First team manager Jimmy Dean was pleased his team responded to his desire to send a statement out to the league by putting an in-form Hereford side to the sword at Edgar Street.
The Iron won 5-1 in the team’s first visit to the Bulls since 2008, scoring as many goals in one match as the side had conceded on home soil all season. In doing so, Scunthorpe also inflicted a third home defeat of the season for Hereford, who had won seven of the previous nine home league games previously.
“I said in my pre-match that we wanted a statement, and it felt good,” he said.
“I think we’ve given one. In actual fact, I think we’ve started the game slowly. Kian Scales was outstanding today, and it fell to us at the third attempt where Danny Whitehall took it really well. For the second, it was a cross not defended convincingly, and Michael Kelly to tick it away, and I thought from there we were absolutely superb.
“The stuff we talked about before the game - beating them on the turnover, pushing the full-backs on in the spaces out wide, and I think we did that again and again and again. Our third is an example of that, and what we wanted to do. It worked really well.
“We knew they’d have a go at us - they’d won seven out of nine here, not too dissimilar to our record, winning the last four, and we’ve won 5-1, so I’m thoroughly happy.”
United were 4-0 up and cruising by the break, adding one goal in the second half. Despite not keeping a clean sheet, goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons denied a Hereford second from the penalty spot, before the Iron added a gloss to the scoreline soon after.
“I think we could have had a few more as well,” he continued.
“I thought it was a perfect away performance, and credit to Hereford, they kept going. At 4-1, with 15 left when they got the penalty, the save from Ross Fitzsimons is an absolutely great save. That’s just as important as any of the five goals, and he deserves a fantastic shoutout for that because it was a massive moment.
“How the referee has given that, and not given the one to prevent Jacob’s hat-trick, I don’t know. It’s saved with the hand on the line and it’s a red card and a penalty.”
Having mentioned midfielder warrior Scales earlier in the interview, the first team manager expanded on his comments, which saw him surge down to force the first goal, before his long run saw him assist for the third.
“It was the turnover in midfield,” he stated.
“We had a decision to make on whether to play Kian right-back, but you’d lose that energy and bite in midfield. I knew they’d want to play it in midfield and bounce it out, or play an extra pass in midfield. When they advance their full-backs to play with their wingers, it presents an opportunity, and we did it again and again.
“I don’t think there’s anyone better in the league than Kian Scales doing that. He’s tenacious, his bite, and his end product is improving game on game. I think he’s become a real star for us this season.”
Having a week to prepare for their latest encounter after a series of midweek matches, Dean saw his side reap the benefits of being able to train all week.
“I did say that,” he continued.
“I don’t think it’s always physical, I think it can be mental playing Saturday-Tuesday with no break. You can’t do anything in training different from recovery. I think it showed that there was a little more bit and snap, and a little more intensity to our performance.
“I thought we moved the ball a lot quicker, and Cal Roberts has played 97 minutes, and I think he’s shown the glimpses of what he’s going to bring when he gets up to full speed. I’m delighted for him, I thought he was outstanding today.”
With another healthy following making the trip across in treacherous conditions, Dean also praised our hosts, who worked tirelessly to get the game on in the build-up to kick-off.
“On Hereford, and I said it when I got here, win, lose, or draw, credit to them for getting the game on today.
“Our fans were outstanding, and I enjoy having them here, and sharing these moments with them. It’s a dream for me, it’s a dream for my players, it’s a dream for my staff. Absolutely fantastic. I saw a few before the game in the services, and it feels like we’re really pulling together, and long may it continue.”
The Iron end the first round of December’s fixtures back at the summit of the division, with the challenge to now remain there as Scunthorpe come into a busy festive period.
“It throws it back over Tamworth,” he added.
“They’ve shown their worth again and again. It’s nothing more than being top of the league, where we want to be. It’s fantastic, we’ll enjoy it tonight.
“The hard work really, as we said in the pre-match, was when Michelle secured the ground. We’ve got to make sure now that we continue to do this. The football is looking after itself at the minute. If we avoid injuries, if we keep this bit of momentum that we’ve got, we will do okay.”