# 2008–09 Milton Keynes Dons F.C. season

The 2008–09 season was the fifth season of competitive association football in the Football League played by Milton Keynes Dons Football Club, a professional football club based in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England.
Following their successful promotion from League Two in the previous 2007–08 season, the club returned to League One. On 2 July 2008, following the resignation of manager Paul Ince, the club appointed former Chelsea midfielder Roberto Di Matteo, his first managerial role in football.
The season covers the period from 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009.

## Competitions
### League One

Final table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Leicester City (C,P) | 46 | 27 | 15 | 4 | 84 | 39 | +45 | 96 |
| 2 | Peterborough United (P) | 46 | 26 | 11 | 9 | 78 | 54 | +24 | 89 |
| 3 | Milton Keynes Dons | 46 | 26 | 9 | 11 | 83 | 47 | +36 | 87 |
| 4 | Leeds United | 46 | 26 | 6 | 14 | 77 | 49 | +28 | 84 |
| 5 | Millwall | 46 | 25 | 7 | 14 | 63 | 53 | +10 | 82 |
Source: Sky Sports
Matches
| Win | Draw | Loss |
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | Attendance |
| 9 August 2008 – 15:00 | Leicester City | Away | 0–2 | | 23,351 |
| 16 August 2008 – 15:00 | Northampton Town | Home | 1–0 | Wilbraham | 12,078 |
| 23 August 2008 – 15:00 | Huddersfield Town | Away | 3–1 | Stirling, Wright, Leven | 13,189 |
| 30 August 2008 – 15:00 | Swindon Town | Away | 1–2 | Stirling | 8,846 |
| 6 September 2008 – 15:00 | Yeovil Town | Home | 3–0 | Leven (2), Baldock | 7,959 |
| 13 September 2008 – 15:00 | Oldham Athletic | Away | 0–2 | | 5,530 |
| 20 September 2008 – 15:00 | Colchester United | Away | 3–0 | Wilbraham, Baldock (2) | 4,888 |
| 27 September 2008 – 15:00 | Peterborough United | Home | 1–2 | Gerba | 10,876 |
| 4 October 2008 – 15:00 | Millwall | Away | 4–0 | O'Hanlon, Baldock (2), Robinson (o.g.) | 9,871 |
| 11 October 2008 – 15:00 | Carlisle United | Home | 3–1 | Leven (2), Llera | 11,194 |
| 18 October 2008 – 15:00 | Crewe Alexandra | Away | 2–2 | Baldock, Chadwick | 4,055 |
| 21 October 2008 – 19:45 | Stockport County | Home | 1–2 | Gerba | 6,931 |
| 25 October 2008 – 15:00 | Cheltenham Town | Home | 3–1 | Gerba (2), Baldock | 8,190 |
| 28 October 2008 – 19:45 | Leyton Orient | Away | 2–1 | Chadwick (2) | 3,869 |
| 1 November 2008 – 15:00 | Tranmere Rovers | Home | 1–0 | Gallen | 8,185 |
| 15 November 2008 – 15:00 | Hartlepool United | Away | 3–1 | Lewington, Wright, Powell | 4,021 |
| 22 November 2008 – 15:00 | Walsall | Away | 3–0 | Johnson, Gerba, Wright | 5,026 |
| 25 November 2008 – 19:45 | Hereford United | Home | 3–0 | Leven, Wright, Johnson | 7,189 |
