AFC Wimbledon striker Matty Stevens has changed his side’s fortunes since arriving in the summer, and could arguably be considered the catalyst which fired his side to their upcoming League Two Playoff final appearance at Wembley.
The marksman has found the net 17 times in the league this season, good for a joint third-best total among League Two players and cementing him among the best forwards in lower EFL football.
Many of these goals came in Wimbledon’s immense mid-season run of form, which saw them charge into the automatic promotion places before a late goal drought brought them back into the playoffs, while his intense work-rate helped the Dons maintain the division’s strongest defensive record.
This level of impact would be impressive for any player, but to have such an influence in his first season at the club is particularly unusual.
Plough Lane by Numbers stats blogger Tim Hanson explained the underlying reasons behind Stevens’ electric start to life in south west London.
Hanson said: “I think there was quite a lot of hope among fans from what he did with Forest Green, we knew we were getting a striker who could score a lot at this level, but there was also a little bit of uncertainty because of his injuries.
“It helped that he got off the mark really well. He has got a really well defined role in the team as a penalty-box predator.
“One thing we do well as a team is get a lot of crosses into the box through James Tilley and Josh Neufville in wide areas, and he thrives on that.
“Any fans would love a goalscorer and he seems happy to be at the club, he works incredibly hard for the team. Across the squad as well, everyone seems really committed to what the team is doing.”
Stevens had a blistering start to life in SW17 which saw him score 12 goals in the opening half of the season, including a hat-trick in a game against Carlisle United in October.
That match also marked the club’s return to their home ground, Plough Lane, which had suffered extensive damage including a collapsed pitch after flooding in severe weather conditions.
The damage left the Dons unable to play in their home stadium for a month, stifling a perfect home record which saw them win all five of their opening games at the ground this season, including an upset penalty shootout victory over Premier League side Ipswich Town in the second round of the EFL Cup.
Stevens’ high-flying return to the ground was a marker of the relationship he had already garnered with the fans, which he reflected on as his first season at the club drew to a close.
Stevens said: “We know Plough Lane has been a bit of a fortress this season, and when the fans back players, like they did myself and others, it just makes you want to run that little bit more.
“It is such a nice feeling, to feel loved.
“To have that from the fans, it definitely gives you that little bit of a burst and hunger to do well, not only just for yourself, but for them as well.”
Stevens joined the club in summer after being released by Forest Green Rovers, but things almost worked out differently for the 27-year-old.
Wimbledon manager Johnnie Jackson had tried to bring Stevens to the club in January of 2023, as he recovered from an ACL injury which had seen him sidelined since April the year before.
Wimbledon’s League Two rivals and soon to be play-off final adversaries Walsall beat the south London outfit to his signature at the time.
Now, the striker says he believes the deal falling through was the right thing to happen.
He said: “Things happen for a reason, because I was not ready at that point to come back from my ACL, I was a little overweight and obviously had not played for a year.
“I probably would have come here had a bad half a season. Who knows? I might not have been here now.
“I am buzzing just to be here now and I have got a good relationship with the gaffer.”
It is not just the fans recognising the Surrey-born striker’s efforts, with Stevens securing personal silverware as he was named the London Football Awards’ English Football League Player of the Year in late February.
On top of his 17 League Two goals, Stevens claimed four more goals and four assists in cup competition to take his total tally to 25 goal contributions for the season, by far the most amongst his Wimbledon teammates.
Jackson hailed Stevens’ goalscoring impact following the Dons’ playoff semi-final victory over Notts County, but also emphasised the impact his out of possession play and pressing brings to the team, especially in his newfound partnership with January signing Marcus Browne.
He said: “Matty has been brilliant all season.
“Stevens and Browne have done great together, out of possession as well, not just what they bring with the ball.
“If you ask Matt, if he did not score a goal all season, but we won every game, I am sure he would take it.”
Whether it is a lethal finish or a much needed burst of energy in the press late in the game, Stevens has been the engine driving this AFC Wimbledon side forward in the league this year.
Now just one game stands between him and the Wimbledon history books, and Stevens will get the chance to show the nation his best when the Dons take to the pitch at Wembley on Bank Holiday Monday.
Feature image: Mitchell Hall
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