Andy Butler: There's a long way to go

Iron first-team manager Andy Butler spoke following his side's thumping 3-0 victory over predicted promotion rivals Brackley Town on the opening day of the Vanarama National League North campaign.

Scunthorpe made a great start to their season against the Saints, and Butler provided his initial thoughts on the game as a whole: “It’s a good start but there’s a long way to go and that’s the message to the players as well. I’m pleased with the performance, pleased with the application and to come away to a good team and get three goals and a clean sheet is a great start.

“I think today you saw a full squad engaged in what we’ve asked them to do and on top of that there were 16 players that came on and gave everything they’ve got, and looked physically very good which shows us as a staff that all the work we’ve put them through in pre-season has paid off.”

Iron striker Alfie Beestin grabbed two of the Iron’s three goals on the day and Butler had this to say on the positive affect his performance will have on the players confidence: “I talked to Alfie before the game, because he had some tough times in pre-season especially in Laughton Woods when he was just slightly behind the rest of the group, and the lads helped then to grab him and pull him into the end and now, he’s epitomising everything we’re about so this performance will do him the world of good.”

Attacking midfielder Cal Roberts was substituted at half-time by Butler and to clear any speculation on the players condition he replied: “The substitution was just because of a bit of fatigue. It’s the first-game of the season and your running about, so that proves that this side we have is pushing each other, so if someone has to come off then we have other players who can come on and fill their position seamlessly.

“The eleven that started the game were excellent against a Brackley team who are predicted to finish in the top half, so I’m really pleased but as I keep saying let’s not get carried away and let’s see where we are later down the line.”