Onariase reacts after returning to the side at Exeter

Defender Manny Onariase was happy to return to the team, though was ultimately left disappointed by his side's result at Exeter City on Saturday.

Speaking on the result as he made his comeback after being unavailable for the last two games, he told iFollow Iron: “It’s disappointing, I feel that we know what we’re capable of but we’ve slipped up in the last few games and performances. I think we, as the gaffer says, need a reaction to get back on track.”

He added: “In the first half there wasn’t much danger on our goal, we defended well so we were hoping to replicate that in the second half.”

Commenting on the goals, the second of which was a point of controversy believing it was offside, Onariase said: “The first one was a good strike so it is disappointing. We wanted and believed we would get something from the game; we wanted a clean sheet and that was the most important thing and then to build from that. To concede a goal like that was disappointing but a great strike."

Speaking about his return after a spell out with illness, the 25-year-old said: “I’m feeling better now to have got through the game. The game was quite difficult to get my match fitness back up. The mental side of it is very important; the gaffer stresses it. I’ve got my head in the game and I’m feeling better now.

“It’s just momentum and getting a run of the games and getting a routine. You do things without doubting yourself - I need to get back into the momentum and the swing of things. Games are coming thick and fast and we need to get into them and get the points.”

Onariase played alongside the Iron's newest recruit, on-loan right-back Luke Matheson. Talking about the 19-year-old's debut, he said: “I think he did well. He’s confident, energetic and did well defensively. I enjoyed playing alongside him. He’s got good energy around him. He knows what the manager wants.”

Looking ahead to the next game which sees the Iron face Newport County at home on Saturday, he said: “I think it’s clear to see that the gaffer's building something. It’s important we get back on track. We need to make our home a fortress, a territory that teams don’t want to come to.’’

See much more from Manny Onariase and Keith Hill on iFollow Iron.