Big match focus: PNE v MK Dons

He is a month away from his sixth anniversary as MK Dons boss, having previously been on the club’s coaching staff. The 35-year-old’s path into coaching came via Liverpool’s academy and 
he then joined Paul Ince’s staff at Blackburn. He followed Ince to MK Dons. In his playing days, Robinson turned out for a number of non-league clubs, and he had a 
spell locally with 
Bamber Bridge.

MEET THE REF: Stuart Attwell will referee Preston for the second time this season when they take on MK Dons at Deepdale.

He was previously in charge of PNE’s goalless draw with Cardiff in October. Mr Atwell has refereed 39 games this season, four of them in the Premier League.

THIS WEEK:

62 YEARS AGO:

On April 16, 1954, Preston beat Tottenham 2-1 at Deepdale. Willie Forbes and Charlie Wayman were on target. It was the first of three games in four days for PNE, with them beating Chelsea 1-0 and then winning 6-2 against Spurs in the return fixture.

38 YEARS AGO:

North End beat Lincoln City 4-0 at Deepdale on April 15, 1978. The game was shown on Granada TV’s highlights show ‘Kick-Off’. Mick Baxter, Gordon Coleman, Michael Robinson and Alex Bruce found the net for Nobby Stiles’ promotion pushers.

16 YEARS AGO:

Preston took a big stride towards promotion when they won 2-0 at Bristol Rovers on April 15, 2000. Goals from Icelandic striker Bjarki Gunnlaugsson and Jon Macken gave them victory at the Memorial Ground.