| 6 December 2008 – 15:00 | Scunthorpe United | Away | 0–2 | | 11,550 |
| 12 December 2008 – 19:45 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Away | 4–2 | Llera, Johnson, Leven, Puncheon | 5,691 |
| 20 December 2008 – 15:00 | Leeds United | Home | 3–1 | O'Hanlon, Wilbraham (2) | 17,073 |
| 26 December 2008 – 15:00 | Bristol Rovers | Away | 2–1 | Wilbraham, Anthony (o.g.) | 9,002 |
| 28 December 2008 – 15:00 | Southend United | Home | 2–0 | O'Hanlon, Baldock | 10,432 |
| 12 January 2009 – 19:45 | Colchester United | Home | 1–1 | Wilbraham | 8,408 |
| 17 January 2009 – 15:00 | Carlisle United | Away | 2–3 | Wilbraham (2) | 6,298 |
| 20 January 2009 – 19:45 | Peterborough United | Away | 0–0 | | 8,982 |
| 27 January 2009 – 19:45 | Leyton Orient | Home | 1–2 | Chadwick | 8,170 |
| 31 January 2009 – 15:00 | Cheltenham Town | Away | 5–3 | Johnson (2), Wilbraham (3) | 3,681 |
| 3 February 2009 – 19:45 | Stockport County | Away | 1–0 | Wilbraham | 4,891 |
| 14 February 2009 – 15:00 | Hartlepool United | Home | 3–1 | Gerba (2), Lewington | 8,657 |
| 21 February 2009 – 15:00 | Tranmere Rovers | Away | 1–1 | Leven | 5,625 |
| 28 February 2009 – 15:00 | Leicester City | Home | 2–2 | Leven (2) | 17,717 |
| 7 March 2009 – 15:00 | Swindon Town | Away | 1–1 | Wilbraham | 7,453 |
| 10 March 2009 – 19:45 | Huddersfield Town | Home | 1–1 | Baldock | 9,707 |
| 14 March 2009 – 15:00 | Oldham Athletic | Home | 6–2 | Wilbraham, Puncheon, Baldock (2), Navarro, Gerba | 10,621 |
| 17 March 2009 – 19:45 | Millwall | Home | 0–1 | | 12,238 |
| 21 March 2009 – 15:00 | Yeovil Town | Away | 0–0 | | 9,707 |
| 24 March 2009 – 19:45 | Crewe Alexandra | Away | 2–2 | Wilbraham, Puncheon | 8,454 |
| 28 March 2009 – 15:00 | Leeds United | Away | 0–2 | | 27,649 |
| 4 April 2009 – 15:00 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Home | 2–0 | Gerba, Puncheon | 15,842 |
| 10 April 2009 – 15:00 | Southend United | Away | 2–0 | Wright (2) | 10,241 |
| 13 April 2009 – 15:00 | Bristol Rovers | Home | 2–1 | Gerba, Chadwick | 10,251 |
| 18 April 2009 – 15:00 | Scunthorpe United | Away | 1–0 | Chadwick | 4,873 |
| 25 April 2009 – 15:00 | Walsall | Home | 0–1 | | 12,094 |
| 28 April 2009 – 19:45 | Northampton Town | Away | 1–0 | Wilbraham | 6,054 |
| 2 May 2009 – 15:00 | Hereford United | Away | 1–0 | Howell | 3,224 |
Play-offs
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | Attendance | Ref |
| 8 May 2009 – 19:45 | Scunthorpe United | Away | 1–1 | Wilbraham | 6,599 | |
| 15 May 2009 – 19:45 | Scunthorpe United | Home | 0–0 | | 14,479 | |
* ↑ After extra-time. 0–0 at the conclusion of 90 minutes. Scunthorpe won 7–6 on penalties.

