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Canaries Cup clash is not just a throwaway game for MK Dons

· Toby Lock · 2026-08-05 · nguồn gốc

Canaries Cup clash is not just a throwaway game for MK Dons Not many fancy MK Dons’ chances when they take on Championship Norwich on Saturday There is nothing to lose from MK Dons’ perspective when they kick off the new season taking on Norwich City on Saturday. Paul Warne’s side head into Carrow Road for the Carabao Cup first round game as the heavy underdogs against the Championship side, with very few predicting a lower league upset on the cards. But that is not to say Warne isn't ruling one out. While admitting he will be treating the clash against the Canaries – Warne’s boyhood club – as another pre-season game, the head coach will not just be rolling over for Phillipe Clement’s side. Instead, he will be going to Norfolk naming a strong side, with half-an-eye on preparations for Dons’ League One opener against Oxford United a week later. He said: “It’s a League Cup game and not many are going to give us much hope going to a very good Championship side, so we can enjoy that for what it is so to speak, and be as competitive as we can. “I think we’ve got to go there strong. I’d never pick a weak side in a cup anyway. I’m well aware of the difficulties, I think they’ll see it as their last pre-season game at home that they’ll need to win so we’ll have to be right at it. “It’s a good opportunity to look at the players again in a much harder environment and to make changes and to see if anyone can convince me of a chance in the Oxford game.” “If you play against really good opposition and go in a bit weak and try to hang in there, it’s pointless. I’d rather get a good crack trying to win.” Three times Dons have faced Norwich in the League Cup, winning two and losing once. While they faced a Norwich U23s side at Carrow Road in 2016, under the caretakership of Richie Barker, Dons’ last trip to the ground came in 2011 and resulted in a massive win for the club. A Luke Chadwick brace, and further strikes from Daniel Powell and Sam Baldock – his final goal for Dons before moving to West Ham – resulted in a 4-0 win.