Josh Davison enjoying AFC Wimbledon life – and why there is no ‘blame’ game with Brentford loanee

Josh Davison knows that he could have had more than five goals for AFC Wimbledon in all competitions – but the striker can’t moan about Nathan Young-Coombes taking one away from him earlier in the season.

Davison bagged a brace for Johnnie Jackson’s side last weekend in their 2-1 win against Colchester United.

The ex-Charlton Athletic forward’s double helped the Dons end their five-game winless run in League Two.

Davison took his first well, landing on the ball inside the area and firing past Kieran O’Hara. He scored the winner in the 66th minute from the penalty spot.

“It was good to get the three points – that’s the main thing,” Davison told the South London Press. “After our performance at Bradford, we were due three points.

“To get the two goals that made the win happen is always a special feeling for a striker.

“It’s been a decent start for myself. I could have had a couple more when I’m looking back at chances that I should have put away – you can always get more as a striker.

“We went on a run where games weren’t going our way when they could have.

“At Bradford we hit a switch and committed to doing something that all of us were on board with, and we have taken that into Colchester.

“We have four points to show for it, so if we can carry on the way that we are, we can pick up a run of results.”

Davison thought he scored his first goal for the club in the 2-2 draw at home to Doncaster Rovers in the third game of the season, but referee Ollie Yates ruled it out. He also hit the woodwork during the draw away to Bradford City.

But the 23-year-old had a goal taken away from him against Doncaster Rovers.

Davison’s header from a Lee Brown delivery appeared to cross the line, only for play to continue and Brentford loanee Young-Coombes followed in on the rebound, which had been clawed from behind the line by goalkeeper Jonathan Mitchell.

“That was one of those goals where you’re just excited that it went in,” said Davison.

“If I was in Nathan’s position, I would have shoved it in myself. I can’t blame him for having a striker’s instinct.”

Young-Coombes and Davison had struck up a promising partnership at the beginning of the season, with the duo recording eight goal contributions against Doncaster, Mansfield and Crawley.

“Me and Nathan get on well – we’re pals off the pitch,” said Davison. “He’s a good lad, and we complement each other with the way we play. We’re both very much unselfish strikers – if one of us wasn’t scoring, the other was assisting.

“We had that partnership going, and when you have that, you feel every game is a chance to get a goal or an assist.”

Young-Coombes, 19, suffered a knee injury in the 2-0 loss at home to Northampton, which ruled him out for a number of months. Davison’s new strike partner in recent weeks has been former England U20 trainee Ayoub Assal.

Davison added: “Losing Nathan was a hit for us, because we were in really good form together. But when Ayoub has come up there with me, he has shown he is a very good footballer.

“He creates and takes players on, whereas I’m the striker who does the dirty graft and lets Ayoub produce the skills that he has.

“He’s a really good player. With the ball at his feet and technically, he’s special.

“We have been playing a bit more direct – when I’m winning the headers, Ayoub is making the runs off me.

“It’s going really well between us at the minute.”

Wimbledon have gone three games in all competitions without defeat, battling back from a goal down to pick up a point against play-off chasing Bradford and the same scenario to secure a win against Colchester.

“Conversations around the place and on the training pitch,” said Davison on how the Dons have changed their form around.

“Messages were being put across from every angle that we should play in this pressing style of football

“It suits us to a tee, because we have the players all across the pitch who can do that for a long period of time.

“When you’re in the face of a team, making it uncomfortable, and not allowing them to play their style of football, you’re going to win the ball, score goals and create good opportunities.

“The gaffer has always been a really good man-manager. Tactically, everybody knows what he wants from them.

“You go out on the pitch with no blurred lines. The gaffer will never be angry, as long as you give 100 per cent in the message he puts across.”

The Dons Trust recently announced that the club paid Charlton a club-record fee to secure Davison’s services from the Valley, understood to be in the region of £160,000.

“It’s a good feeling because the club have shown faith in me as they were willing to pay the money to get me in,” said Davison.

“It’s nice for a footballer to have that feeling where a club backs you that much. Sometimes, as a footballer, you don’t actually get the feeling that you’re backed the whole way. I feel like I am at AFC Wimbledon.

“I have felt love from the fans, the people behind the scenes and at the top of the club. Everyone has shown their faith in me, so it’s just now about me repaying that support.

“Goals, good performances, and three points are what I need to repay the club with. The fans are never going to be upset if you have given your all in a performance.”

PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD