Big-match verdict: James Hanson stands tall as the Blades go back top

The towering striker – signed from Bradford City last month – instantly ingratiated himself to Blades fans with a goal to cap a fine first appearance in the red and white stripes.

Just like the Bantams he left behind, his new United team-mates have been mightily impressed with the new arrival.

Hanson supplied the ball for midfielder John Fleck to score United’s third goal as the Blades put an end to their mini slump of three games without a win.

He is a traditional target man – one which the onlooking Dave Bassett would have liked in his Blades and Wimbledon teams of yesteryear – and struck up an instant rapport with Billy Sharp, who netted inside the first two minutes.

Blades chief Chris Wilder has been searching for a partner for Sharp, with Leon Clarke, Caolan Lavery, Marc McNulty and Matt Done having had their chances.

On Saturday’s display, United may have found the double-act who can deliver the goals to bring the Blades promotion.

“I thought he (Hanson) was absolutely brilliant, a real handful,” said Fleck. “You see what he does during a game, and his heading is unbelievable. He was good, and it’s great for him to get a goal on his debut.

“He can make a bad ball a good one. Sometimes, if you are stuck in a bit of trouble, you can hook it on and big Hanson can head it or try to bring it down.

“It helps the team out a lot and brings other people into play.”

United took the lead with their first attack inside two minutes. Wimbledon goalkeeper James Shea somehow allowed Fleck’s curled free-kick out of his grasp and the predatory Sharp bundled home from close range.

It was the perfect tonic, and an early gift for Sharp – his 19th goal of the season – who celebrated his 31st birthday yesterday.

It was a battle for United to stamp their authority on the game in the opening half-hour, as a rugged Dons team defended stoutly.

The visitors rarely looked like scoring, Jake Reeves firing straight at goalkeeper Simon Moore in a rare attack.

Hanson was proving to be a real menace, winning plenty of headers and allowing Sharp to scamper around.

The former Guiseley striker headed just over from Kieron Freeman’s cross before opening his account on 37 minutes.

A swift counter-attack saw Mark Duffy feed Freeman, who attracted the goalkeeper, before dragging the ball back for Hanson to fire home.

Hanson had a hand in United’s third on 79 minutes, playing in the advancing Fleck, who evaded one challenge before shooting beyond Shea.

“It’s always nice to score, it’s something I should do a lot more,” said Fleck, after netting just his second goal in United colours.

“The most important thing was to get the three points and, thankfully, we have done that.

“It’s nice to be top. Obviously, we dropped off in the last few weeks but we must be doing something right.”

Fleck’s goal was a relief to the home contingent in the 20,549 crowd, as United had missed chances to put the game out of Wimbledon’s grasp.

Twice Sharp could have put United 3-0 up. He poked wide Daniel Lafferty’s cross before latching on to Duffy’s pass but failing in his attempt to lob Shea.

Lafferty saw his glancing header go wide, before Fleck’s goal, and substitute Caolan Lavery added gloss to the scoreline with a stoppage-time fourth.

After picking up just one point out of nine and losing top spot to Scunthorpe this was the perfect response. The Iron’s defeat at Southend also meant the Blades reclaimed top spot and former Rangers midfielder Fleck, 25, said a team meeting between the players and manager had helped them regroup.

“We have spoke about the last couple of weeks not being good enough, results-wise and performances,” said Fleck.

“So we all came together last week and had a chat, and, thankfully, it’s paid off today. Hopefully, that form can continue.

“The manager was involved as well, it wasn’t a big thing, just a general chat and people opened up if they had anything to say.

“I think it showed today, it worked. Everybody has come together, although we were together anyway even when we were losing games.

“That’s difficult to take, but it happens sometimes and we have managed to get back on track. Hopefully, we can now kick on.

“We knew we were still up there, and we are a good team – we know that – it just wasn’t going right for us.

“We weren’t taking our chances, and letting cheap goals in. That kind of thing happens during a long season, and it maybe will happen again to other teams.”

Hanson was one of two changes to United’s starting XI, with centre-half Jake Wright recalled in place of Chris Basham.

Fleck added: “Jake was outstanding, considering he hasn’t played for the last few weeks. He’s just a big voice out on the pitch and helps everyone out.”

Sheffield United: Moore, Wright, Ebanks-Landell (Basham 45), O’Connell, Freeman, Coutts, Duffy (Carruthers 83), Fleck, Lafferty, Hanson, Sharp (Lavery 77). Unused substitutes: Long, Done, Riley, O’Shea.

AFC Wimbledon: Shea, Fuller, Robinson, Charkes, Kelly, Soares, Bulman (Francomb 63), Reeves, Barcham (Poleon 63), Elliott, Taylor. Unused substitutes: Barnett, McDonnell, Egan, Owens, Robertson.

Referee: D Webb (Lancashire).