# 2022–23 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season

The 2022–23 season was Milton Keynes Dons' 19th season in their existence, and the club's fourth consecutive season in League One. The club also competed in the FA Cup, EFL Cup and EFL Trophy.
The season covers the period from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023.

## Managerial changes

On 11 December 2022, head coach Liam Manning was sacked by the club, with club captain Dean Lewington taking over as interim manager whilst a permanent replacement was sought. Goalkeeper David Martin became acting assistant manager alongside, with Bradley Johnson also taking charge of the team for their EFL Cup fixture on 20 December while Lewington underwent hamstring surgery.
On 23 December 2022, it was announced that Mark Jackson had been appointed as the club's new head coach, however after five months in charge Jackson was sacked following the club's relegation to League Two having registered just six wins in 25 games.

## Pre-season friendlies

On 3 June, MK Dons announced their first two pre-season friendlies, against AFC Rushden & Diamonds and King's Lynn Town. A third, against Barnet was also confirmed.
All four of the club's pre-season friendlies took place away from Stadium MK due to the stadium being a host venue for UEFA Women's Euro 2022.
Win  Draw  Loss

## Competitions
### Overall record

| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % |
| League One | 30 July 2022 | 7 May 2023 | Matchday 1 | 21st | 46 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 44 | 66 | −22 | 023.91 |
| FA Cup | 5 November 2022 | 26 November 2022 | First round | Second round | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 3 | +5 | 050.00 |
| EFL Cup | 9 August 2022 | 20 December 2022 | First round | Fourth round | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 075.00 |
| EFL Trophy | 30 August 2022 | 13 December 2022 | Group Stage | Round of 16 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 7 | +2 | 060.00 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 57 | 18 | 12 | 27 | 66 | 79 | −13 | 031.58 |
Last updated: 7 May 2023 Source: [BBC Sport]

### League One
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 18 | Port Vale | 46 | 13 | 10 | 23 | 48 | 71 | −23 | 49 | |
| 19 | Oxford United | 46 | 11 | 14 | 21 | 49 | 56 | −7 | 47 | |
| 20 | Cambridge United | 46 | 13 | 7 | 26 | 41 | 68 | −27 | 46 | |
| 21 | Milton Keynes Dons (R) | 46 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 44 | 66 | −22 | 45 | Relegation to EFL League Two |
| 22 | Morecambe (R) | 46 | 10 | 14 | 22 | 47 | 78 | −31 | 44 | Relegation to EFL League Two |
| 23 | Accrington Stanley (R) | 46 | 11 | 11 | 24 | 40 | 77 | −37 | 44 | Relegation to EFL League Two |
| 24 | Forest Green Rovers (R) | 46 | 6 | 9 | 31 | 31 | 89 | −58 | 27 | Relegation to EFL League Two |

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 7 May 2023. Source: BBC

#### Results by matchday

| Matchday | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 |
| Ground | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A |
| Result | L | L | L | W | D | W | L | L | W | L | L | L | L | L | W | D | L | L | D | L | W | W | L | L | D | W | L | L | W | D | L | L | L | D | L | W | W | W | D | D | D | D | L | L | D | D |
| Position | 22 | 23 | 24 | 21 | 22 | 13 | 19 | 22 | 19 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 21 |

#### Matches

The league fixtures for the 2022–23 season were announced on 23 June 2022. The club's opening game of the season was away to Cambridge United on 30 July 2022 with the final game of the season being away at Burton Albion on 7 May 2023.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

### FA Cup

Matches
In the first round, MK Dons were drawn at home to either Yeovil Town or Taunton Town. A day later, Taunton Town beat Yeovil Town in a Fourth qualifying round replay. In the second round, the club were drawn away to fellow League One side Portsmouth.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

### EFL Cup

Matches
The club were drawn at home to Sutton United in the first round. In the second round, the club were drawn away to EFL Championship club Watford. In round three, the club were drawn at home to fellow League One side Morecambe. In the fourth round, the club were drawn at home to Premier League side Leicester City.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

### EFL Trophy

On 20 June, the initial Group stage draw was made, grouping MK Dons with Cheltenham Town and Walsall. Three days later, West Ham United U21s joined Southern Group C. MK Dons were then drawn at home to Newport County in the Round of 32, and away to Bristol Rovers in the Round of 16.
| Pos | Div | Teamvte | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | L1 | Milton Keynes Dons | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 6 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 2 | L1 | Cheltenham Town | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 6 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 3 | ACA | West Ham United U21 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | |
| 4 | L2 | Walsall | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 | −4 | 0 | |
Matches
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

