United defender Scott Wiseman praised a huge win at Glanford Park on Saturday, as his second half goal edged his side past Oldham Athletic.
The visitors ended the first half strongly, but failed to take the chances that fell their way.The second period began with a barrage of Iron chances, with Kevin van Veen’s effort not given as a goal, despite looking to have crossed the line.
A minute or so later, Tom Hopper’s header was disallowed for offside - another decision that left United fans fearing it wouldn’t be their day.
Thanks to Wiseman, it would be though, when the Gibraltar international picked up a clearance on the edge of the Latics box, before firing in an unstoppable shot via the post. That was enough to secure all three points against ten-man Oldham.
“It was a massive win,” Wiseman told The Iron PlayerHD.
“After the performance in the first half we owed a lot to Luke Daniels for keeping us in the game.
“I think us in front of him let him down at times today, but to come out and re-group, have a chat, and go at it in the second half was great.”
With the win at Coventry a week earlier also a 1-0 victory, Wiseman described how both games were very different - despite the same score line.
“It was a different type of game to last week," he said. "This time we were at home and we are expected to really be on the front foot, and I think they caught us off guard by the way they came at us.
“Coming off the back of that, it’s a great win. We’ve showed a lot of aspects of our game today, and showed a lot of character by the way we reacted in the second half.”
Van Veen’s non-goal was a hot topic during and after the game, and the 31-year-old claimed that at the time of the decision he feared luck may not be shining down on his side.
“It’s one of those things where you worry that it’s not going to be your day," said Wiseman.
“That not gone in, and then we had Hops’ goal just after being disallowed which we thought was onside. We were worried – but luckily enough we got away with it.”
A moment of pure class almost gifted Wiseman a wonder goal not too long before the winner, and the full-back joked when recollecting the chance.
“I think I blacked out for a few seconds, and then someone told me I’d hit the bar," he said.
The match-winning goal was Wiseman’s second of the season, with the first an important opening strike away at Bury. When describing the goal, the defender mentioned he had no other option than to shoot.
“It landed to me nicely on the edge of the box, and it was the only option I had at the time, so I had to get my head down and hope for the best," he said.
Two games within the next week could be pivotal come the end of the season, but Wiseman believes the squad have what it takes to secure another valuable six points against Peterborough away on Tuesday, before the home game with Oxford United next weekend.
He said: “These are the games that we really have to capitalise, when they come thick and fast. We have to make sure we get six points from these two games and then go into the third one with Oxford full of confidence.”
See much more from Scott Wiseman, Luke Daniels and Graham Alexander on The Iron PlayerHD.
Tweets by @SUFCOfficial