West Ham’s foreign stars are in for a nasty shock against AFC Wimbledon, warns James Hanson

Dons striker looking forward to old-fashioned, physical Cup tie
Strong arm: Wimbledon front man James Hanson battles for the ball during the 0-0 draw against Barnsley earlier this month
Rex Features
Giuseppe Muro28 August 2018

James Hanson wears the scars of his battles and the AFC Wimbledon striker has warned West Ham’s centre-backs they are in for a bruising encounter at Kingsmeadow on Tuesday.

Hanson was one of the heroes when Bradford reached the League Cup Final in 2013 and the former shelf stacker is targeting another top-flight scalp.

West Ham’s new-look defence looks vulnerable and Hanson has warned their backline to prepare for an uncomfortable introduction to a team from the lower leagues of English football.

“I always look forward to the physical battle,” the 30-year-old told Standard Sport. “I have had stitches, broken noses, but you give them out as well.

“That is one of my strengths, being as physical as I can be. West Ham have a lot of foreign players who have not played in this type of game before and we want to make them as uncomfortable as we can. Hopefully, we can get some service and cause them problems at the back.”

Issa Diop and Fabian Balbuena were West Ham’s centre-backs for the 3-1 defeat at Arsenal on Saturday and Hammers manager Manuel Pellegrini could resist the urge to rotate after three defeats from three League games.

Hanson helped Bradford knock out top-flight sides Arsenal, Wigan and Aston Villa five years ago and scored the decisive goal in the semi-final that sent the then League Two side to Wembley.

He added: “Premier League defenders are not as physical as in the lower leagues. We got a lot of joy at Bradford with the way (manager) Phil Parkinson played. It was quite direct and a lot of things went through me. The Premier League teams did not match us physically. You have got to have a game plan, stick to it and be patient.

“If it takes 10 men behind the ball, then that is what you have got to do. Be difficult to break down and then, whenever you get a chance to put it in the box, you have got to test Premier League sides.”

Bradford lost 5-0 to Swansea in the final in 2013 but they secured promotion to League One that season and Hanson, who came through non-League football and was working in a Co-op until 2009, went on to score 40 goals in the next three-and-a-half years.

Decisive: Hanson headed Villa into the League Cup Final with a goal at Villa Park in 2013
Getty Images

Those goals earned him a move to Sheffield United in January 2017, where he was hampered by a string of injuries. He joined Bury on loan for the second half of last season but continued to struggle with his fitness.

Hanson describes last season as “my worst in football” but he hopes his summer move to Wimbledon can revive his career. “We play 4-4-2 and it suits me down to the ground,” he said. “That is one of the things (boss) Neal Ardley sold to me. We have two wingers who cross the ball and the deliveries that come are brilliant for me.”

A groin injury in one of his first training sessions meant it was a frustrating start at his new club but Hanson, who has yet to score this season, is now nearing full fitness.

Wimbledon have scored just five times in six games this season but Hanson says: “We lost 2-1 against Sunderland on Saturday but I feel that was my best performance in a Wimbledon shirt. I am feeling sharper now. Hopefully, when that first goal comes they will be like buses. We have had a couple of games where we have fired blanks and we should have beaten Sunderland.

In Pictures | Arsenal v West Ham | 25/08/2018

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“We need to show a lot more ruthlessness and more composure. We had a lot of clearcut chances but we were snatching at them a bit. I am sure we can change that with hard work on the training ground.

“If we perform like we did against Sunderland then we will definitely cause West Ham problems. They have made a lot of new signings but maybe they have not gelled yet.

“The game is on television so the cameras might be expecting a little upset. Let’s not disappoint and at least put on a performance for the fans to be proud of.”

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