Iron forward Paddy Madden hailed his team’s performance after seeing Championship side Huddersfield off at Glanford Park.
The lively frontman scored the only goal of the game to give the Claret and Blue a confidence-boosting 1-0 win over the Terriers in our fourth pre-season friendly.“It was a good workout for us in unbelievable heat against a good side, so we’re pleased. It was a solid performance,” he said, reflecting to The Iron Player.
“They’re a good Championship outfit and I know it’s only pre-season but it will give us confidence going into the new season and we’ll look forward to the games from Tuesday now.”
Paddy was on the scoresheet for the fourth time in pre-season, something the forward feels will help him going into the season opener at Swindon.
He added: "Every striker gets confidence from scoring goals and that’s four in four for me and hopefully I can carry it into the Sky Bet League One campaign.”
The game was played in sweltering heat and referee Scott Duncan allowed a drinks break mid-way through each half.
Madden continued: “I’m not someone who likes to play in the heat and it was very difficult today. I prefer it to be raining but you have to deal with it and take it as it comes. It was a very good workout and a very good win.”
This summer is Madden’s first with the club and he has enjoyed the opportunity to get to know the new and old faces on and off the pitch as he reaps the rewards of the gruelling sessions.
He said: “Pre-season’s been brilliant, the squad are gelling now and it’s been good for me as I came halfway through the last campaign and it takes a while to get used to your teammates and how they play and the new lads are integrating really well.
“Russ has had us working hard, doing a lot of running and ball work and I can feel myself getting there now. A couple more games and I’ll be raring to go.”
Scunthorpe’s return to Sky Bet League One also sees Madden’s return to a league he knows well, having had success in previous years with Yeovil. The style of play is much more suited to the 24-year-old.
He said: “In League Two, I found you don’t get a lot of time on the ball, whereas in League One you do and I’ve got the golden boot in this league before and it definitely suits me better and I’ll be looking to do that again.
“I think we’re ready for Swindon now, today’s performance showed that. Huddersfield are a good side and they didn’t look like scoring very often and we were solid all over so we can take plenty of confidence and positives from it.”
See much more from Paddy Madden, and others, on The Iron Player.