Neal Bishop was pleased to see his side bounce back from the loss to Bradford City with a solid performance and win against League One high-flyers Burton Albion on Saturday.
It was Bishop’s second-half goal that settled a tight affair, but one United edged when taking into account the serious chances created during the game.“Performance wise we probably weren’t at our best,” he told The Iron PlayerHD.
“I think over the course of 90 minutes we wanted it more than they did. We put our bodies on the line, got the clean sheet, and I was delighted for Joe (Anyon) coming in.
“They’re very disciplined, very direct and get right up the pitch to make things really compact. On a narrow bobbly pitch, it was never going to be a great footballing spectacle.”
FIRST STRIKE OF THE SEASON: Neal Bishop celebrates his goal to see off Burton at the weekend.
The midfielder mentioned the March game against Gillingham, where the Iron dominated from start to finish but couldn’t get the goal, as an example of how taking the chances that come the players’ way can be more important than a fantastic performance.
“We’ve played better than that and got beat. Against Gillingham not long ago we played some really decent football and created chance after chance but couldn’t win," he said.
“At this time of the year the pitches are drying out and become bobbly. They’re the kind of games we have to go on and win this season and going into next season if we are to get to where we want to.”
He may have scored more spectacular goals in his career, but Bishop’s positioning was on point as he smashed home from close range to seal all three points.
“It doesn’t matter if it goes in from 40 yards or four yards - a goal's a goal. We work on that kind of thing on the training ground, and it was a great ball in that (David) Mirfin has got his head on and it’s just fallen to me," added Bishop.
“The important thing is the result, I’m not too bothered who scores the goals so long as we get all three points at the end of the day.”
Joe Anyon came in to make his first start since November and pulled off some important saves throughout the match. Bishop was full of praise for Saturday’s custodian, having come into the side with little game time under his belt.
“It’s hard for him to come in, but I’m delighted for him to play and get the clean sheet. Luke (Daniels) was Mark Robins’ number one so his chances have been very limited," he mentioned.
“But he’s come in and done really well. His distribution got better as the game went on and his shot stopping as the fans will have seen was excellent.”
Undefeated in ten games at Glanford Park, Bishop believes it is turning into a daunting place for visiting sides to come to again.
He said: “Any good team that wants to be successful has got to have good home form, and we have shown that. I remember coming here with Notts County and it was always a difficult place to play, and I think we are slowly getting back to that.
“The fans can see what we’re trying to do and the manager said from day one that he didn’t want us to just see out the season, he wanted us to put things into practice for what we want to do moving forward into next season.”
See much more from Neal Bishop, Joe Anyon and Graham Alexander on The Iron PlayerHD.
CREWE ALEXANDRA v SCUNTHORPE UNITED
Saturday, April 16, 2016 | 3pm kick-off
SCUNTHORPE UNITED v BURY
Tuesday, April 19, 2016 | 7.45pm kick-off
PETERBOROUGH UNITED v SCUNTHORPE UNITED
Saturday, April 23, 2016 | 3pm kick-off
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