Graham Alexander praised his side’s performance as they drew 3-3 away at Wigan Athletic on Saturday.
Wigan’s Chey Dunkley headed his side into the lead in the 13th minute, but Tom Hopper struck back just three minutes later with a wonderful looping header.
There was then late drama at the end of the first 45 minutes. Wigan retook the lead through Will Grigg, but another immediate response from Hopper drew the Iron level in stoppage time.
After an eventful first half, ex-Latics loanee Ivan Toney gave the Iron the lead for the first time in the match with a powerful effort.
Wigan then made it 3-3 with four minutes left. Gary Roberts advanced on the left before his effort deflected into the back of the net.
After the game, Alexander provided his reaction to iFollow Iron.
ON THE DRAW…
GA: My thoughts are the same as the players, we’re disappointed we didn’t take the three points because we felt the performance warranted it, as we came to a fantastic club doing exceptional things and scored three goals. We could have had more, and I thought it was a fantastic game of football. What we put into it, how we played, the discipline and focus shown, and courage on the ball was excellent. Yet again, the opposition had a little bit of luck on their side with two deflected goals. What can we do about them? It’s difficult. We will focus on the positives like we have done this week, and try to set standards for the players. They’ve set a level today where, if it’s anything less than that, they’re letting us and themselves down – that’s the biggest thing. As footballers, you want to show what you can do and they’ve certainly done that today.
ON HOPPER AND TONEY BEING ON THE SCORESHEET…
GA: It will do the team the world of good, knowing you have strikers in the building that can score goals. We’ve come to one of the toughest places in the league, with them only letting six goals in here this season, and we’ve managed to score three. The quality of the goals was superb. We should be standing here with three points, but it’s a point away from home at a very tough place. We have to build on it, replicating that level of performance between now and the end of the season to take advantage of the opportunity we’ve got.
ON THE PERFORMANCE…
GA: I was pleased with the focus and intelligence of the players to take what we’ve done in training all week into a match situation under pressure against a very good team. To keep the performance level was really good. The players showed so much courage keeping the ball and used it really well at times. We just have to get over that mental hurdle of seeing a game out because it should have been won. We’ve done that on other occasions but I don’t feel anybody has battered us or outplayed us in those games. We’re still in a fantastic position and showed today that we have nothing to be scared of. We’re still good players, a good team, good staff and a good club. The support was great today and the only way we’re going to be successful is by everyone producing their best, and that’s what we need to do between now and the end of the season. The players have shown they can go to here and Blackburn and be a good team. What we have to do now is show that at home, and turn around our home form. It’s a good test for us next week (against Shrewsbury).
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