Nelson reacts to 3-0 win over Maidenhead

Scunthorpe United interim boss Michael Nelson has insisted he was more than impressed by the confidence levels his players showed, following our 3-0 victory over Maidenhead United at Glanford Park.

Forward Caolan Lavery netted a hat-trick for United, taking his tally for the season up to nine, with the side also keeping a clean sheet on a superb showing against the Magpies.

Nelson was more than happy with the performance levels from his team, stating even throughout the tough periods in the game, there was lots to be proud of. 

"It was good," he told Iron Player following the victory. "The lads were great from start to finish and we had to weather a bit of a storm for probably 15-20 minutes and they had a good spell of putting us under pressure.

"But the lads at the back did very well and put their bodies on the line. The one time they did get in behind us Fozzy [Owen Foster] comes out and makes a good save. We were very good in and out of possession and it was nice to come out with a win."

Finding the net three times in a superb showing, Lavery delightfully lofted the ball over Maidenhead keeper Dániel Gyollai to score our final goal of the afternoon.

Enjoying something of a hot streak in front of goal at present, Nelson was delighted with his forward's execution during the 90 minutes.

"Watching it back and whichever goal is going to get you the hat-trick, that’s probably the one to do it," he added. 

"I really liked all the goals, the first goal Cam [Cameron Wilson] drives at them and sends them back fearfully and then plays it to Buts [Jacob Butterfield] who does a lovely one round the corner for a nice finish. The second goal is a really goal to watch, some nice intricate play down the left and then of course the third one speaks for itself."

Also commending teenager Owen Foster for his showing in between the sticks, the birthday boy was in fine form and was good value for a perfect gift he later stated.

"It was brilliant," Nelson added. "Me and Muzzy [Paul Musselwhite] spoke to him after the Wrexham game about what may be classed as a couple of mistakes. I said to Muzzy on the bus literally on the way back that he’s starting the next game. 

"I didn’t want him to have that fear because he had made a couple of mistakes. After the game I made sure Muzzy told him that as I think confidence is key, especially in the young boys. I am really pleased he came in and made a clean sheet.

"I have spoken to the lads who worked on it a couple of weeks ago, blocking shots and giving the keeper as little to do as possible. If you do that and work hard in front of the keeper, that one or two times that they do breach you, the keeper will come and do a job for you. 

"That was the way it worked today and don’t get me wrong that we had spells today where we could of been better but I thought we used the ball well at times, some nice passages and I think we thoroughly deserved the win, at least by 3-0."

With tough tests to come against Woking and Solihull Moors, much has been made of the team's upturn in output across the recent weeks. 

Now, with a result to go alongside our strong showing, Nelson has insisted that the confidence his players can now take is the most important part of all.

"We have played well and not got the results and I said to the boys that confidence is a big thing, I could see them growing in confidence," he added. 

"In the press I did on Thursday I said how good the week had been and the tempo was really high. The lads are playing practical jokes on each other around the dressing room on a day-to-day basis, they just seem to be in a good space at the moment and that result out there can only help that moving forward.

"We spoke about little things we hit and little targets we need to meet. The clean sheet we got that down at Yeovil and now we have one at home. Next target is back-to-back and that's what we will look to do in the next game. 

"We will have another good week hopefully as we have had this week, everybody seems to have come through unscathed so it's a good positive week and we will take that into next week."

See much more from Michael Nelson and Owen Foster on Iron Player.