Bradford City striker Hanson has key role in promotion goal, says Davies (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford City striker James Hanson has key role in promotion goal, says Andrew Davies

9:20am Tuesday 9th October 2012 in Sport By Simon Parker, Bradford City Reporter

FLOOR IT! James Hanson carries a threat on the deck as well as in the air but Andrew Davies says he needs to start having more faith in his overall game

James Hanson’s hold on the City scoring charts has been loosened by Nahki Wells.

The Bermudian’s double in defeat at Dagenham took him up to seven goals for the season so far, two more than his Strike partner.

Hanson has gone four starts since his last one against Morecambe – hardly a goal drought but a frustrating little gap for a forward who has set his sights on reaching 20 for the first time in his career.

Wells has hit five in that period, justifying City’s smart piece of business in getting him to sign a new improved contract to stay at Valley Parade.

But team-mate Andrew Davies still sees Hanson as the main weapon in their arsenal. And he feels it is crucial that the big frontman hits the net regularly if the club are to make a proper push.

Davies said: “Hans is getting better and better and maturing as a person as well. He needs to be our main goal threat.

Strikers are judged on goals and he’s scored a few this season. But I’m sure he’ll admit he could have had a lot more than he has

Andrew Davies

“If we’re going to go up this year, and that’s what we all want, then he needs to be scoring the goals.

“That’s the pressure he is under as our centre forward.

“It’s the same with me at the back. If we’re going to go up, then Andrew Davies needs to keep defending and stop goals.

“I don’t mind that pressure and hopefully I can stand up to it. He’s got to understand the same thing.”

Even without scoring, Hanson makes a significant impact with his aerial power and the way he can hold the ball up to bring others into play. But goals are the currency when you play up top.

Defender Davies thinks Hanson should have more faith with his feet. Two of his tally have come from quality strikes – at Notts County in the Capital One Cup opener and that last goal against Morecambe – to show he should not be pigeon-holed as just the targetman.

Davies added: “I’ve seen Hans grow as a player in the time that I’ve been at the club.

“He’s strong in the air and wins his headers but he’s also very good on the floor and he needs to drill that into himself.

“I watch him in training and he’s always scoring goals. He’s a handful and he just needs to take that into Saturdays and start scoring goals with his feet as well as his head.

“Strikers are judged on goals and he’s scored a few this season. But I’m sure he’ll admit he could have had a lot more than he has.

“But he’s still young and he’s got to learn from his mistakes. He will get better.”

Saturday’s unexpected setback in east London dumped City a point adrift of the play-off zone. But with other sides at the top also dropping points, they are still only two off fourth place.

Davies sees no need for heads to wobble after a couple of poor results.

“I don’t think any team is leaps and bounds better. There’s no reason why we can’t go up this year if we keep playing like we have.

“It’s frustrating when you play so well and don’t win games but that is going to happen. I still look at the players we’ve got here and know that we’re good enough.”