Interim manager Nick Daws hailed a hard-earned 1-0 win for United against Walsall on Saturday.
Ryan Yates’ diving header on 76 minutes secured a victory which tightens Scunthorpe’s grip on sixth place in the League One play-off zone, moving three points clear of seventh place.
After the game, which saw a second win in succession and fifth match without defeat, Daws provided his assessment to iFollow Iron.
ON THE 1-0 SUCCESS…
ND: It was a really hard-earned win. Credit to Walsall because they did make it difficult for us and worked their socks off. We knew with the performances we’ve produced in open spaces, the opposition would look at us and think how they’re going to stop that. A point would have been a good point for them at the end of today in the grand scheme of things. They challenged us and played direct. The two centre-halves repelled and headed everything away. We got that one really good opportunity later on in the game and we took it. That’s the reality of football at every level. You have to pay respect to the opposition and do what you can to win the game, although the way we wanted to win it didn’t come to fruition today. It’s three points though and that’s the most important thing.
ON WALSALL MAKING IT TOUGH FOR THE IRON…
ND: We’ve earned the respect of everybody in this league and those that have left it over the last 18 months. The perception of Glanford Park being a tight, little pitch is a false one because it’s an average-sized pitch, the same as Charlton’s last week. We felt the conditions didn’t help us because it was difficult to get the ball down and move it quickly. That made it tougher for us and made the way Walsall wanted to play a little easier, because they bypassed our midfield and were quite direct up to the strikers. They then tried to stop us getting any momentum. It’s been a tough afternoon and that’s what we expected, but we’ve come away with a win.
ON THE IMPACT OF THE SUBSTITUTES…
ND: We lacked a little bit of penetration, pace and directness in the wide areas, which Duane (Holmes) gave us when he went there. He got us up the pitch and stretched the game. Hakeeb (Adelakun) just couldn’t get into the match, so that was why we made the change. Cameron McGeehan and Lee Novak came on, and Novs held the ball up incredibly well, using his vast experience against two young centre-halves, while Cameron made a massive impact in the game, winning those second balls we weren’t quite picking up in the first-half and early part of the second-half. Those two have made impacts in the last three games and have been excellent. It just shows, with the boys who didn’t come on today and those who couldn’t make the squad, that we have the tools to be able to get to where we want to get to. It’s just that rub of the green. Not getting the second goal again is a slight concern, but I know we can win in different ways and we’ve proved that.
ON YATES, WHO SCORED THE WINNER…
ND: The lads have given him a bit of banter because the mortal sin is to slide on your knees on a dry pitch, so he’s probably got grass burns all over his knees now. He’ll get the staff’s wrath if he has anything that might keep him out of training on Monday! He’s really taken to his spell here, has lots of energy, endeavour and is really brave. Today in a game where he wasn’t quite at his best, in terms of the last two away performances particular, he dug in and found a way to get us the three points along with the rest of the boys. He should be proud and we’re delighted.
ON ANY INJURIES…
ND: There are none that I’m aware of, apart from Yatesy’s knees perhaps! Josh Morris has been carrying a slight little niggle which has kept him out of training on some days in the past month, but he’s come through 90 minutes again which is great.
ON WINNING FOR THE FANS…
ND: I thought we didn’t do our bit well enough today. Credit to the supporters, they stuck behind us and we gave them their reward in the end but probably what we didn’t give them was enough to shout about and really get behind us. We had an early goal ruled out for offside. We thought it was a goal initially but it was the right decision. We’re really pleased for the supporters, and are happy that Jaik Thompson had a great day and came onto the pitch. He got a really nice reception. We’re going to the Official Supporters’ Club presentation this evening, with the boys who’ve won their awards, and it’ll be nice for myself, Andy (Dawson) and them to thank the fans for their support this year.
ON MAKING IT EIGHT POINTS FROM TWELVE GAMES…
ND: I am happy. We had two extra points taken away from us at Oxford, and had to grind one out at Wimbledon. As long as the points keep coming, however they come, we’ll keep striving for the maximum.
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