15:00 | Charlton Athletic | Home | 0–1 | | 10,869 |
| 5 April 2010 – 15:00 | Bristol Rovers | Away | 0–1 | | 10,869 |
| 10 April 2010 – 15:00 | Norwich City | Away | 1–1 | Wilbraham | 24,888 |
| 13 April 2010 – 19:45 | Oldham Athletic | Home | 0–0 | | 8,528 |
| 17 April 2010 – 15:00 | Wycombe Wanderers | Home | 2–3 | Wilbraham (2) | 10,561 |
| 24 April 2010 – 15:00 | Leeds United | Away | 1–4 | Lewington | 25,964 |
| 1 May 2010 – 15:00 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Home | 0–0 | | 12,023 |
| 8 May 2010 – 15:00 | Walsall | Away | 1–2 | Powell | 4,772 |

### FA Cup

Matches
| Win | Draw | Loss |
| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | Attendance |
| 7 November 2009 – 15:00 | First round | Macclesfield Town | Home | 1–0 | Gobern | 4,868 |
| 28 November 2009 – 15:00 | Second round | Exeter City | Home | 4–3 | Baldock (2), Devaney, Easter | 4,867 |
| 2 January 2010 – 15:00 | Third round | Burnley | Home | 1–2 | Morgan | 11,816 |

### League Cup

Matches
| Win | Draw | Loss |
| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | Attendance | Ref |
| 13 August 2009 – 19:45 | First round | Swindon Town | Home | 1–4 | Easter | 4,812 | |

### League Trophy

Matches
| Win | Draw | Loss |
| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | Attendance |
| 1 September 2009 – 19:45 | First round | Dagenham & Redbridge | Home | 3–1 | Lewington, Easter (2) | 4,413 |
| 6 October 2009 – 19:45 | Second round | Southend United | Home | 2–0 | Doran, Carrington | 4,792 |
| 10 November 2009 – 19:45 | Quarter-final (South) | Northampton Town | Home | 3–1 | Wilbraham, Baldock (2) | 8,886 |
| 15 December 2009 – 19:45 | Semi-final (South) | Hereford United | Away | 4–1 | Baldock, Puncheon, Wilbraham, Easter | 1,367 |
| 20 January 2010 – 19:45 | Area final (South) 1st leg | Southampton | Home | 0–1 | | 7,918 |
| 9 February 2010 – 19:45 | Area final (South) 2nd leg | Southampton | Away | 1–3 | Randall | 29,901 |

## Player details

    List of squad players, including number of appearances by competition.
    Players with squad numbers struck through and marked † left the club during the playing season.
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | League One | League One | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | League Trophy | League Trophy |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 2 | DF | ENG | Jude Stirling | 10 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Dean Lewington | 50 | 2 | 42 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| 4 | DF | FRA | Mathias Kouo-Doumbé | 36 | 1 | 33 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | SCO | David McCracken | 44 | 1 | 41 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | ENG | Sean O'Hanlon | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | IRL | Stephen Gleeson | 32 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | FW | WAL | Jermaine Easter | 45 | 19 | 36 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 |
| 9 | FW | ENG | Aaron Wilbraham | 43 | 12 | 35 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 |
| 10 | FW | USA | Jemal Johnson | 18 | 1 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | ENG | Sam Baldock | 28 | 10 | 21 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 |
| 12 | GK | FRA | Willy Guéret | 47 | 0 | 43 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | MF | ENG | Mark Carrington | 24 | 5 | 20 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 14 | MF | ENG | Lewis Gobern | 21 | 1 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 † | MF | IRL | Richie Partridge | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 † | MF | ENG | Jason Puncheon | 32 | 8 | 24 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| 16 | DF | ENG | James Tunnicliffe | 9 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | GK | ENG | Stuart Searle | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | FW | ENG | Jabo Ibehre | 10 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | DF | ENG | Sol Davis | 11 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | SCO | Peter Leven | 34 | 4 | 31 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | FW | MSR | Dean Morgan | 10 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 † | DF | ENG | Danny Swailes | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 26 | MF | ENG | Luke Chadwick | 44 | 2 | 40 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | ENG | David King | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | DF | ENG | Adam Chicksen | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 † | DF | ENG | Oscar Gobern | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 29 † | MF | SCO | Nigel Quashie | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 29 | MF | ENG | Mark Randall | 18 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 30 | FW | ENG | Daniel Powell | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | DF | NIR | Tom Flanagan | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 † | MF | IRL | Aaron Doran | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 35 | FW | ENG | Charlie Collins | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 † | MF | IRL | Martin Devaney | 7 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 † | MF | ENG | Andros Townsend | 9 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | MF | SCO | Alex Rae | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |

