Nelson reflects on hard-fought away success

Scunthorpe United interim boss Michael Nelson insisted he ‘couldn’t ask for anything better’ following our 1-0 win away at Halifax Town earlier this evening.

The Iron recorded our first away triumph of the campaign at The Shay Stadium, with Cameron Wilson’s first half goal proving to be the only difference between the two sides.

Defending well throughout the contest, Nelson praised the news prior to kick-off regarding our recent change of ownership, but insisted his players were strictly tasked with keeping their concentration on the game.

"It's fantastic," he began speaking to Iron Player. "It would've been positive anyway but with the whole scenario with the news breaking before the game there was already a positive atmosphere with the fans.

"We just tried to get the lads focussed on the football and they implemented the plan perfectly. [It’s a] really positive first away win, another box ticked and we move onto Saturday now."

Following Caolan Lavery’s exit from the club earlier this week, some had questioned whether United would be able to find another dimension in attack against the Shaymen this evening.

Opting to go with a 4-3-3 formation, with young forward Wilson leading the line, Nelson welcomed the opportunity for another one of his players to step up to the mark.

"'I have said you can be disappointed about Lavs [Caolan Lavery] going or you can just get on with it," he added. 

"It gives somebody a chance to step up and shine and I thought Cam [Wilson] was brilliant up there on his own and he led the line really well. He got his goal which was brilliant but I did have a little pop at him as he was walking off at the end of the game saying he should have had two.

"We created a couple of chances and we could have got a second. I am just really pleased that they dug in as the first 18-19 minutes were really good. We kept our shape really well and we troubled and surprised them. 

"That helped us get the goal but those 70 minutes were fantastic, I said to them at the end I could have sat here and watched that all night. Winning headers, stopping crosses, stopping shots and when they do get behind, Fozzy [Owen Foster] makes some brilliant saves. It was brilliant."

Teenage forward Tyrell Sellars-Fleming was also introduced late on to give another dimension to Scunthope’s attack, performing well throughout his 15 minute cameo thus making his debut one to remember.

"We managed the game really well," said Nelson. "For some of the lads out there and the age of them, they managed the game really well. 

"Little things like buying free-kicks and especially Ty [Sellars-Fleming] I must say on his debut and being only 17-years-old, holding it in with a big centre half behind him, falling on the ball and helping us win free-kicks up the pitch. The young boys really played beyond their years tonight."

The Iron host Bromley back at Glanford Park this Saturday, as we aim to make it back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

Nelson was keen to praise our travelling support in West Yorkshire this evening, hoping to see even more faces turn out to cheer on his players in just three days' time.

"Hopefully there will be a few more fans there at the weekend," said the 42-year-old. "Hopefully making that same level and noise of atmosphere, but all eyes are on recovery. 

"The lads have a day less than what we would normally have. So they have to take on their food and recovery and do what they do really well. We go again Saturday hoping to tick another box of back-to-back wins."