Dean post-Barnet (H)

Scunthorpe United boss Jimmy Dean spoke to Iron Player following our 3-1 defeat against Barnet at Glanford Park in the National League.

Despite there being 5,000 home fans in attendance, a brace from Dale Gorman and a further strike from David Moyo handed the Bees victory. Gerry McDonagh netted the Iron’s only goal on his debut.

The 40-year-old reflected on the determination his side showed across the 90 minutes.

"I thought the players showed they are up for a fight and I thought they showed spirit," he told Iron Player. "Both boxes and I know its a cliche, but it was both boxes. 

"We made mistakes and we have to do better as one has come straight from a free-kick and that can't happen can it. The second in the build-up I think we defended it properly but then we had a chance to clear our lines and we didnt.

"We kicked it straight to them and then the young boy sold himself in the box and it's taken a deflection and went in. The third, Fozzy [Owen Foster] will know that he has to save it. It’s frustrating as we can complain about defensively what's happened, but offensively, we had six or seven half chances and their keeper has pulled off a worldie from Dion [Sembie-Ferris]."

After signing for the Iron just days prior to tonight’s clash, our new no.9 McDonagh found the net in the second half, with Dean impressed with the forward's overall output during the contest.

"I thought he was outstanding," he said. "The way the game went, we had two base players in midfield, we wanted a little bit more control and to be a bit better in possession. The reason that game favoured how Barnet wanted to do it was probably because of what I am asking, I am asking us to be intense.

"I want us to have drive and what we have to do now is learn to just put our foot on the ball and have a little bit more quality, as we have it here we know that. We gave away possession cheaper or we would just hook it to them instead of starting again. 

"A lot of what we did do right, we wanted to get in down the side. When we did get in I thought chances came off it. We went down the right side and that is kind of the stuff we are working on, Reagan [Ogle] came down there in the first minute and found Cam [Wilson] who got a shot off in the first minute.

"It's just disappointing, you can hear it in my voice you can see it on my face but it goes back to the cliche that in both boxes they were better than us."

With just over two weeks to go until United take to the field again, the former Peterborough Sports boss was keen to emphaize that it will take time for his methods to be fully taken in by the group.

"I think that's really important," when reflecting on our upcoming off-period. "We have only had two days with them really and we want that tempo, we want that fight and we want that spirit. 

"We have just thanked them for that and thanked them for being honest and giving us a good week. Now we just want in moments a little bit more composure. That's what we are going to be driving in the next two weeks.

"We have to speak about Barnet as well, as you are talking about a side who haven't now lost an away game since the 8th of October against Wrexham. I think they were eight unbeaten coming into it, five clean sheets and they’d conceded just one goal in three before that. He (Dean Brennan) has got them on a roll.

"It's something for me to aspire to and say look this is what we can do.

Praising our supporters' endeavours this evening, Dean reflected on a bumper crowd of over 5,000 and believes our fans' efforts only further fuel his desire to succeed during his time at the club.

"I love it," he added. "Thats a big crowd tonight but I felt part of it. I felt part of the environment, I felt part of the atmosphere and I want to get this right and I want to make these people happy.

"If this is a situation where keeping the club up for these people will be one of the achievements of my life, as it would mean so much to so many people. Not many people get that opportunity to make such an impact to that many peoples' lives.

"Thats what I am going to come in and fight for. Looking at the players, they look like they are ready to be too and we will be better, we know we will be better. But they're certainly giving their all."