## Player details

    Note: Players' ages as of the opening day of the 2022–23 season.
| # | Name | Position | Date of birth (age) | Signed from | Signed in | Transfer fee |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||
| 1 | Jamie Cumming | GK | (1999-09-04)4 September 1999 (aged 22) | Chelsea | 2022 | Loan |
| 18 | David Martin | GK | (1986-01-22)22 January 1986 (aged 36) | Free agent | 2022 | Free |
| 23 | Franco Ravizzoli | GK | (1997-07-09)9 July 1997 (aged 25) | Eastbourne Borough | 2021 | Free |
| Defenders ||||||||
| 2 | Tennai Watson | RWB | (1997-03-04)4 March 1997 (aged 25) | Free agent | 2021 | Free |
| 3 | Dean Lewington (captain) | CB | (1984-05-18)18 May 1984 (aged 38) | Wimbledon | 2004 | Free |
| 4 | Jack Tucker | CB | (1999-11-13)13 November 1999 (aged 22) | Gillingham | 2022 | Compensation |
| 5 | Warren O'Hora | CB | (1997-07-02)2 July 1997 (aged 25) | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2021 | Undisclosed |
| 19 | Anthony Stewart | CB | (1992-09-18)18 September 1992 (aged 29) | Aberdeen | 2023 | Loan |
| 21 | Daniel Harvie | LWB | (1998-07-14)14 July 1998 (aged 24) | Ayr United | 2020 | Undisclosed |
| 22 | Henry Lawrence | RB | (2001-09-21)21 September 2001 (aged 20) | Chelsea | 2022 | Loan |
| 33 | Zak Jules | CB | (1997-07-02)2 July 1997 (aged 25) | Walsall | 2021 | Undisclosed |
| Midfielders ||||||||
| 6 | Josh McEachran | CM | (1993-03-01)1 March 1993 (aged 29) | Free agent | 2021 | Free |
| 7 | Matt Smith | CM | (1999-11-22)22 November 1999 (aged 22) | Manchester City | 2022 | Undisclosed |
| 8 | Ethan Robson | CM | (1996-10-25)25 October 1996 (aged 25) | Blackpool | 2022 | Free |
| 11 | Nathan Holland | LM | (1998-06-19)19 June 1998 (aged 24) | West Ham United | 2022 | Free |
| 14 | Bradley Johnson | CM | (1987-04-28)28 April 1987 (aged 35) | Free agent | 2022 | Free |
| 16 | Conor Grant | AM | (2001-11-20)20 November 2001 (aged 20) | Rochdale | 2022 | Undisclosed |
| 20 | Darragh Burns | RM | (2002-08-06)6 August 2002 (aged 19) | St Patrick's Athletic | 2022 | £150,000 |
| 28 | Dawson Devoy | AM | (2001-07-23)23 July 2001 (aged 21) | Bohemians | 2022 | Undisclosed |
| 42 | Paris Maghoma | CM | (2001-05-08)8 May 2001 (aged 21) | Brentford | 2023 | Loan |
| Forwards ||||||||
| 9 | Will Grigg | CF | (1991-07-03)3 July 1991 (aged 31) | Free agent | 2022 | Free |
| 10 | Mohamed Eisa | CF | (1994-07-12)12 July 1994 (aged 28) | Peterborough United | 2021 | Undisclosed |
| 12 | Jonathan Leko | RW | (1999-04-24)24 April 1999 (aged 23) | Birmingham City | 2023 | Undisclosed |
| 15 | Joshua Kayode | CF | (2000-05-04)4 May 2000 (aged 22) | Rotherham United | 2022 | Loan |
| 24 | Sullay Kaikai | LW | (1995-08-26)26 August 1995 (aged 26) | Wycombe Wanderers | 2023 | Free |
| 29 | Max Dean | CF | (2004-02-21)21 February 2004 (aged 18) | Leeds United | 2023 | Undisclosed |
| Out on loan ||||||||
| 17 | Dan Kemp | AM | (1999-01-11)11 January 1999 (aged 23) | Leyton Orient | 2022 | Undisclosed |
| 25 | Brooklyn Ilunga | LWB | (2003-11-21)21 November 2003 (aged 18) | Academy | 2022 | Trainee |
| 26 | Jack Davies | CB | (2002-12-03)3 December 2002 (aged 19) | Academy | 2020 | Trainee |
| 27 | Lewis Johnson | LW | (2004-01-09)9 January 2004 (aged 18) | Academy | 2020 | Trainee |
| 30 | Matthew Dennis | CF | (2002-04-15)15 April 2002 (aged 20) | Norwich City | 2022 | Undisclosed |
| 31 | Ronnie Sandford | GK | (2005-02-24)24 February 2005 (aged 17) | Academy | 2021 | Trainee |
| 32 | Edward Gyamfi | CM | (2004-07-01)1 July 2004 (aged 18) | Academy | 2022 | Trainee |
| Left club during season ||||||||
| 12 | Daniel Oyegoke | RB | (2003-01-03)3 January 2003 (aged 19) | Brentford | 2022 | Loan |
| 19 | Louie Barry | LW | (2003-06-21)21 June 2003 (aged 19) | Aston Villa | 2022 | Loan |