## Transfers
### Transfers in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| 1 July 2009 | FW | Jabo Ibehre | Walsall | Free transfer |
| 14 July 2009 | FW | Jemal Johnson | Free agent | Free transfer |
| 14 July 2009 | FW | Jermaine Easter | Plymouth Argyle | Undisclosed |
| 17 July 2009 | GK | Stuart Searle | Free agent | Free transfer |
| 21 July 2009 | MF | Richie Partridge | Free agent | Free transfer |
| 21 July 2009 | MF | Mark Carrington | Free agent | Free transfer |
| 6 August 2009 | DF | Sol Davis | Free agent | Free transfer |
| 7 August 2009 | DF | Darren Powell | Free agent | Free transfer |
| 8 August 2009 | FW | Michael Bridges | Free agent | Free transfer |
| 28 September 2009 | FW | Dean Morgan | Free agent | Free transfer |

### Transfers out

| Date from | Position | Name | To | Fee |
| 1 July 2009 | GK | Nathan Abbey | Released | Released |
| 1 July 2009 | FW | Tore André Flo | Released | Released |
| 1 July 2009 | FW | Ali Gerba | Released | Released |
| 1 July 2009 | FW | Jemal Johnson | Released | Released |
| 1 July 2009 | DF | Miguel Llera | Released | Released |
| 1 July 2009 | MF | Alan Navarro | Released | Released |
| 19 January 2010 | DF | Danny Swailes | Released | Released |
| 19 January 2010 | MF | Richie Partridge | Released | Released |

### Loans in

| Start date | Position | Name | From | End date |
| 4 August 2009 | MF | Jason Puncheon | Plymouth Argyle | January 2010 |
| 5 October 2009 | FW | Aaron Doran | Blackburn Rovers | 5 November 2009 |
| 24 November 2009 | MF | Nigel Quashie | West Ham United | 3 January 2010 |
| 14 January 2010 | FW | Andros Townsend | Tottenham Hotspur | 5 March 2010 |
| 11 February 2010 | DF | James Tunnicliffe | Brighton & Hove Albion | March 2010 |

### Loans out

| Start date | Position | Name | To | End date |
| 4 August 2009 | FW | Daniel Powell | Crawley Town | September 2009 |
| 2 October 2009 | MF | David King | Forest Green Rovers | December 2009 |
| 26 November 2009 | FW | Jabo Ibehre | Southend United | 26 December 2009 |
| 19 January 2010 | FW | Jemal Johnson | Stockport County | End of season |
| 19 January 2010 | FW | Jabo Ibehre | Stockport County | End of season |
* ↑ Previous club: Milton Keynes Dons.
* ↑ Previous club: Watford.
* ↑ Previous club: Chester City.
* ↑ Previous club: Crewe Alexandra.
* ↑ Previous club: Luton Town.
* ↑ Previous club: Brentford.
* ↑ Previous club: Hull City.
* ↑ Previous club: Grays Athletic.
* ↑ Joined Toronto FC in July 2009.
* ↑ Released, but re-joined on 14 July 2009.
* ↑ Joined Charlton Athletic on 2 July 2009.
* ↑ Joined Brighton & Hove Albion on 6 August 2009.
* ↑ Joined Stockport County on 19 January 2010.
* ↑ Recalled. Originally until end of season.
* ↑ Recalled. Originally until end of season.