Scunthorpe United FC

United were beaten 2-1 at newly promoted Burton Albion in their season opener on Saturday.

Charlie Goode scored his first professional goal for the Iron in added time but it wasn’t enough to take a share of the points.

The 20-year-old defender, who was a first half substitute for Niall Canavan, headed home at the back post from a deep corner.

Albion took the lead on 55 minutes when striker Stuart Beavon squeezed through United’s back line before tucking the ball under Daniels.

United’s goalkeeper was sent off 15 minutes later following a coming together with Mark Duffy, which led to the hosts being awarded a penalty.

Tom Hopper was withdrawn and replaced by Joe Anyon, but the Iron’s second goalkeeper of the afternoon was unable to save Lucas Akins’ spot kick which was drilled low and hard to his right.

Burton had a chance to make it 3-0 as the fourth official put the board up to signal an additional five minutes. However, Anyon saved extremely well from Jerome Binnom-Williams.

Anyon grasped the ball at the second opportunity after Scott Wiseman shielded it from the Brewers substitute.

The hosts started the first half brightly and their earliest opening came from former United winger Duffy inside the opening three minutes.

Duffy crumbled under the pressure of 1,100 pairs of Iron eyes as he put his shot several yards wide of Daniels’ left hand post.

The reaction of Albion manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbank told everyone the story.

United’s first clear-cut opportunity of the afternoon came from striker Hopper on 15 minutes.

The former Leicester City academy graduate, who was on loan at Glanford Park last season, rose highest to reach Scott Wiseman’s cross. However, he couldn’t keep his header on target.

United’s medical team found themselves on the frontline as they were forced to deal with two match ending injuries inside the first half.

Attacking midfielder Williams, a summer recruit from Championship side Middlesbrough, was forced off on half an hour after he was on the wrong end of a nasty mêlée on the edge of his own box.

Chris Burton, the Iron’s Head of Medical and Sports Science, instantly signalled for the stretcher as he assessed the 22-year-old on the pitch.

Gary McSheffrey, who was rewarded for an excellent campaign last season with a new one-year deal, replaced Williams who was making his debut for the Iron.

Moments later, defender Canavan was forced off with a suspected ankle injury.

Canavan, who has been influential to the Iron’s success over the past few years, tried to continue but he was in too much pain.

Former Hendon defender Charlie Goode replaced Canavan having impressed manager Mark Robins during a pre-season campaign which saw United go undefeated.

On the stroke of half time the Brewers almost took the lead through Nasser El Khayati.

The Dutch striker found space in the box but his shot rattled the top corner of the scoreboard, rather than the goal – much to the relief of all in the Pirelli Stadium who bleed claret and blue.

United started the second half keen to impress manager Mark Robins.

Jordan Clarke and Wiseman combined down the right-hand wing before the ball was pulled back to edge of the area for the patiently waiting Stephen Dawson.

The skipper’s shot was charged down before being a number of swinging feet cleared the ball out of danger.

Within moments of the restart Paddy Madden, who signed a new deal on Thursday, almost gave United the lead following a bright start to the second half.

His cushioned volley from a teasing Scott Laird cross from the left, left Brewers goalkeeper Remi Matthews motionless.

Unfortunately United went behind to Beavon's strike after Madden’s effort skimmed the wrong side of the post.

Despite trailing for much of the second period, United never gave up on taking a share of the points.

Goode’s late goal for the Iron gave the visitors some hope that a draw was possible on the opening day of the season.

However, following what turned out to only be a consolation goal, the hosts shut up shop and retained possession in their attacking third.

TEAM LINE-UPS
Burton Albion: Matthews, Edwards, Cansdell-Sherriff, Mousinho (c), Weir, Beavon (Thiele, 87), Akins, El Khayati (Binnom-Williams, 74), McCrory, Naylor, Duffy (Palmer, 81)
Substitutes: Lyness, Reilly, Butcher, O’Connor, Thiele, Binnom-Williams, Palmer

Scunthorpe United: Daniels, Wiseman, Laird, Canavan (Goode, 38), Williams (McSheffrey, 30), Madden, Bishop, Dawson (c), King, Hopper (Anyon, 72), Clarke
Substitutes: Anyon, McAllister, van Veen, Henderson, Goode, McSheffrey, Wootton

Attendance: 4,064 (1,100 away)