JOE Lewis says it came as absolutely no surprise AFC Wimbledon quickly bounced back from heavy consecutive defeats with three straight wins.
The defender has been a key figure in the Dons’ decent start to the campaign, playing every minute of each League Two game to date bar one.
That came in September’s meeting with Stockport, Lewis being unable to play against his parent club under the terms of the loan deal which took the Welshman to Plough Lane this summer.
Wimbledon shipped four goals at home to Accrington and then on the road at Morecambe in the space of five days at the end of last month.
That had some worried fans fearing the wheels were about to come off the promotion chase, although it was quickly followed by a trio of home wins in a week in three different competitions.
Cheltenham were brushed aside 5-1 in the FA Cup before 2-0 triumphs over Crystal Palace U21s in the EFL Cup and Doncaster in the league, a run which didn’t shock Lewis in the slightest.
He told Dons TV: “The main thing is that absolutely nothing has changed.
“We’ve got full confidence in our ability to beat anyone in the league.
“That (defeats) is going to happen at some point in the season.
“We’ve seen probably every other team above us already in the league lose big already this year – it is going to happen.
“There was no sort of kneejerk reaction from anyone in the squad, players or staff.
“I think that is why we’ve had the solid week we’ve had.
“No one panicked, no one over reacted, which I think is testament to everyone and probably particularly the staff. It was a great reaction all round.”
Lewis has been a rock at the heart of Wimbledon’s defence and has adapted quickly and smoothly to playing alongside Alex Pearce following the recent injury to Ryan Johnson.
The centre half explained: “From my point of view with either of them, either of those two I feel completely comfortable playing with them.
“Obviously Ryan got injured the other week and Pearcey has come in and made two massive performances against Cheltenham and Doncaster.
“There is every chance at some point I could be injured, suspended or not in the side and it important we all know we can back each other and put those performances in.
“They’ve been great. Across the rest of the squad as well, it may be a more settled side, but there is confidence in everyone’s ability to come in and actually make an impact, whether that is starting or off the bench.”
Lewis added: “The depth is massive and is going to be massive for the rest of the season.
“We’ve got a long way to go. Cup games are extra games, but I think there is serious depth within the squad and confidence in each other’s ability to produce performances. That’s really important.”
Next up in League Two are play-off rivals Notts County on Saturday week, with Lewis upbeat on Wimbledon’s chances of building on those three straight home wins.
“I think we can beat anyone,” he said.
“This place is always rocking and hopefully it will be another opportunity to see us beat someone.”