## Transfers
### Transfers in

| Date | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| Summer |||||||
| 24 June 2022 | AM | Conor Grant | Rochdale | Undisclosed |
| 1 July 2022 | CF | Matthew Dennis | Norwich City | Undisclosed |
| 1 July 2022 | LW | Nathan Holland | West Ham United | Free Transfer |
| 1 July 2022 | CM | Ethan Robson | Blackpool | Free |
| 1 July 2022 | CB | Jack Tucker | Gillingham | Compensation |
| 4 July 2022 | RW | Darragh Burns | St Patrick's Athletic | £150,000 |
| 13 July 2022 | AM | Dawson Devoy | Bohemians | Undisclosed |
| 14 July 2022 | CF | Will Grigg | Free agent | Free |
| 15 July 2022 | CM | Bradley Johnson | Free agent | Free |
| 23 September 2022 | GK | David Martin | Free agent | Free |
| Winter |||||||
| 13 January 2023 | RW | Jonathan Leko | Birmingham City | Undisclosed |
| 19 January 2023 | CF | Max Dean | Leeds United | Undisclosed |
| 26 January 2023 | LW | Sullay Kaikai | Wycombe Wanderers | Free |

### Transfers out

| Date | Position | Name | To | Fee |
| 18 June 2022 | CB | Harry Darling | Swansea City | £1,400,000 |
| 26 June 2022 | AM | Scott Twine | Burnley | £4,000,000 |
| 1 July 2022 | CB | Aden Baldwin | Notts County | Released |
| 1 July 2022 | CF | Jay Bird | Dagenham & Redbridge | Released |
| 1 July 2022 | CM | Hiram Boateng | Mansfield Town | Released |
| 1 July 2022 | CM | John Freeman | Cambridge City | Released |
| 1 July 2022 | CM | David Kasumu | Huddersfield Town | Compensation |
| 1 July 2022 | LWB | Brandon Mason | Crawley Town | Released |
| 1 July 2022 | CF | Connor Wickham | Forest Green Rovers | Released |
* ↑ Contract expired 30 June 2022. Declined new deal and signed for Huddersfield Town on 6 July 2022. Compensation paid due to player's age.

### Loans in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Date until |
| Summer |||||||
| 9 July 2022 | GK | Jamie Cumming | Chelsea | End of season |
| 12 July 2022 | LW | Louie Barry | Aston Villa | 30 January 2023 |
| 22 July 2022 | RB | Henry Lawrence | Chelsea | End of season |
| 27 July 2022 | RB | Daniel Oyegoke | Brentford | 2 January 2023 |
| 29 August 2022 | CF | Joshua Kayode | Rotherham United | End of season |
| Winter |||||||
| 23 January 2023 | CM | Paris Maghoma | Brentford | End of season |
| 31 January 2023 | CB | Anthony Stewart | Aberdeen | End of season |
* ↑ On 30 January, Barry returned to Aston Villa after his loan was cut short, with the player joining Salford City on loan
* ↑ On 2 January, Oyegoke returned to Brentford after his loan was cut short

### Loans out

| Date from | Position | Name | To | Date until |
| Summer |||||||
| 29 July 2022 | GK | Ronnie Sandford | Hertford Town | End of season |
| 7 August 2022 | CB | Jack Davies | Concord Rangers | TBC |
| 7 August 2022 | LW | Lewis Johnson | Concord Rangers | TBC |
| 1 September 2022 | LWB | Brooklyn Ilunga | Hemel Hempstead Town | January 2023 |
| 22 November 2022 | MF | Joel Anker | Tring Athletic | Work Experience |
| 22 November 2022 | FW | Tommy Blennerhassett | Tring Athletic | Work Experience |
| 22 November 2022 | DF | Edward Gyamfi | Bedford Town | 22 December 2022 |
| 22 November 2022 | DF | Charlie Waller | Tring Athletic | Work Experience |
| Winter |||||||
| 6 January 2023 | MF | Brooklyn Ilunga | Wealdstone | 16 March 2023 |
| 7 January 2023 | DF | Jack Davies | Oxford City | End of Season |
| 13 January 2023 | MF | Joel Anker | AFC Rushden & Diamonds | 13 February 2023 |
| 13 January 2023 | DF | Charlie Waller | AFC Rushden & Diamonds | 13 February 2023 |
| 27 January 2023 | CF | Matthew Dennis | Sutton United | End of Season |
| 31 January 2023 | AM | Dan Kemp | Hartlepool United | End of Season |
* ↑ On 16 March, Ilunga returned to the club after his loan was cut short due to him sustaining a season-ending injury