Manager Nick Daws was pleased to start the season with a victory, as the Iron came from behind to win 2-1 at Coventry City.
Debut goals from new signings Stephen Humphrys and Andy Dales ensured that Scunthorpe won their opening game, getting a vital three points on the board early on in the season.
Speaking after the fixture, Daws told iFollow Iron: “We have players with character who are resolute and who I know will dig in. I’m really pleased for everybody connected with the football club.”
He was delighted to see Humphrys and Dales get off the mark with their first strikes for the club.
Daws added: “It’s two ends of the spectrum. Stephen Humphrys has come from a Premier League club on loan (Fulham), while Andy Dales has come from Mickleover Sports on a permanent move.
“Both have really bought into what we’re trying to do, though they have learning to do in terms of the way we play - they’d have learnt even more if we’d have been working with a full squad throughout pre-season. Dalesy just runs and runs, and that’s why we decided to take the plunge and bring him into the club.”
Coventry went ahead through a Tony Andreu free-kick early in the second-half, but the Iron hit back after making three substitutions, with Funso Ojo, Duane Holmes and Matthew Lund all making an impact.
Daws said: “They were massively important. We’d made the first two substitutions and then Jordan (Clarke) blew up so quickly, meaning I had to put Matty Lund on and move James Perch to right-back.
“We knew Jordan didn’t have 90 minutes in his legs. We spoke at half-time and hoped he’d give us a good 70-75 minutes, and that’s how he felt, but sometimes it just hits you. We didn’t want to risk losing him, so we made the decision and in the end it worked out well.
“Funso Ojo and Duane Holmes came on and helped spark us into life, while Matty Lund came on for his debut, having not trained with the team at all, to shore us up.
“They all played a good part. Funso brought us some calm and control which we were looking for, which we didn’t have in the first-half. Duane is electric and the only thing he’s not got is enough power in those electric legs because he’s been out for so long in pre-season. Fair play to them, they were both determined to play the game. Under the conditions, it was a fantastic impact from them.”
United could also be thankful to goalkeeper Rory Watson, who made a superb late save at point blank range from Jordy Hiwula to preserve the points.
“That’s what Rory’s got,” said the manager. “He pulled off a couple of saves in the play-off semi-final (second leg against Rotherham), which was his last game for us. He’s been thrust into the limelight, given the opportunity to stake a claim for the goalkeeping jersey, and has been challenged and supported by Jonathan Flatt. That was a huge save, because Coventry had a lot of momentum and we were fatiguing and tiring. I’m really pleased for Rory.”
772 Iron fans made the trip to the Ricoh Arena and Daws was delighted they would all be going home happy after an opening day win.
“It’s a game the supporters were looking forward to at the start of the season, and I believe our fans will go home really pleased but also recognising that we have some improving to do," he concluded.
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