AFC Wimbledon forward Matty Stevens aims to hit another hot streak in front of goal after starting the League One season in excellent form.
He was back on the scoresheet yesterday evening as the Dons exited the EFL Trophy, losing 2-1 against Northampton Town. But that was his first goal since September, with injury keeping him out of action for almost three months of the campaign.
Stevens has struggled to regain his berth in Wimbledon’s line-up since returning before Christmas, starting only four of their last 10 third-tier matches.
EFL Trophy Ends Stevens Scoring Drought
Stevens began the campaign in fine form, inspiring the Dons to a dream start to the season by scoring in victories over Lincoln City, Reading and Barnsley in August. He was directly involved in both goals in the Wombles’ narrow reverse at fellow newly-promoted outfit Bradford City.
And the good form against Yorkshire outfits continued into September, bagging against Rotherham United before grabbing an assist versus Doncaster Rovers. But a hamstring injury sustained at the end of the month ended his involvement for a few months, and was in part linked to their slide down the table, having been in the Play-Off places.
Since returning to the side, the 27-year-old had yet to rediscover his scoring touch until last night. Speaking to Wimbledon’s club media following their game last night, he hopes that goal will spark a fresh scoring run.
“Last season I was scoring a lot, especially at the start of the season and it just came naturally to me. If you go a game or two without scoring, you don’t lose that belief, you know it’s coming.
“Since I’ve been back from injury, I don’t think we’ve probably been creating as many chances as what we did before I got injured. When I first came back from injury, I think the confidence was down a little bit.
“But fingers crossed, the goal tonight will get me on the right track and then I can go on a bit of a run.”
Wimbledon Ease Relegation Concerns
In Stevens’ absence, the Dons have had to look elsewhere for goals. Marcus Browne took his tally for the season to 10 on Saturday afternoon, striking a hat-trick against Reading. That victory over the Royals made it successive victories for Johnnie Jackson’s outfit, after edging past bottom-side Port Vale with a late goal last week. The gap to the bottom four places now stands at six points, with Wimbledon up to 14th place.
A trip to Oakwell to face Barnsley is next up, one of the Yorkshire sides that Stevens excelled against in the early stages of the season. After hitting 17 last season, as they won the League Two Play-Offs, he will be eager to get back on the goalscoring trail this weekend.