Scunthorpe United FC

Manager Paul Hurst provided his reaction to iFollow Iron after the season-opening 2-0 home defeat to Swindon Town.

Jerry Yates and Keshi Anderson scored the goals as the Robins emerged victorious at the Sands Venue Stadium, and Hurst said: “I honestly didn’t think there was too much in the game but once Swindon got themselves in front we had to react better, and realise there was still a long time left in the game.

“At 2-0, we had to change it to see if we could make something happen in terms of getting something out of the match, and towards the end there were one or two instances where we could have perhaps got a goal and caused a nervous ending. We certainly didn’t work their goalkeeper enough though.

“It was quite a tight affair and I felt we were more ‘dipping our toe in’ rather than having a real go. We’d done okay but both teams had a similar feel. They then scored, after our free-kick. It was a good ball in and could have ricocheted anywhere, but it fell to them and they broke well, but at the same time we have to defend those situations better and we switched off in terms of watching the ball.

“For the second one, we tried to force that equaliser. There were lots of men in the box and it wasn’t a great ball across but you should be able to give the ball away in their 18-yard box and it not cost you a goal. They were clinical in those instances.

“That can mask the game overall but we could have done more to get an equaliser at 1-0 and make it a nervy ending. We’ve looked at the goals already, spoken about it with the players and will look at how we can do better.

“There were a couple of good individual performances, but we looked a little nervous and not prepared to have the confidence to really pass the ball like we can.

“You get some goodwill messages before the game and a few were saying it’s the start of a marathon. It raises questions when you lose, of course it does, and we have to answer those, but we go next week (to Cheltenham) and try to win away from home. We have to give the travelling fans something to reward them for their efforts.”

Hurst revealed ahead of the game that winger Andy Dales through injury, saying: “He picked up a hamstring injury earlier in the week and it didn’t look good. We’ve been for a scan and have had the results. It’s still not great news but is perhaps better than first feared. He will be out for around six-to-eight weeks.”

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