Scunthorpe United FC

The Iron picked up a vital three points by defeating Peterborough United 2-0 on Good Friday.

Goals from Paddy Madden and Theo Robinson were the difference in front of a Bank Holiday crowd of 4,216 at Glanford Park, as United picked up their first victory in ten games to ease their relegation worries.

Manager Mark Robins made two changes from the draw against Notts County last Saturday, with John Lundstram and Kevin van Veen coming in to replace Liam O’Neil and George Evans in the starting lineup.

There was also some great news for Iron fans on the substitutes bench, with David Syers in the squad for the first time since sustaining a knee injury on the opening day of the season. 

United started the game on the front foot and had several crosses blocked before the first real chance of the game. Gary McSheffrey whipped in a free-kick but it was headed just over the bar by Theo Robinson, who was making his home debut for the club.

Scunthorpe continued to pin Peterborough back during the opening exchanges and on the quarter hour mark, Kevin van Veen did brilliantly to hold the ball up and lay the ball off to Robinson, whose shot was deflected away for a corner that was eventually cleared.

However, it was Posh that were the first side to test the goalkeeper, when the ball was sloppily given away in defence and Michael Bostwick strode forward to hit a venomous shot from twenty five yards that Daniels had to tip over his bar.

Peterborough had another chance several minutes later, when the ball was lost at the back again and found its way to former Iron loanee Luke Williams. However, he scuffed his long range shot well wide of Daniels’ post.

Gary McSheffrey was the next to have an opportunity when he was brought down and took the resulting free kick himself. He curled his shot past the Peterborough wall but his effort was gathered by Peterborough keeper Alnwick.

Williams tried his luck again for Peterborough next when a good passing move saw Harry Beautyman lay the ball off to him around twenty yards out, but his shot was well wide once again.

The best opportunity of the game thus far came for the Iron with twelve minutes to go until the break, when Theo Robinson held ball up well in from throw in but his shot was wide of the near post

With just over half an hour gone, the Iron were on the attack again when McSheffrey played through Robinson and he twisted and turns before hitting a shot that forced Alnwick to parry the ball away and towards Madden, but his header was saved well by the ex-Tottenham goalkeeper. 

The game starting to open up, and this was shown when the Posh went right up the other end moments later, but Harry Anderson’s shot from around twenty five yards was just wide of Daniels post. 

United were the team that were creating the better chances and they were rewarded on 36 minutes, when Robinson held the ball up and got the ball to McSheffrey. His shot was blocked not once but twice and fell into the path of Paddy Madden, who made no mistake in sweeping the ball past Alnwick to score his first in ten games.

Two minutes before half time, Scunthorpe had a massive chance to double their lead when McSheffrey’s free kick was deflected into the path of Van Veen, who chipped over the bar.

The Iron were looking lively as the half was drawing to a close and could’ve easily doubled their lead again just before the break when Robinsons shot was blocked and fell to Madden but he was bundled off the ball before he got a chance to strike cleanly.

That was the last action of the half, with United looking dangerous, creating the better chances and deserving their one goal lead going into the break.

The second half began with the Iron on top again and after dominating possession; they had another chance to double their lead from a corner ten minutes after the restart. Niall Canavan was found at the back post and headed towards Robinson, who couldn’t get a clean connection on his overhead kick, which allowed Peterborough to clear the ball off the line.

Canavan was clattered during the move and was forced off with a cut two minutes later, with Andrew Boyce replacing him in central defence.

Peterborough made two changes of their own minutes later, with experienced heads Aaron McLean and David Norris replacing Conor Washington and Harry Beautyman.

It was Scunthorpe that came close once again with twenty five minutes to go, when van Veen was found by McSheffrey on the right hand side of the box and his shot flashed wide of Alnwink’s far post.

The Iron then came close again two minutes later when Madden was found out on the right and his cross found McSheffrey, whose looping header found the top of the bar

Peterborough’s first real chance of note in the second half came with twenty minutes to go, when Bostwick again tested Daniels from far out and the ball was again tipped over the bar by the Iron goalkeeper.

However, it was still the Iron that were looking the better side and they finally doubled their lead on 73 minutes. McSheffrey’s left wing cross found Robinson, who terrifically flicked the ball towards goal, off the post and into the bottom corner to hit his second in as many games to the club.

There was then a break in play only moments later when referee Carl Berry pulled up injured and had to be replaced by fourth official Ian Dudley.

After a stoppage of around five minutes, play resumed and the Iron had a third goal disallowed when Paddy Madden was played in by McSheffrey but was adjudged to be offside before he played the ball back to the winger to tap into an empty net.

It was then time for Syers to make his long-awaited return, receiving a round of applause from the Glanford Park crowd as he replaced McSheffrey with just over five minutes remaining. 

Robinson was in the thick of the action again with five minutes remaining when he received the ball from Van Veen in the box with his back to goal. However, his bicycle kick was saved comfortably by Alnwick.

The Iron’s next chance when Robinson’s cross from the right found Madden just inside the box, but his effort was skied well over the bar 

Seven minutes of added time were signalled but there was no coming back for Posh, and the Iron picked up a victory that will give them huge confidence heading into the game with Milton Keynes Dons on Tuesday night.  

TEAM LINE-UPS
Scunthorpe United: Daniels, Clarke, Davey, Canavan (Boyce, 57), Williams, McSheffrey (Syers, 84), Osbourne, Lundstram, Madden, van Veen, Robinson (Wootton, 90)
Substitutes not used: Anyon, Evans, Adelakun, Townsend.

Peterborough United: Alnwick, Smith, Ntlhe, Bostwick, Washington (McLean, 61), Williams, Newell, Santos, Zakuani (Sheehan, 79), Anderson, Beautyman (Norris, 61)
Substitutes not used: Henry, James, Pearson, Adebayo-Rowling.

Attendance: 4,216 (1,003 away)