Mark Robins insists the team need to forget about their back-to-back home victories over the last week and concentrate on the next game on Saturday at Preston.
Talking to the press during his Thursday afternoon press conference, Robins is proud of the displays his side produced over the last two games, with the Iron victorious twice in the space of four days, but needs them to cast thoughts of past fixtures out of their minds, and start fresh at Deepdale.Robins said: “The games we’ve just played against Swindon and Chesterfield have gone now, but the performance levels we have put in have meant it gives us a chance in the games.
"I think in the first half against Chesterfield things were a little bit tight, I thought we’d done pretty well in the first half and created one or two chances but not had the real quality in the final third to go and score the goal.
"In the second half I thought we were outstanding, again there wasn’t too much between the two sides but I thought we were better, and we deserved the win in the end. Going back to the game on Saturday against Swindon there were one or two chances for them. They’ve hit the bar, although so did we, and there was very little between the sides, but for me it’s great.
"If you look at Chesterfield they’re in eighth place and they’ve been there for quite a while and Swindon have been in those automatic places or around there for a long period too. To go in and put good performances against those sides is really, really pleasing and gives us great confidence and belief going in to the game at the weekend at Deepdale.”
In both matches the Iron failed to take the ascendency in the first half, going in to half time against Chesterfield at 0-0, while they were behind to a Michael Smith strike against the Robins three days prior, and Robins stated that he couldn’t ask much more of his players in that respect, and their ability to comprehend and put in to action his words of advice are second to none.
Robins continued: “What is important is that the players are capable of going out and putting a performance in and playing as a team.
"They’ve done that, they’ve looked for each other and they are getting used to doing that now, and it takes a little bit of time for new players coming in to gel and we’ve changed things around quite a bit in general as well and I have to say I’m pleased and proud of them as well.
"They go out and give 100% every time, whether it’s in training or in the games or when I’m talking to them and they’re listening and taking it on board and going out an reproducing it on the pitch, they’ve been fantastic and if they can continue to do that then they’ve got the quality to go out and pick up results more often than not.”
Gary McSheffrey returns after a two-match suspension for 10 yellow cards, the last coming against Coventry City a week past Tuesday, while Isaiah Osbourne returns after picking up a knock against the same team, but Robins doesn’t bemoan the selection problem he’s about to face after impressive performances from the deputising pair Kevin van Veen and George Evans.
Robins shared with the press: “I like to see a full squad and a full complement to choose from because those are the problems as a manager that you want; you don’t want the other problems of running around and scratching around for a team.
"We’ve not been in that position and touch wood we won’t be in that position moving forward and I think what I would like to see is people that are in or around the squad to try and push themselves in to the tem because if you don’t then obviously that gives me food for thought and I’ll learn more about the players that are not actually starting.
"I’m looking for positivity and for players pushing to get in to the team and if they’re not doing that then there’s obviously a reason for that and you don’t want the negativity around.”
Finally, talking about the competition for starts Robins believes that the driven, hard-working players around the edges of the starting XI will get their rewards soon enough, but they need to continue pushing every step of the way.
Robins said: “We’re looking for players to push, and whether they can push hard enough to get in to the side and displace one of the starting players.
"I’ve talked about honesty and the lads that are in there at the moment are giving me that, the players around the squad have given me 100% in what they are trying to do, and I’m looking now for the ones who are on the periphery to push themselves in the performances in training.
"We have 17 games left in such a short space of time, and there’s certainly going to be chances going begging.”