Michael Folivi convinced AFC Wimbledon can still stay up

BY MAX HALL

New signing Michael Folivi says AFC Wimbledon have enough quality in their ranks to survive in League One, but they need to start fighting for points.

The 20-year-old striker joined on loan from Watford at the end of last month.

“Everyone understands, everyone knows we’re not in the right position,” said Folivi.

“Everywhere we go, even against the top teams, we need to pick up one point or three.

“It’s vital that we stick together here, that’s first and foremost. We’ve got to be harder to beat at home … we’re in a fight and we need to understand that.

“Performances like Saturday [a 2-0 home loss to Burton Albion], that’s going to get us relegated.”

It is not the young forward’s first experience of a relegation scrap. He spent an injury-hit spell with Coventry City in the second half of last season.

“My past experience, being at Coventry and going through a similar kind of thing, I understand where the players’ heads are at,” said the forward, who made his Wimbledon debut as a substitute at the weekend.

“It’s difficult, at Watford I was scoring regularly for the U23s and I was one of the oldest. I’m one of the youngest here and I’m playing against big centre-halves, you’ve got to start using your initiative and being more clever around the box.”

The new boy said he had witnessed enough on the training ground to persuade him The Dons can stay up.

“We’ve got some fantastic players,” said Folivi. “I’m coming from the Premier League and I see players with Premier League ability on the training ground.”