Dons striker handed first start for AFC Wimbledon – head coach Robinson gives his verdict

AFC Wimbledon head coach Mark Robinson said there were “plenty of positives” from Derick Osei Yaw’s performance in his first start for the club.

The 23-year-old French-born forward was handed the starting role alongside Sam Cosgrove in today’s 1-0 home loss to Cambridge United after signing on a free transfer just over a week ago.

Osei Yaw had the chance to open the scoring and grab his first goal for the club in the opening stages of the game.

After collecting the ball from a clever Jack Rudoni flick, Osei Yaw drove towards goal, but he was caught in two minds about whether to square the ball back to Alex Woodyard or shoot himself. The Cambridge defence eventually blocked his shot as he broke inside the box,

Osei Yaw then had another chance to give the Dons the lead in the 29th minute when he headed Alex Woodyard’s clip back into the box just wide of Dimitar Mitov’s goal.

He was replaced by Ayoub Assal in the 66th minute.

“I thought he did well. It’s his first start for a long, long time, but I was really pleased with him in the first half,” said Robinson.

“You look at that, and hopefully, moving forward, he can be someone who can help us turn the season. There were plenty of positives from his performance.

“I said to him: ‘Play with absolutely no fear and be that man that turns things around.’

“He did really well in the first half, so we have got to keep that belief in him and in all of them.”

Fellow centre-forward Sam Cosgrove had to come off in the 89th minute with a concussion injury.

Robinson said: “I haven’t spoken to him yet – his eye has swollen up. Hopefully it’s nothing too bad, but we will just have to see.

“It left us with no targetman, but it is what it is.”