MK Dons ready for record turnout against travelling Red Devils

Manchester United enter the League (Capital One) Cup at the second round for the first time since the 1995/96 season, when they were drawn with York City. The Minstermen were 4-3 victors on aggregate, over two legs, on that occasion, and fellow lower league opposition MK Dons are 13/2 to cause a cup shock in normal time.

However, Red Devils boss Louis van Gaal will be desperate to get his first competitive victory for his new side, who are odds-on favourites to win at 4/11. Coral also offer a special market price of 3/1 if United beat the Milton Keynes side by three goals or more in 90 minutes (maximum stake of £20).

This will be the first time the two clubs have ever met in their history, since current League One side the Dons reformed in 2004 following the demise of Wimbledon.

A stat that will ease Van Gaal’s nerves slightly is that Man Utd have won five of their last six cup matches with a lower division side. You can take odds of 4/1 for an edgy draw, which would result in the game going to extra time, with the possibility of penalties.

The Dons, who have won twice and drawn once in the league so far this term from their opening four games, are in for a record turnout, with around 29,000 fans expected to be present at Stadium MK. They saw off bitter rivals AFC Wimbledon 3-1 in the Capital One Cup first round.

Ambitious owner and former manager to bands such as The Clash, Barry Manilow and Journey, Pete Winkelman, said on the lucrative match: “A game like Man United brings out an awful lot of people that maybe sat on the fence before. I think people will be amazed at the potential that Milton Keynes has.”

“You can’t grow football anywhere unless at some point you have some success. I don’t think we will grow this club in Milton Keynes without having some success.

“We could get first of all into the Championship and then one day into the Premier League and we would definitely be selling out for every game.

“You need top-flight football. My frustration is that I have not been able to deliver the success on the pitch that I want to.”