Striker Paddy Madden was thrilled to make his first league start of the season, while helping his side on their way to a thumping 4-0 victory over Southend United.
Madden had put the Iron ahead on 36 minutes, before his strike partner Kevin van Veen doubled the lead just five minutes later.It was then time for the Sky Bet League One player of the month for August to step forward, as Josh Morris fired in an almost duplicate goal to the one he scored on the opening day.
Richie Smallwood then came off the bench to finish the scoring, as the on-loan Rotherham man let rip with an unstoppable volley from just inside the box.
“It was a great performance from the boys, from start to finish,” Madden told The Iron PlayerHD.
“We’re making Glanford Park a fortress and teams are struggling to play against us here.
“It’s all positives around, and the substitutes that came on played a big part as well, and it keeps us up there.”
Madden was pleased to be back in the starting line-up, but believes he is still some way from reaching full fitness.
He added: “It’s good to be back. I just need to get a bit more fitness now and get back to my usual self, but it’s always good to get a goal – but more importantly the win.”
Man of the match Duane Holmes was the architect for the first goal, as he ran down the right wing before crossing low into Madden’s path. The Irishman was grateful for such a quality ball in from Holmes, but for also seeing the ball nestle into the bottom corner of the net.
“I always fancy myself to score goals given the opportunity. It was a great ball in from Duane (Holmes), so I put my foot through it and thankfully it went in," he stated.
“My target is always 20 goals. It’s been a tough start (because of the injury) but I’ve got the confidence in myself that I can get 20.”
The win takes United up to second, but with a game in hand on all of the teams around them. Madden believes the home record at Glanford Park will have certainly alerted the league to the Iron’s intentions for this season.
He stated: “Teams will be starting to take notice of us now, and if we keep playing the way we did today and in other games, not many teams will beat us.”
At 0-0, Iron shotstopper Luke Daniels pulled off one of the saves of the season already, as he clawed out Adam Barrett’s header. Madden stated that the save was catalyst to the end result on the day.
“Luke has to take a lot of credit for keeping the game at 0-0 and giving us the confidence to go and get as many goals as we did," he said.
“If that goes in, and we go 1-0 down, it’s a totally different game – so a lot of credit has to go to Luke and the defence.”
See much more from Paddy Madden, Duane Holmes, Graham Alexander, plus extended match highlights, on The Iron PlayerHD.
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