It was Nombe’s first league goal for MK Dons since his New Year’s Day strike in 2020 against Bristol Rovers

Match winner Sam Nombe spoke his first league goal of the season into existence on Saturday before scoring the decisive header in MK Dons’ 1-0 win against Stevenage.

The 27-year-old had been waiting since New Year’s Day in 2020 to score again in the league for his home-town club, having spent six years away at Exeter City and Rotherham United.

While he has scored in the EFL Trophy this season, Nombe’s first league goal on his return has been a long time coming, even left the striker cursing his luck in the first-half when his effort hit both posts before bouncing clear of the Stevenage net.

But after saying aloud that he was going to score the winner in Hertfordshire, where he once bagged a brace for Dons, Nombe’s header with nine minutes to go finally came.

“I had to say it out loud so I could believe it, putting it out into the universe!” said the striker. “I had a great feeling about it today. It was just about timing, it was coming, I’m so glad it was today.

“I had a chance against Leicester where I think I jumped too late, but I knew if I could jump high, head it down and then let God take the wheel from there. I’m ecstatic, and even happier it comes with three points as well.”

After hitting both posts earlier in the game, he said: “I thought maybe it had gone in, but then ‘flipping hell, the curse is still going!’ But I just had a feeling in my gut I was going to score.

“Last time I was here with MK, I scored two, and I was hoping to get two again! I love scoring here and I’m glad I could do it here. To do it in front of the fans, we’re happy to give them something to go home with, smiling.

“Those are fantastic moments. I’m happy to get the result and the win - we needed it. And I’m happy to get my first league goal and hopefully I’ll go and get many more.”

On the gritty battle with Stevenage, who had only conceded five goals at home until Saturday, Nombe continued: “It was a game where it had to be scrappy at times, we had to fight, compete with them and win our duels. We created chances off that, we kept pushing and knocking at the door. We had great chances in both halves and it felt like it was coming for us.

“At 0-0, anything can happen, and one chance changes it. The boys keeping it out at the back allowed us to carry on knocking at the door and get the 1-0 win.

“It gives us more belief, showing we can fight and compete against a good Stevenage side. We’ve got to keep fighting, rising to the challenge. We’re not just here to be nice, sometimes we’ve got to get down and scrap, roll up our sleeves and get at it.”