Iron manager Stuart McCall is pleased the home clash against Southend on Tuesday night (7.45pm kick-off) comes around so quickly after Saturday’s loss to Bristol Rovers.
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United take on the Shrimpers looking to bounce back from the 1-0 defeat by taking three points from another side around them in the bottom half of the League One table.
McCall was pleased to report no fresh injury worries ahead of the clash with Chris Powell’s side.
He told iFollow Iron: “The good thing is everyone who was involved trained on Monday and nobody picked up any injuries or knocks on Saturday, so that’s a positive. Whether we freshen it up with a couple of different faces, we’ll wait and see.
“After any disappointing result, you want to get back out on the park and make amends for it.
“At half-time, I ripped into the lads a bit and, having watched the game back twice, I think Bristol Rovers had a ten-minute period where they scored and hit the post. Most teams are going to have a spell like that in a game. I think it’s key at the minute where if you can get the first goal and get your noses in front in a game, as we’ve done here against Accrington, Coventry and Wycombe, it gives you that upper hand.
“Seeing the game back, the chances we had didn’t really see us work their goalkeeper as much as we’d like. Likewise, Jak (Alnwick) hasn’t really had a great deal to do again. Defensively we looked okay, but we need to be more creative and show more quality in the final third, being more clinical. Perchy (James Perch) had a free header that he sent just over, while Cam (Burgess) nodded one down to Funso (Ojo), who couldn’t get the ball from under his feet and it was stopped on the line. Kev (van Veen) had a good opportunity, while Hammy (Adam Hammill) had one saved in the first-half, and then George (Thomas) sent one across goal.
“We’re making good opportunities but just need to get our noses in front. All in all, we’re naturally very disappointed with the result. That’s three games out of the last four against sides around us where we’ve lost by the odd goal. We always set out to win the game but you have to make sure if you don’t win it, especially against sides around you, that you don’t lose.”
Southend arrive at Glanford Park having being pegged back late on to draw 2-2 at Blackpool on Saturday. They sit 14th in League One, one point above the Iron in 18th.
McCall added: “We come up against Southend, who are in and around it with us. There’s no fear, we didn’t look to have any of that on Saturday – nobody looked frightened to get on the ball. In the second-half we had a go but just couldn’t get that goal which would have secured a deserved point.
“There’s nothing more you can do once the game is over other than focus on the next one. The players were bright on Monday. I chatted to a few individuals, saying what I’d like a bit more of, what they’re doing well, or whatever that may be. We will look to take it into Tuesday’s game.
“We focus on ourselves. While we’re aware of what they’ve got and how they go about it, we have to go out and be really positive. On our day, we’re a match for anyone in this league. We were disappointed to lose on Saturday as we’ve had a good little home record of late, but we have to start another one up on Tuesday.
“The bottom line is the result but we need good performances to get those results.”
United’s next home game sees them face Southend United at Glanford Park on Tuesday, March 12th (7.45pm kick-off). Click here for details of our 12th Man Friend for a Fiver offer Buy tickets now at www.sufctickets.com.