Bristol City host Milton Keynes Dons tonight in the first round of the 2025/26 Carabao Cup at Ashton Gate, with kick-off set for 9:45pm East African Time. The Championship side enter the contest in fine form, winning four of their last five matches, and will be looking to extend that run as Kenyan defender Zak Vyner marshals their backline.
This knockout fixture pits a second-tier club against League Two opposition, providing an early-season test for both teams. For Bristol City, the aim is to maintain momentum and possibly embark on a cup run, while MK Dons will be keen to cause an upset and showcase their potential against higher-ranked opposition.
Bristol City began their league campaign in emphatic fashion with a 4-1 away victory over Sheffield United, underlining their attacking strength. This win followed a productive pre-season, where they claimed notable victories against Real Valladolid (4-0) and Plymouth (2-0), along with a narrow 1-0 triumph over Newport. Their only blemish was a 0-0 draw with Cheltenham.
In contrast, MK Dons’ form has been less consistent, recording one win, three draws, and a defeat in their last five outings. They kicked off their League Two season positively with a 2-0 away win at Barrow, following a goalless draw with Oldham in pre-season. However, they also suffered a 2-1 loss to St. Mirren in July, and ended last season with consecutive 0-0 stalemates against Swindon and Grimsby.
Historically, Bristol City hold the advantage in head-to-head encounters, winning three and drawing two of their previous five meetings. The most recent clash came in a 2021 pre-season friendly, where City triumphed 3-1. Their last competitive meetings occurred during the 2015/16 Championship season, with Bristol City winning 2-0 away and drawing 1-1 at home.
With cup football often producing surprises, both managers will be balancing the desire for progression with the need to manage player fitness early in the season. Bristol City’s strong attacking options and home advantage make them favourites, but MK Dons’ resilience and counter-attacking threat could keep the tie competitive.
Probable line-ups:
Bristol City: Lumley; Atkinson, Vyner, Tanner; Hirakawa, Randell, Knight, McCrorie; Riis, Twine; Mehmeti
MK Dons: MacGillivray; Tomlinson, Sanders, Offord, Jones; Gilbey, Kelly, Thompson-Sommers; Mendez-Laing, Paterson, Hepburn-Murphy
