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Match Reports

IT WAS A TOUGH JOB TO DO

16 April 2016

Match Reports

IT WAS A TOUGH JOB TO DO

16 April 2016

Iron manager Graham Alexander was pleased to see his side pick up three points against already-relegated Crewe after a tough afternoon at the Alexandra Stadium.

From 1-0 down, the Iron emerged victorious with a brace from Luke Williams either side of a close-range volley from Hakeeb Adelakun.

"It was a tough job to do," he told The Iron PlayerHD.

"It was probably harder than people expected but full credit to Crewe, they held their heads high after a very difficult week. I thought they gave their manager a really good performance but I felt we just had a little bit too much for them in the second half.

"They made us work for every inch on the pitch and I was really pleased with the players' reaction in the second half because the first half didn't go as we wanted it to. They dug deep and turned a performance into a win."

After falling behind, Williams received a square ball from Paddy Madden to prod home the equaliser just before the interval after a brilliant ball from Stephen Dawson to restore parity, with the Iron almost turning the score on its head before the break - Tom Hopper coming close to diverting Conor Townsend's cross into the net.

"It was vital that we got something just before half time," he continued.

"It gave us a positive feeling going into the half-time team talk. The way we started the second half was the pleasing thing for me. We really put Crewe on the backfoot and committed bodies forward and we were good with our approach play.

"We got two really good goals in the second half. Crewe came back at us and made it a nervy finish, but we saw the game out.

"We can play better, we know that and there are different ways of winning games but we found a way to win today."

With leading goalscorer Madden assisting all three goals, two via crosses and one via a block on the line, Alexander stated it was pleasing that the two midfielders both got on the scoresheet.

"We need to share that load away from Paddy," he stated.

"We still want Paddy to continue to score goals but for us to be a successful team we need goals from elsewhere as well.

"From afar, I thought Paddy was an out-and-out goalscorer but he brings much more than that. His workrate is phenomenal and he brings others into play. He's an example to the other young players in the club. He didn't score today, but he set three up and that's fantastic.

"He's kicking himself because he's a goalscorer and wants to score the goals, but he's happy the team has won the game.

Missing a return to his former club was midfielder Jamie Ness. The United boss gave an update on his absence.

"Jamie has had a slight tweak in his calf, and was touch and go," he said.

"We didn't want to gamble with him at this stage of the season. Daws (Stephen Dawson) came back in and I thought set the example at the start of the second half."

See much more from Graham Alexander, Luke Williams and David Mirfin on The Iron PlayerHD.

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