David Mirfin believes the victory over Burton Albion at the weekend was a fantastic result and has left them in a very good position in the league.
The Iron claimed a 1-0 win over Burton at Glanford Park which saw them go to second in the league, going ahead of Chesterfield.It was a Paddy Madden volley from the edge of the area which sealed the three points for the home side.
Gary McSheffrey could have doubled the lead but his penalty was saved by Burton keeper Rob Lainton. Despite that, Scunthorpe held on to the win.
Mirfin told The Iron Player: “The first half was possibly the worst 45 minutes we have had since Russ (Wilcox) has been in charge.
“The fact that we have gone in at 0-0, I think we have taken as a bit of a positive knowing that we can only get better."
"I don’t think they could possibly maintain how they played in the first half and luckily we have got the goal at the right time and for one of the few occasions, we have seen a game out comfortably in the end,” he continued.
Scunthorpe couldn’t get a hold of the first half and Mirfin was quick to praise the visitors for their performance.
He stated: “I think a lot of credit has got to go to how Burton started.
"They pressed us high, they pushed us, they didn’t give us a lot of time on the ball and they didn’t really let us get into a bit of a flow like we have done in previous games.
“We were lucky that we have gone in at half time and they’ve not created many chances and not got a goal.”
The Iron centre-back added: “A lot of credit has got to go to the lads for not getting too downhearted at half time and knowing that it was a big game, and if we want to do anything and be successful this year, this was a game that we had to win.”
The three points over fellow promotion candidates means that Scunthorpe are seven points clear of fourth place, which Mirfin sees as mentally positive to the side.
He stated: “I think it is more mentally positive than anything.
"Teams in fourth and fifth looking up, knowing that they have got to win three and we have got to lose three for them to take us over. Goal difference has also got to be taken into account.
“We know that we have not achieved anything yet but it’s a great position to be in at this stage of the season.”
The Iron have now taken six points from their last two games, keeping clean sheets in both. Mirfin believes that is massively positive to the side.
He said: “I think the fact we have had four or five games where we have not kept a clean sheet and maybe not looked solid to get back to being a bit more defensively resilient and keeping a clean sheet, but equally picking up three points as well.
“It’s a big positive again at this stage of the season to have."
See much more from David Mirfin, Russ Wilcox and Paddy Madden on The Iron Player.