### FA Cup

Matches
| Win | Draw | Loss |
| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | Attendance | Ref |
| 9 November 2008 – 15:00 | First round | Bradford City | Home | 1–2 | Johnson | 5,542 | |

### League Cup

Matches
| Win | Draw | Loss |
| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | Attendance | Ref |
| 12 August 2008 – 19:45 | First round | Norwich City | Home | 1–0 | Baldock | 6,261 | |
| 26 August 2008 – 19:45 | Second round | Cardiff City | Away | 1–2 | O'Hanlon | 6,334 | |

### League Trophy

Matches
| Win | Draw | Loss |
| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | Attendance | Ref |
| 7 October 2008 – 19:45 | Second round | Bournemouth | Away | 0–1 | | 4,329 | |

## 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 | Other | Other |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | ENG | Nathan Abbey | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | ENG | Jude Stirling | 38 | 2 | 34 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Dean Lewington | 46 | 2 | 42 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 4 † | MF | IRL | Keith Andrews | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | ESP | Miguel Llera | 38 | 2 | 36 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 † | DF | GUI | Drissa Diallo | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | ENG | Sean O'Hanlon | 44 | 4 | 40 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | ENG | Mark Wright | 37 | 5 | 34 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 8 | FW | USA | Jemal Johnson | 37 | 6 | 33 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | ENG | Aaron Wilbraham | 36 | 17 | 35 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 † | FW | ENG | Kevin Gallen | 8 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 11 † | MF | AUT | Florian Sturm | 7 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 12 | GK | FRA | Willy Guéret | 48 | 0 | 46 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | DF | ENG | Carl Regan | 31 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 15 | FW | ENG | Sam Baldock | 44 | 11 | 42 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 † | FW | IRL | Donal McDermott | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | ENG | Jason Puncheon | 9 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | DF | JAM | Shaun Cummings | 35 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | FW | CAN | Ali Gerba | 25 | 10 | 24 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | MF | IRL | Stephen Gleeson | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 † | DF | ENG | Carl Magnay | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 † | DF | ENG | Paul Mitchell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | MF | ENG | Alan Navarro | 41 | 1 | 38 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | SCO | Peter Leven | 44 | 10 | 42 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 † | MF | JAM | Craig Dobson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | FRA | Flavien Belson | 15 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 25 | DF | ENG | Danny Swailes | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | MF | ENG | Luke Chadwick | 27 | 6 | 26 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | ENG | David King | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | DF | ENG | Adam Chicksen | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 29 † | GK | WAL | Lewis Price | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | FW | ENG | Daniel Powell | 7 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 † | DF | ENG | Bondz Ngala | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | FW | NOR | Tore André Flo | 14 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
* ↑ Includes Football League Trophy and 2008–09 Football League One play-offs.

## Transfers
### Transfers in

| Date from | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| 1 July 2008 | MF | Peter Leven | Chesterfield | Free transfer |
| 23 July 2008 | MF | Florian Sturm | Free agent | Free transfer |
| 7 August 2008 | FW | Ali Gerba | Free agent | Free transfer |
| 20 August 2008 | MF | Flavien Belson | Free agent | Free transfer |
| 1 September 2008 | DF | Miguel Llera | Free agent | Free transfer |
| 21 November 2008 | FW | Tore André Flo | Free agent | Free transfer |
| 1 January 2009 | MF | Luke Chadwick | Free agent | Free transfer |

### Transfers out

| Date from | Position | Name | To | Fee |
| 1 July 2008 | FW | Lloyd Dyer | Released | Released |
| 1 July 2008 | MF | Colin Cameron | Released | Released |
| 14 July 2008 | FW | Mustapha Carayol | Torquay United | Undisclosed |
| 28 August 2008 | MF | Keith Andrews | Blackburn Rovers | £1,300,000 |
| 2 January 2009 | MF | Craig Dobson | Released | Released |
| 6 January 2009 | MF | Paul Mitchell | Retired | Retired |
| 12 January 2009 | FW | Kevin Gallen | Released | Released |
| 15 January 2009 | DF | Drissa Diallo | Released | Released |

### Loans in

| Start date | Position | Name | From | End date |
| 4 August 2008 | DF | Shaun Cummings | Chelsea | End of season |
| 11 September 2008 | FW | Donal McDermott | Manchester City | 11 October 2008 |
| 1 October 2008 | MF | Luke Chadwick | Norwich City | 1 January 2009 |
| 24 October 2008 | MF | Jason Puncheon | Plymouth Argyle | Unknown |
| 13 November 2008 | MF | Bondz N'Gala | West Ham United | 13 December 2008 |
| 12 January 2009 | MF | Jason Puncheon | Plymouth Argyle | End of season |
| 30 January 2009 | DF | Carl Magnay | Chelsea | Unknown |
| 25 March 2009 | MF | Stephen Gleeson | Wolverhampton Wanderers | End of season |

### Loans out

| Start date | Position | Name | To | End date | Ref. |
| 29 August 2008 | MF | Paul Mitchell | Barnet | September 2008 | |
* ↑ Previous club: FC Vaduz.
* ↑ Previous club: FC Ingolstadt 04.
* ↑ Previous club: FC Metz.
* ↑ Previous club: Hércules CF.
* ↑ Previous club: Leeds United.
* ↑ Previous club: Leeds United.
* ↑ Joined Leicester City on 1 July 2008.
* ↑ Joined Dundee on 15 July 2008.
* ↑ Joined Brentford on 24 March 2009.
* ↑ Joined Luton Town on 12 January 2009.
* ↑ Originally until December, later extended until end of season.
* ↑ Loan move became permanent on 1 January 2009.