United boss Russ Wilcox remained eager to focus on the positives after two of his three full debutants found the net during the 3-2 defeat at Oldham on Saturday.
Having spoken last week about individuals seizing opportunities, Andrew Boyce – recalled from a recent loan spell in the Conference – looked to do precisely that when he nodded the Iron in front in the 26th minute from a Gary McSheffrey corner.That goal was quickly cancelled out by a strike from former Iron Jonathan Forte, before fellow debutant Rory Fallon restored the visiting side’s advantage with a tidy finish just five minutes later.
The efforts from the United new boys were to prove in vain however as a second half brace from Latics substitute Danny Philliskirk secured victory for Lee Johnson’s team, and Wilcox told The Iron Player: “There’s positives and negatives. You’ve got three players making their full debuts, and they’re not up to speed – that’s the key to it.
“Andrew’s been out on loan to Grimsby and played some football, which is great, but it’s a different level. I thought he acquitted himself really well today.
“Then you’ve got Rory Fallon, who’s done brilliantly for us to last an hour-and-a-quarter. He’s had very little training having been with us a couple of weeks, and again that’s his first start of the season.”
Fallon’s appearance marked his first in competitive football since representing Crawley Town in May, but the New Zealand International warmed to the task admirably before tiring late on.
Despite that, Wilcox was suitably impressed by the contribution of his latest addition having wrapped up a three-month deal for the 32-year-old on Friday, and added: “It’s a tough time, but you’ve got to say Rory’s finish is top-drawer.
“That’s why I brought him in; he gives us a different dimension, and a different option. We spoke about getting through the early period of the game, which we did comfortably by getting balls up to him and letting him get hold of it or flick it on for Paddy [Madden].
“He just ran out of steam, and you always look back. If he could have been defending that last free-kick we could have been coming away from here with a very good away point, but it wasn’t to be.”
See much more from Russ Wilcox, Rory Fallon and Andrew Boyce on The Iron Player.