Manager Paul Hurst was delighted to start 2020 in winning style, as United defeated Oldham Athletic 2-0 at Boundary Park.
Abo Eisa scored a spectacular seventh goal of the season in all competitions during the first half, while Matthew Lund added to the scoring late on with his fourth goal of the season.
It was a win that sent Scunthorpe back up to 12th in League Two, with 378 Iron fans there to witness it, and Hurst said afterwards: “It’s nice to give the fans a victory and start 2020 in the way we’d like it to continue obviously. It was a very good performance given it's the third game in quick succession, and a thoroughly deserved victory.
“It was a very well deserved win today. The only issue I had was whether we were going to get that second goal. They use the long throw and with the size of their team at set-plays, I was just concerned it might come and bite us if we didn’t get that second.
“We did and we managed to keep a clean sheet too, so I’m delighted. We want to pride ourselves on clean sheets and that’s another one today.
“After a frantic start, as soon as we put a passing move together, we looked a better team and seemed to grow in confidence, while it affected theirs (Oldham’s). Following that, we became a real threat.
“When Abo scored, I didn’t think it was a good position to hit it from really, but he got pace on it right into the corner and he was a threat throughout. The goal gave us a good platform to build from. Both wide players (Eisa and Alex Gilliead) had the beating of their full-backs throughout, while Novs (Lee Novak) worked his socks off again as the targetman."
Explaining the three changes to the side, including a return to the side for Kgosi Ntlhe after missing the last two games, the manager said: “Jake (Eastwood) was doing very well before and I think it was right to bring him back in. Kgosi is back, which is a real bonus to us.
“We thought his injury last week was originally a lot worse than it was. It’s a strange one, and the first time Michael (McBride, head of medical services) has experienced someone with that injury. It’s a muscle underneath the hamstring that was affected.
“Kev (van Veen) has been poorly since Sunday so we brought John McAtee in to give support to Lee Novak.”
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