Scunthorpe United returned to winning ways with an exhilarating 1-0 victory over Coventry City at Glanford Park on Saturday.
The Iron went into the game making three changes, with Jordan Clarke, Jamie Ness and Gary McSheffrey coming in for Scott Wiseman, Charlie Goode and Sean McAllister.Elsewhere things remained the same, as Luke Daniels continued in goal. Clarke, Jack King, Murray Wallace and Scott Laird made up the rest of the defence.
Neal Bishop started in midfield alongside Ness, while the front three remained intact, as Kevin van Veen, Paddy Madden and Tom Hopper kept their places.
Mark Robins' side made a positive start to proceedings, as two minutes in van Veen almost found the top corner from a deflected free-kick. Then from the resulting corner, Hopper headed over from six yards out.
The Dutchman was looking menacing early on, and soon after he tried his luck once more. This time striking just wide from 20 yards, after controlling the ball expertly.
United were making all the early running, and after Madden had been tripped on the right flank, McSheffrey curled a dangerous looking free-kick towards the far left corner. The effort was well clawed away by the visitors 'keeper Lee Burge.
The constant bombardment of the visiting goal showed little sign of stopping. As on the 21 minute mark, van Veen again went for goal. However the No 10 couldn't catch Burge out at his near post after receiving the ball from McSheffrey.
It was a fine display of passing and moving from Robins' team, and the Sky Blues couldn't get near the Iron it seemed. Soon after, McSheffrey went on a mazy run, which ended with the former Coventry man testing Burge from 25 yards.
The prolonged spell of pressure seemed to be drawing mistakes from the visitors. This was no more evident than when Burge spilled what looked an easy catch after McSheffrey had crossed from the left.
It seemed as though United were doing everything but score. Five minutes before the break Madden flicked a header goalwards, but it was cleared off the line by Ruben Lameiras.
The Irishman almost turned provider when he crossed for strike-partner Hopper just before the end of the first period. However, despite steering his header on target, Burge got down well and smothered the ball.
As the half time whistle went, the Sky Blues could count themselves very fortunate to be going in still level.
The Iron continued to dominate as the second half got underway. Van Veen and McSheffrey conjured up a quick free-kick, which led to Hopper glancing over from close range after the winger had crossed.
The chances kept coming, Hopper it was again who could have broken the deadlock, and the forward will probably feel he should have, when Laird drove a dangerous ball across the six yard box seven minutes into the second half.
The attacking endevour seemed to be coming from all angles. As soon after, full-back Clarke tried his luck on the angle of the penalty area, but despite striking his half volley sweetly, it flew just over the crossbar.
It looked as though all the chances that Robins' side had created would count for nothing, but ten minutes from time Madden broke the deadlock. The number nine picked the ball up centrally and fired past Burge, who got a hand to the shot, but couldn't keep it out.
The visitors' best chance came three minutes from time when Roman Vincelot guided a header wide. The Frenchman had found some space just inside the penalty area and captain Sam Ricketts picked him out. Despite being in space he could only direct his headed effort wide of Daniels' post.
Despite having to play a painful seven minutes of injury time, the Iron were resolute throughout and held on for a vital and much needed three points.
TEAM LINE-UPS
Scunthorpe United: Daniels, Clarke, King, Wallace, Laird, Ness (McAllister 65), Bishop, McSheffrey, van Veen (Syers 68), Madden, Hopper (Henderson 68).
Substitutes not used: Anyon, Adelakun, Goode, Wiseman.
Coventry City: Burge, Stokes, Vincelot, Johnson, Fleck, Lameiras (Antoine-Fortune 69), Armstrong, Ricketts, Tudgay (Thomas 86), Martin, Murphy (Kent 54).
Substitutes not used: Thomas, Morris, Philips, Charles-Cook.
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