Iron manager Nick Daws was happy with how his side stood up to Championship opposition in what was an excellent defensive display against Nottingham Forest.
United fell to a slender defeat as Ryan Yates returned to strike past the club he spent six months on loan with in the second half of last season.
Daws spoke to iFollow Iron following the game: “The test was exactly what we expected.”
“We expected that we would have little of the ball at times and that we would have to defend resolutely. I thought we defended excellently to limit them to a couple of half chances.
“The goal was really disappointing coming from a set-play and it fell to Ryan Yates of all people. It was disappointing because in open play we defended so well. It was a good test, with a lot of good players against a team that’s spent a lot of money.”
United were without Funso Ojo, Duane Holmes, Josh Morris and Levi Sutton, along with long term absentee Matt Gilks for the game, while defender Jordan Clarke was notified of a one-game suspension to be taken with immediate effect following his dismissal in Austria on Saturday.
The Scunthorpe boss, all things considered, spoke on the performance as a whole: “As it stands at the moment, we’ve got a considerably depleted squad in terms of bodies and having to use younger players to supplement the bench, so from that point of view I’m really pleased (with how the side performed).
“I thought at times, when we started to pass the ball we opened them up, but we didn’t do it enough. The disappointing part of that is that we didn’t fulfil our potential and create enough chances.”
The game gave Iron supporters the first chance to seen the new signings in action at Glanford Park, with forward Andy Dales awarded the match sponsors’ man of the match accolade.
“Andy Dales was probably the highlight of the first half,” Daws stated.
“He was really bright, explosive and quick and that’s why we signed him. He’s learning everyday and works hard when we’ve not got the ball as well. It probably wasn’t the best game for Fela (Olufela Olomola) to express himself because he was having to do that much work defensively for the team.
“Stevie Humphrys came on in the second half and I thought he did really well. He held the ball up, he was powerful and all of them created something that they can build on from their point of view.”
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