MK Dons v Spurs

[kennethlindheim]

Milton Keynes Dons are likely to have their hands full against Tottenham on Wednesday evening in the Carling Cup.

Spurs are beginning to find their feet following a slow start to the season and arrive at the National Hockey Stadium on the back of a five-game unbeaten run that includes four wins.

The White Hart Lane outfit followed up their impressive win over Besiktas last Thursday with a 1-0 win over struggling West Ham on Sunday thanks to Mido's winner.

Spurs have won the league cup three times with the last success in the competition coming in 1999 following wins back in 1973 and 1971.

Dimitar Berbatov, who scored in Spurs' win in Turkey last week, is recalled by coach Martin Jol after being omitted from their squad to face The Hammers.

However, injuries ensure Teemu Tainio and Steed Malbranque play no part while the contest is likely to come too soon for Didier Zokora, who is on the mend following a mild bout of malaria.

The Dons, meanwhile booked their place in the third round of the Carling Cup after following up an extra-time win over Colchester with success over Barnsley in round two.

Martin Allen could ring the changes for the visit of the North Londoners after transfer listing Adolfo Baines, Ben Chorley, Nicky Rizzo, Joe Tillen, Joe Howe and Rob Webb this week.

The former Bees boss revealed he needs to trim his squad in order to make changes following their weekend 3-1 loss to Hereford United.

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[kennethlindheim]

MK Dons:

31 Adolfo Baines
2 Jamie Smith
4 Drissa Diallo
6 Sean O`Hanlon
3 Dean Lewington
7 Jon-Paul McGovern
13 Keith Andrews
23 Lloyd Dyer
20 Aaron Wilbraham
9 Clive Platt
10 Izale McLeod

Subs
1 Ademole Bankole
12 Leon Crooks
15 Gareth Edds
19 Scott Taylor
22 John Hastings

Spurs:

12 Radek Cerny
7 Paul Stalteri
27 Calum Davenport
30 Anthony Gardner
16 Reto Ziegler
22 Tom Huddlestone
13 Danny Murphy
5 Edgar Davids
14 Hossam Ghaly
11 Hossam Mido
18 Jermain Defoe

Subs
17 Marton Fulop
20 Michael Dawson
25 Aaron Lennon
9 Dimitar Berbatov
10 Robbie Keane

[kennethlindheim]

0:1 Mido (36)

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0:2 Defoe (44)

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0:3 Defoe (51)

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0:4 Mido (60)

[kennethlindheim]

Jermain Defoe went some way to erasing the events of Sunday from the memory banks when helping Tottenham book their place in the fourth round of the Carling Cup with victory at MK Dons.

The diminutive striker was front-page headlines for taking a nibble of Javier Mascherano's arm, but he sunk his teeth into MK Dons on Wednesday.

Defoe netted twice on the evening, as did Mido, as the Premiership side claimed a comfortable success at The National Hockey Stadium.

The Dons welcomed Premiership opposition to their ground for the first time and they started brightly, with Radek Cerny forced to make a fine save to deny Clive Platt.

Spurs quickly found their stride and after prodding and probing they opened the scoring on 36 minutes.

Reto Ziegler delivered a fine cross to the near post, but if the centre was good the finish was better as Egyptian star Mido swept the ball home on the half-volley.

Spurs did not rest on their laurels and Mido set Defoe clear with an angled pass and the striker dinked the ball over Adolfo Baines and into the net for his 100th career goal.

Defoe put the tie beyond MK Dons with his second of the evening on 51 minutes. The England marksman again demonstrated his superb finishing skills, but the credit for the goal must go to Tom Huddlestone who played in his team-mate with the deftest of dinked passes.

The forward should have completed his hat-trick when skipping clear on the hour, but he shot straight at Baines. The danger was not averted as Mido was on hand to sweep home from 12 yards.

Martin Jol threw on Robbie Keane ten minutes from time and he found his way onto the scoresheet in injury time when firing through the legs of Baines.

MK Dons, to their credit, never threw in the towel and Izale McLeod rattled the woodwork late on, but they were well beaten on the night.

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