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Following a brilliant five goal first-leg, the MK Dons hold a slender advantage heading to London Road and trade at 4.0 in the promotion market. Peterborough were dead buried in that first game having trailed 3-1, but a late penalty has given Darren Ferguson's men a lifeline - and are still around 3.95 to make it to the Championship.

Peterborough need to score here, simple. Quite an ominous message for any opponent considering Posh netted 69 goals at home during their league campaign, the best in the division. However, they conceded 40 on their own patch, which was the league's worst.

Match odds
Peterborough 1.84 played poorly in the first-leg, having made too many bad decisions and several loose passes. The loss of Gaby Zakuani and Joe Lewis through injury was a huge pointer to the three second-half goals from MK Dons, as Posh were all at sea with the high ball, whilst the usual zip in attack seemed to be lacking.

The Dons were terrific in the second-half of the opening leg, but were well contained in first 45 minutes. MK manager Karl Robinson seemed happy with a 4-5-1 early in the game, although forward Sam Baldock was far too isolated. However the full-backs press high up the pitch, and the Dons keep the ball very well - skills that won't be easy though on a very poor surface at London Road.

Team News
Crucially for MK Dons, midfielder Stephen Gleeson's red card from the first-leg has (and quite rightly) been overturned. Gleeson is a big player for the Dons and showed lots of discipline in the middle of the park on Sunday. His controlling influence will be vital on Thursday.

Peterborough should have defender Gaby Zakauni fit having suffered a shoulder injury at the weekend. It's not a recurrence of an old problem and he is hugely influential at the heart of the defence. Goalkeeper Joe Lewis failed to come out for last Sunday's second-half with a knee injury - but hopes are that he'll be fit. Left-back Charlie Lee is suspended following his red card, with Grant Basey or Tommy Rowe expected to fill in.

Over/Under 2.5 Goals
With Posh and their amazing tally of goals, I could simply say overs, overs overs. Sunday's first leg was no different, as both teams attacked at will. The fact is that the hosts need to score, and it's very rare they don't. The last time they didn't was against the MK Dons two months ago - and loads of chances were missed that day. The over 2.5 goals are too short though at 1.68 whilst over 3.5 goals is tempting at 2.7.

Featured Markets
Peterborough forward Craig Mackail-Smith looks like a Victorian pugilist, but his work ethic and goal-scoring knack is astonishing. With the hosts needing to strike early, the Scottish international should be backed at 6.0 to net first. He got the opener in the first-leg, and his pace is electric.

Any overs and goal markets will be squeezed tight with the knack for both teams who score plenty, however it might be worth a different slant on their respective shaky defences, as neither looked brilliant at the Stadium MK. 'First goal odds' at 0-10 minutes 4.60 and 11-20 minutes 5.00 could yield a nice early profit.

Recommended Bets
Back Craig Mackail-Smith to score first @ 6.0 or higher
Back 'first goal' odds 0-10 minutes @ 4.6 and 11-20 minutes @ 5.0
Back 13 or more corners @ 3.4
Back the draw @ 3.95

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