Hill: We certainly upped the tempo in the second-half

First team manager Keith Hill was delighted with the second-half performance from the team as they won 3-1 at Oldham Athletic on Boxing Day.

Half-time substitute Ryan Loft scored a brace, with Myles Hippolyte also netting, as the Iron came from behind to win at Boundary Park.

"The lads have made quite a lot of sacrifices, we stayed over last night in Ashton for instance to make sure we had good preparation for this game," said Hill.

"It was unfortunate that the Bristol Rovers game was called off because it's been a long two weeks on the training pitch, and we looked a bit rusty in the first half, but we certainly upped the tempo in the second-half and got a great response having been 1-0 down.

"I was not pleased at all at half-time, as we kept seeing crosses coming into the box and Dev Green was an outlet for us. We should have exploited that space he created down that side of the pitch, but there weren't enough players trying to get into the penalty area. I was really disappointed at half-time as it looked as though we were there for the taking, but we reversed what was happening in the first half during the second period and came out winners.

"We knew we could create problems and in the second-half we did so, and we certainly put Oldham on the back foot.

"You're never quite comfortable until that final whistle blows but the third goal felt like a knock-out punch. The roles had been reversed and in the second-half we were excellent."

He added: "Our game management was good and we brought Alex Kenyon on, who's been there, seen it and done it, and we saw the game out.

"A lot of people only see the matchday but we've drawn four on the bounce before this and deserved wins from some of those. Hopefully this win will give the lads confidence. I've told the players there is a lot more work on the training ground to do, and a lot of games to play, but now we're seeing evidence of the hard work.

"It's not decided today and if we'd lost today, it wouldn't have been costly. The psychology is over 46 games and not one. I've been in this situation before where you're bottom and written off, and you have to make sure you're out of those places by the 46th game of the season.

"There is a lot of work to do and games to play but I believe we can be better than just aiming for that. First and foremost, we must try and create a gap. The lads are responding, are certainly fitter, getting hungrier, showing more ambition and if we ca pick up more wins there will be a lot more confidence."

See much more from Keith Hill on iFollow Iron.