Defender is adapting as part of new-look Dons
believes he is steadily adapting to the cut and thrust of English football after helping Wimbledon to their second clean sheet of 2013/14 on Saturday.Rhys Weston
The experienced defender, who made over 300 Football League appearances with clubs including Cardiff and Walsall, has had to readjust quickly after three years of playing football in Scotland, Iceland and Malaysia.
pitched Weston straight in at the deep end after his successful summer trial with Wimbledon – and he is likely to be involved again in tonight’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie at Brentford.Will Antwi and Alan BennettInjuries to captain
ahead of the match at Griffin Park, Weston said: “I was fortunate to get a start against Scunthorpe United and I found it really difficult to be honest. It was a tough afternoon because I was up against Chris Iwelumo, he is a big lad and I am not the tallest for a centre-back. I found the general pace and the frantic nature of the game difficult because it was different to what I had been used to in previous years. I was a little bit nervous having been away from it for a few years.Dons PlayerSpeaking to
“However, I really enjoyed Saturday’s game; it was evident for everyone at the Fleetwood game how well we played from back to front as a team. Obviously, that came with the added bonus of keeping a clean sheet and I thoroughly enjoyed the game on Saturday.
“There are not too many comparisons to what you face in League 2, even though the Scottish First Division (Rhys had a spell at Dundee) was quite frenetic. English football is changing season by season now and the lower leagues are getting stronger. You have to get used to the pace and physicality and there are some very good players in League 2 now. With the influx of wealth in the top divisions, home-grown players have to find their football elsewhere. You only have to look at the amount that Fleetwood have spent on their team. We more than matched them on Saturday. I enjoyed it, but there is still a long way to go until I can say that I have adapted to it.”
Weston added that the Dons will travel to Brentford in upbeat mood after their impressive start to the season and he believes that Wimbledon can have a successful season.
also came in on Saturday and was fantastic so I think that shows we have strength in depth defensively. We have that right throughout the squad though. I think the prospects are good for Wimbledon this season. It is early days, but I have seen enough in the first five games to suggest that we have a good squad at this level.Jim Fenlon is the best right-back in League 2,” Weston said. “Barry Fullerthat is very experienced and has a lot of life in him yet and I think Andy Frampton“At the back
“There are teams with bigger budgets, but money does not but you success. We cannot get carried away, but with ‘Ards’ and ‘Coxy’ at the helm if the boys keep working hard then we can have a successful season. People will decide for themselves what a successful season is for AFC Wimbledon. Various sections of the media have tipped us for relegation, but the feeling within the dressing room is that we can potentially do something this season. We have as good a chance as anyone.
“Brentford tonight will be tough; they are a club on the cusp of moving onto the next level. I have played there quite a few times and it is always a difficult match. Some people do not take the JPT seriously, but we want to continue our momentum. Winning breeds confidence and can help you move on during the course of this season. We will go there with confidence, but it is going to be a tough evening.”
to read a full preview.Brentford clash If you missed Neal Ardley's thoughts on tonight's match, click on