AFC Wimbledon could be making Matty Stevens change soon despite what happened v Lincoln City | OneFootball

Matty Stevens performed brilliantly versus the Imps, but his place in the team could soon be under threat

Matty Stevens' career at AFC Wimbledon has been filled with ups and downs so far, with high scoring numbers being combined with periods of inconsistency.

But a new contract at the end of last season showed a sign of intent from the Dons that, following promotion through the play-offs and a step-up into a new league, they would be keeping him around as the main man.

But the pre-season build-up has been a bit mediocre for the forme youth boxer with him only netting once against Pafos FC, and now, even having led the line well against Lincoln City, his place in the team is far from secure.

Matty Stevens leads the way for AFC Wimbledon in victory over Lincoln City

Leading the line is never going to be an easy task for a striker taking a step-up in division from one where he has been successful multiple times, but somehow, Stevens is adapting really well to what is being asked from him.

In a system still reliant on long balls, Stevens now has a hunger like never before to enter into every duel and make a gutsy effort to win the ball, even if that does risk injury.

And that is exactly what he did for the Dons last Saturday.

Firstly, from minute one, he and Marcus Browne linked up well when passing it about on the floor as the Imps' less agile defence could not cope with such movement. Then, when it came to the rough and tumble, he did not shy away like some attackers certainly would, as he suffered a severely high kick up to his upper torso from Lincoln's Adam Jackson, which saw the veteran centre-back dismissed immediately.

And from there, his impact on the game grew. He made the run, won and scored the penalty which helped put the Dons 1-0 up and, for the remainder of the first half, he continued making dangerous runs in behind, battled for every ball and even had other chances presented to him, which were not taken as calmly as the penalty was.

Continuing into the second half, and while the Dons were clearly in the ascendancy, Stevens kept on proving to be a threat, chasing every pass, whether they be guided or loose, and making himself a nuisance in the box for every cross played in.

And by the time his substitution was announced precisely on the hour mark, there was a loud applause and majority standing ovation for what was a job well done for the striker, who had a difficult week leading up to the game for personal reasons.

AFC Wimbledon, Johnnie Jackson could look to change things up

However, despite the plaudits from the fans, there were parts of Stevens' performance that could see him replaced sooner rather than later by Jackson.

Despite the striker leading the scoring, jointly with Nathan Asiimwe, for the Dons with a goal from the penalty spot, there was a feeling among fans after the game that he did not help the system play to its full potential, especially when playing against the 10 men of Lincoln following the red card.

Once Danilo Orsi and Antwoine Hackford came onto the field, there was a lot more urgency and directness in the forward line, instead of a disjointed attack with one dropping deep to collect the ball and one chasing and fighting for every ball.

They helped stretch the Imps' defence and bring in the wing-backs more than the combination of Stevens and Browne had managed to do throughout their hour on the pitch.

And it is for that reason why Wimbledon could be looking to change things up.

Stevens does score goals, as was evident last season when he topped the scoring charts for the club, and, provided with the right opportunities, he will have no problems again this season. However, the failure to help the system play to its full potential will hamper his chances of retaining his spot up front.

The Dons are up against it this season and so will rely on being a compact team ready to break forward and take chances this season, and on the evidence of the performances on Saturday, Orsi and Hackford and others who did not feature but will be given opportunities, including Omar Bugiel and Josh Kelly, offer equal and if not better capabilities than Stevens.

So, therefore, the 27-year-old needs to begin to show he can be the perfect man to lead the line for Johnnie Jackson's system, or he risks losing a spot he rightfully earned with his 17 goals last season, to one of Jackson's new signings from this summer.