Last updated 13:08, Thursday, 09 October 2008

MK Dons’ bright start to the season suffered a double setback on Tuesday – and manager Roberto Di Matteo will be demanding a quick response against Carlisle in front of the Sky cameras.

Picked off by Cherries: Di Matteo will want a response

The Dons’ defence of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy was ended in the second round by Bournemouth at stadium:mk.

And their misery was deepened by the straight red card shown to French midfielder Flavien Belson, whose immediate three-match ban rules him out of the United clash.

Former Chelsea ace Di Matteo, however, plans to contest the decision. “My view is that it wasn’t a sending off. I thought it was very harsh. It was never a red card.

“We’ll have a look at the video tape and decide whether to appeal. It really changed the game. We had to revert to playing Kevin Gallen up front on his own and we struggled to create chances.”

Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat, courtesy of veteran Darren Anderton’s effort for the Cherries, was a blow for Di Matteo after the Dons’ eyecatching 4-0 League One win at Millwall three days earlier.

The Italian, 38, has steered his side to eighth after nine games, after taking the reins from Blackburn-bound Paul Ince in the summer.

The manager last week strengthened his hand by drafting in former Manchester United midfielder Luke Chadwick on a three-month loan from Norwich.

Chadwick, 27, shone in the victory at Millwall and will pose a major threat to the Blues at the 22,000-seater stadium:mk this weekend. Another familiar face in the home line-up will be French goalkeeper Willy Gueret, who kept Carlisle at bay on more than one occasion whilst in Swansea colours.

He helped the Swans beat United in the 2006 Football League Trophy final before joining the Dons a year later.

Spanish defender Miguel Llera, Austrian midfielder Florian Sturm and Canadian frontman Ali Gerba add to the cosmopolitan feel of Di Matteo’s squad.

Probable starting XI: Gueret, Lewington, Llera, O’Hanlon, Cummings, Wright, Leven, Chadwick, Navarro, Baldock, Gerba

JColman@cngroup.co.uk