For the fifth time this season, Scunthorpe surrendered a half-time lead or draw to run out spirited losers in League One and now fears of relegation are seriously on the cards.
Most weekend football betting predictions gave us little chance last weekend at promotion-chasers Stevenage. But the Iron were holding their own as Alan Knill led them off the park for half time, raising hopes of a morale boosting result.
Our defence looked strong and although we struggled to maintain possession for any great length of time we were certainly challenging for all three points at the break.
Indeed, Iron fans could have been surprised we weren’t leading at the interval after Mark Duffy came so close to scoring midway through the half.
Yet just moments into the second half it was clear Stevenage had stepped up a gear or two and Sam Slocombe – who had previously had a quiet game – was forced into making some pretty hefty saves to keep the scores level. It is with frustration that the home side’s goal – as good as it was from Greg Tansey – should have come after such a spirited first half display and we never threatened to equalise once Stevenage took the lead.
So what went on at half time that turned our game so badly? Granted, this wasn’t the capitulation we saw against Tranmere last week or the agonising last-minute disintegration away at Portsmouth, but the manner of the result is still galling and further dampens team spirit at base camp.
We now sit a concerning 22nd in the league and had some of those late goals not come then five or six more points would be added to our pitiful tally of just eight. Next week we face Brentford – another promotion chaser – and if Knill cannot inspire some second-half fight into his men then the Iron will find it increasingly difficult to benefit off good starts as the season gets into full swing this October.
Any Old Iron 