First team manager Neil Cox gave his thoughts to iFollow Iron, after his team drew 0-0 at home to Crawley Town on Good Friday.

Following the first goal-less game involving his side this season, Cox was unsatisfied with how the team played after a 10-day gap since their last match.

He said: “I’m frustrated a little bit. We didn’t really get going, I tried to play a little bit more attacking football and get at them, as they've been busy on the road (with away matches). but it didn’t really work out and we kept giving the ball away, in the final third especially. We didn’t pass it as well as we could have done. Yes, it was a little bit bobbly but we can't use that as an excuse.

“We passed it a little bit in the first half and got a couple of overloads in good areas, but never took our chances. I tried to change it second half by being brave and leaving three up, but it didn’t really work. We didn’t get hold of the ball enough, played too many long balls, and didn’t play through midfield enough. Keeping a clean-sheet is probably the only positive of the game really.”

He added: “I think we’re better on the counter-attack at the moment, with people coming onto us and then us using our pace to break. When teams sit in, we struggle to break them down, which we have to learn, and we have been doing work on the training ground. 

“It was just a hard game. It was one where we just didn’t want to lose in the end. I tried to bring some fresh legs on to change but it didn’t work.” 

This now marks five games unbeaten for the Iron and another point. Their next game is on Tuesday, where they play Carlisle United away.

Cox continued: “That’s the nature of it (the three day preparation). We have to be raring to go and focused on our jobs. We have to defend like we have done today, put bodies on the line, but we also have to be better when we're attacking. We have to try and create more chances in the last third."

Touching upon any knocks within the team, he said: “Just one or two here and there. Manny (Onariase) had a bit of a whack, Mark (Howard) has a bit of a sore thigh from kicking at the end. But we will have a look, we will get them in and go again and wrap them up in cotton wool ready for a tough trip up to Carlisle.

“Jordan (Clarke) missed out with a bit of a sore thigh, so we will have a look at him. With Manny being back fit I didn’t have to risk him and could leave him out of the squad completely. We will have a look over the next couple of days and see how he is.”

See much more from Neil Cox on iFollow Iron.

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