MK Dons vs Southend Predictions

Southend United have endured a rough start to the season. Their poor run doesn’t look likely to end this weekend, as they face a tough trip to face MK Dons. 

Southend have got the worst defensive record in League One at this moment. The Shrimpers have conceded a staggering 24 goals from their opening 8 league games. This leaves them with an average of 3 goals conceded per game. 

MK Dons haven’t been the league’s highest goalscorers this season. However, they managed to knock three in against playoff hopefuls Blackpool last weekend in an efficient counter-attacking performance. MK Dons should not find it too difficult to find a way past Southend’s inadequate backline. 

Southend have already experienced a thrashing at the hands of MK Dons this season. The Shrimpers exited the League Cup under a month ago following a 4-1 home defeat to MK Dons. That League Cup defeat will still be fresh in the minds of all involved with Southend United. 

The visitors will want to avenge their recent loss to MK Dons, but their away form does not bode well for them. Southend have conceded at least 4 goals in their last 3 away matches. On top of that is the worrying statistic that Southend have not won on their travels since January. 

One ray of hope for Southend is that they have been successfully finding the back of the net in recent weeks. They have managed to score 9 goals in their last 4 games, which culminated with them earning their first point of the season last weekend in a 3-3 draw with Fleetwood Town.

Despite their defensive incapabilities, Southend have shown that they can do a considerable amount of damage themselves at the other end. This has resulted in 6 of their 8 league games this season ending with at least 3 goals being scored, with MK Dons holding an identical record. With that in mind, it seems a no brainer to back over 2.5 goals in this game. 

MK Dons have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last 5 games vs Southend, soThe Shrimpers should be confident in their ability to penetrate the MK defence, as they did in their August defeat. 

Southend have produced some thrilling contests in recent weeks. They’re a team who don’t give in and are prepared to attempt to outscore the opponent, despite their weakness at the back. 

Southend aren’t far off outscoring some opponents, but we feel that MK Dons will be solid enough to prevent that this weekend. That being said, this could definitely be another Southend goalfest. 

Given their recent 4-3 losses at Wycombe and Shrewsbury, along with last weeks 3-3 draw with Fleetwood, we feel that a thrilling 3-2 win for the hosts is a very real possibility.