AFC Wimbledon are The Football Deck’s League One team of the week as their impressive start to the season continued in a 2-0 win over Barnsley at the Cherry Red Records stadium. Johnnie Jackson’s Dons move into the top ten after picking up their third win in just five outings, thanks to an inspired display from Ryan Johnson.
Johnson was the star man in the heart of the AFC Wimbledon defence, and the 28-year-old is proving to be an inspired signing since joining from Stockport County in 2023. The result ended Barnsley’s unbeaten start to the League One season under former Republic of Ireland international Conor Hourihane.
League Two Star Elevates Form After Key Role in Promotion
Having played a starring role in gaining promotion to the third tier, Johnson has arguably elevated his game in the opening five matchdays. The defender started all three matches in the League Two play-offs, helping his side keep a clean sheet in each, as AFC Wimbledon won promotion by beating Walsall at Wembley Stadium in May.
Despite facing the likes of David McGoldrick and Adam Phillips against Barnsley this weekend, the former Port Vale defender put in his most impressive showing to restrict the away side to only a couple of openings all afternoon. McGoldrick managed to get himself into some threatening areas, but he was kept relatively quiet by the Dons’ star man.
Johnson made an incredible 13 clearances, blocked five shots, completed four tackles and was not dribbled past once as AFC Wimbledon kept a second clean sheet at home in League One, following a shut-out against Lincoln City earlier this month. His excellent ability to read the game was once again on show, and coupled with his known ability to win aerial battles with opposition attackers, he is developing into a standout player at this level in his first full campaign in the third tier.
However, it was not just his defensive attributes that highlighted his importance to this side, as he can regularly be seen trying to switch up play and move the ball forward, completing four long passes in this weekend’s win. No outfield player has completed more than his tally of 14 long passes at AFC Wimbledon so far this season.
The defender is a key man for his side, and their prospects of staying in the division could depend on Johnson’s availability as he has put in outstanding performances in each of his matches this campaign, including the Carabao Cup first-round win over Gillingham.
AFC Wimbledon Face Busy Schedule as Away Trips Loom
Few would have predicted that the newly promoted side would be where they are after five matches, as they have only fallen to narrow defeats against Cardiff City and Luton Town, two sides tipped to be in the promotion picture come the end of the League One campaign.
One of their victories was a resolute performance in a win at Reading, and that is where the fixture list takes AFC Wimbledon next, in the second round of the Carabao Cup in midweek. Next weekend will see the Dons travel to another side that achieved promotion last season, as Bradford City look to continue their own impressive start.
The Bantams are unbeaten and shocked Championship outfit Blackburn Rovers in the Carabao Cup. It appears to be a fixture where both sides will target three points to continue their respective runs of form. There have been just two goals in the last five meetings between the sides, and with both teams playing to such a high level, there is little to separate them.
It has been an excellent start for AFC Wimbledon, and much of their success appears to be built on their solid defence, with just three goals conceded in their first five matches. The signing of Nathan Bishop as their number one to replace departed loanee Owen Goodman has been a success thus far, and with Johnson leading the back line, the signs are promising for the London club.