Hill builds up to Tuesday night Barrow encounter

First team manager Keith Hill has previewed the Iron's home game against Barrow on Tuesday night (7.45pm kick-off), and his side look to build on the positive aspects of Saturday's display against Colchester United.

Playing with 10 men for almost an hour following Luke Matheson's red card for two bookable offences, a controversial moment in which the 11-man U's equalised after a handball prior to the goal changed the course of the game.

Up to that stage, his side had looked comfortable and there were plenty of elements Hill was pleased with from his team as they also fought to get back into the match despite their numerical disadvantage.

He told iFollow Iron: "It was good to see Joe Nuttall get off the mark (scoring his first goal for the club). He's getting stronger. He's been out of the game a long time through injury but he's definitely finding his footballing geography on the pitch now, so he's getting there.

"It's been important from my perspective to dip him in and out, but he's definitely here for the long-term so the more we get from him, the sharper he's going to be, the more alert, and the more ready he'll be for those goalscoring opportunities.

"I think we've blended him in gently quite well. He's been a little bit frustrated that it's taken him quite a period of time to catch up to speed, but it's only to be expected. There will be ups and downs but we have ten really good games to go where he can thrive on opportunities and we'll get a good source of supply to him from wide areas of the pitch or central areas of the pitch. We've got good passers and players who can create opportunities. We have to start creating more for him, and also the other strikers as well.

"I thought he worked exceptionally hard and there were a lot of positives from Saturday's game from the performance but I was just disappointed with the outcome. However, we have ten games left where we're really looking forward to making an impact.

He added: "Harvey Cribb was brilliant. He's a winner and has a desire. He was really disappointed after the game, having spoken to him, about the scoreline outcome but within that there were plenty of positives when you look at the contribution Ty (Tyrese Sinclair) made when he came on too.

"Harvey got stronger as the game wore on, and we were down to ten men, so that's a credit to him and to the group of players that they never gave up."

Talking about the prospect of alterations to the side, with the Barrow match coming so soon after, he said: "There could be potentially. We're obviously without Luke Matheson, but it's a great opportunity for the players to express themselves, show hunger and desire, and come out with some points and positives between now and the end of the season.

"Not all is lost. There's still a tangible opportunity for us to salvage our League Two status. Everyone has written us off and will continue to, but there were certainly still great aspects of what I expect from a team that were evident on Saturday. We have to take that into the next game and still have that attitude and application. Every football match is an opportunity individually and collectively for us to learn something and grow.

"They (Barrow) have a very good manager and a good group of players. Every game and opposition provides different problems, but different opportunities for us. We have to go through our work with the players in preparation for what will be a difficult game, but one we should enjoy and embrace, and do everything we possibly can to win the match."

See much more from Keith Hill and Joe Nuttall on iFollow Iron.