Jimmy Dean challenges his side to bounce back at York

Jimmy Dean provides a squad update ahead of the the Iron’s game against York City in the Vanarama National League.

The gaffer began by speaking about the importance of the fixture: "It’s huge. We’re at that stage of the season now where we need to be picking up points." 

York also suffered defeat to a side at the top of the table at the weekend, placing them in a similar position to the Iron: “We’re both in similar form and we’ve won a couple in the last five. It’s a big game for both of us. If they win they’ll probably take themselves away from it, and if we win we’ll probably pull them back into it. It’s a derby of sorts as well. There’s no excuse after Saturday to not get a reaction and a performance."

Following Saturdays defeat at Meadow Lane, Jimmy spoke about how the mood in the camp has been: "We all could have done better on Saturday, but we had caught them on a good day and I don’t think anyone in the league could have kept with them. That’s not the same excuse coming into these seven games though.

"I think that’s the first time since I’ve been here where we’ve been dominated in a game. It’s the first time and it needs to be the last. It’s all eyes on York and every single game after we need to be picking up points, that’s got to be the target now."

The boss then elaborated on the next seven games, where the Iron will play a host of teams around them in the table: "We had won five out of 29 when I came in and we’ve won three out of 10 now, which tells you that the win percentage is a lot higher than it was. That’s also off the back of playing teams predominantly in the top half, but there’s no point doing okay in that period if we’re not going to capitalise when we play teams in and around us.

"We will find out how good we are in these seven game. If we’re good enough to win the five we need then we will. That’s the truth and there won’t be any excuses."

Dean then spoke about Tom Pugh, who was absent at the weekend, as well as providing an update on the rest of the team: "He (Pugh) had a hamstring injury, which is why he wasn’t involved. He should be fit to be back in the squad tomorrow. Chapman is out for the season. I think that’s pretty much it."

Carver is back in training, and the boss spoke about the attackers return: "He’s alright. For him it’s just waiting for an opportunity now. We will keep building him up and working with him on the training pitch.

"I don’t think either of our front players gave us anything on Saturday other than endeavour and hard work, which he did and I think he had the second highest distance. However, Richie Bennett had had a real good impact since he came in and Danny Elliott has as well, so it’s difficult for Marcus but he has to be patient."

On the fan’s continued support, the Iron boss said: "The thing that annoyed me most on Saturday was that we didn’t give a bit more for them. I’m challenging the players to give them a bit back on Tuesday.

"Professional pride should be enough, but if not, and you turn around and see that following behind you, then you have to do more and you’ve got to try harder. That’s been the message since the day I came through the door, it’s as simple as that.

"It’s a privilege to be involved with a fan base like that. I don’t want to be too harsh about what we did on Saturday, but my message to the players is that we have to give them more back, and we have to do more for them."