Manager Graham Alexander provided post-match reaction to iFollow Iron after the 1-1 home draw against Rochdale.
The Iron came from behind to claim a point as Callum Camps struck early in the first-half for the visitors. Ivan Toney was the man to put the scores level, as he nodded the ball home at the front post in the second-half.
ON THE GAME…
GA: In the end, a draw was the fair result. Both teams were desperate for all three points but, with the chances at both ends, a point each was what both teams deserved. We started brightly in the first-half and had a couple of opportunities but didn’t take advantage of them. Then they scored and we went a little bit flat for the last 15-20 minutes of the first-half. In the second-half we were better and started much more positively. We were aggressive and got the goal. We had other opportunities, but so did Rochdale. It wasn’t a game that was high on quality. Their goal was poor from our perspective as it came from the second phase of play. We defended the first phase quite well, but had to get out and press that ball a lot quicker and more aggressively. I don’t think their player hit it that well because it took a couple of bobbles before it went in, but it’s gone through bodies, and nestled in the bottom corner. It was a goal out of nothing really and it was a test of our character from then on. Certainly, from the start of the second-half, we answered that with the way we approached it. We got the goal we deserved, but there weren’t loads of clear-cut chances after that to go and win the game. I think we can play better. The effort and commitment from the team was good, apart from that 15-20 minute spell towards half-time. I just felt there were nerves from both teams really. Rochdale are desperate for the points to survive in this league, and we’re desperate as well to try and get into the next one.
ON MATT GILKS’ LATE SAVE FROM SCOTT WISEMAN…
GA: Gillo made a very good save from that one. It’s a good save down to his left. It was good to see because I think a defeat would have been extremely harsh, but that’s happened to us in the last couple of weeks. We won’t shy away from the fact we wanted three points today, we got one and other results went our way, so we’re still in the same position as before the game.
ON THE UPCOMING EASTER MATCHES AGAINST OXFORD AND PLYMOUTH…
GA: There’s a lot made of the Christmas and Easter periods being defining moments in the season. Over Christmas we won three and drew one, and everyone was on top of the world, Then we’ve been on a run which has been a struggle for us. We have to take one game at a time and make sure we focus on Oxford next week, giving it our best shot to win the game. If we can improve on the quality of our play then we give ourselves the best chance of doing that.
See much more from Graham Alexander on iFollow Iron. Click here to sign up.