MK Dons v Bradford City: Prediction, Tips and Odds

Milton Keynes Dons and Bradford City, two of League Two's big-hitters still stuck in the fourth tier, get the new season underway with a showdown at Stadium MK.

The Dons, play-off semi-finalists in May, kicked off last season with a thrilling 5-3 win at Wrexham, in contrast to Bradford, whose campaign began with a dismal 1-0 loss at Crawley.

The hosts are 11/10 to claim an opening-weekend three points with the Bantams available at 11/5.

MK Dons v Bradford City betting tips and predictions 

MK Dons win - 11/10

MK Dons boss Mike Williamson has rung the changes since May's play-off flop and will expect an instant return at home to Bradford City.

Williamson has brought in 11 new players since the Dons were humiliated over two legs by Crawley, thumped 8-1 on aggregate to miss out on a shot at promotion at Wembley.

That clearly stung the Dons' boss, who has rebuilt his back five around Lawrence Maguire - who starred for Crawley against his side in the play-offs - and Sam Sherring, who has dropped down from League One Northampton.

Liam Kelly, another star from that Crawley side, has arrived to pep up midfield, with Callum Hendry assigned the role of replacing Max Dean up front, though a fit-again Matt Dennis also looks sharp.

A wholesale refit doesn't necessarily mean the Dons will click straight away but encouraging pre-season performances against Championship sides Portsmouth and Plymouth hint at progress.

The Dons have to be bullish, though Bradford, too, always believe they should be contenders.

This will be Bradford's sixth straight season in League Two and, despite pedigree and reputation, they have only once made the play-offs in the previous five tries.

They are where they are on merit though have to be heartened by last term's belated charge for the play-offs which saw them take 19 points out of their last possible 21.

Graham Alexander has made tweaks rather than wholesale changes, but they will still try to play their way to promotion while relying heavily on Andy Cook for goals, hoping the 33-year-old's batteries still have some life in them.

Alex Gilbey anytime scorer - 3/1

The Dons scored 83 goals last term with Dean, since sold to Gent, leading the way with 16.

Three behind was Alex Gilbey, a key figure in Williamson's front three and not only for the goals he scored, but also for his 10 assists.

The 29-year-old finished last season brilliantly with seven goals in his final 13 regular-season games, having scored earlier in the season against Bradford in a 4-1 home win.

There is competition for Gilbey after Williamson's summer spending spree, but the former Charlton man has looked sharp in the summer and looks fair value at 3/1 to find the net at any time against the Bantams.

Team Cards - Bradford - Over 2.5 - 6/5

Bradford collected 16 more cards than MK last season and never was that gulf more evident than in the two games played between them.

In the 4-1 win for the Dons in October there were four City players cautioned compared to none for the hosts. In the return - which Bradford won 4-0 - the Bantams won the card count 5-1.

Against that backdrop take Bradford to collect over 2.5 cards at 6/5.

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MK Dons v Bradford odds

MK Dons - 11/10
Draw - 5/2
Bradford - 6/5

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.