So last weekend we bowed out of the FA Cup after being well and truly hammered by the table toppers from League 2 – Gillingham FC.
This was Brian Laws first game as Iron manager and I think a few too many Scunny fans expected to see an immediate positive impact from the Gaffer resulting in a win against a team who despite being only 3 places lower than us in the football pyramid, are a league below.
The first half went smoothly enough and we looked a different team to the one we did under Alan Knill; playing some great football and going into half time deservedly level with our opponents. However, the second half would be a completely different story to the first.
We conceded the first goal on 59 minutes and then just absolutely capitulated. This is an all too familiar story for the Iron so far this season. Conceding that first completely ruins our confidence and the morale drop leads to silly goals being conceded.
At the end of the day this was not a league game and although the £18,000 prize money for getting yourselves into the second round hat would have been nice, we need to put our ALL into the league games. We are more than good enough to stay in this league.
Last season I was one of Sam Slocombe’s biggest admirers, however, this term he has been at fault for far too many goals. His presence when the opposing team have a set-piece is his worst flaw and this has led to a host of goals being conceded from set plays. I personally believe Sam will still have a future at the club however he needed a break, and we needed a Keeper with experience and someone who was going to command from the back.
Welcome Steve Mildenhall who joined us this week from Milwall on a months loan (although this will hopefully be extended until at least the end of the season). At 34 he has the experience I spoke of in the previous paragraph, and despite not appearing in a League game since February; Many Iron fans were excited by his arrival.
So Tuesday arrives and I am as optimistic as ever about our chances away at Walsall (I called a 0-0 draw, I wasn’t far off…). Steve is put straight into the starting 11 with Prutton and Clarke both coming back into the squad after being ineligible to play in the FA Cup fixture.
What happened over the next 90 minutes after our start to the season and recent form was nothing short of extrodinary.
We get in to half time with the score at 2-0(This was also the first time the Iron have scored more than 1 goal in the first half of a game for 29 league games), however Mr Prutton had only gone and gotten himself sent off. I start thinking that just as we look good for the 3 points this sending off could be another knock back.
HOW WRONG I WAS!
The second half starts and we don’t do the usual when down to 10 men and sit back and guard the lead we already have with our everything, we instead plow forward and find 2 more goals courtesy of Niall Canavan and Leon Clarke to take the score unbelievably to 4-0! At this point my tweet before the game saying ‘I would lick the wall outside my house if we won’ looked like it would become a reality, but I wouldn’t care, it would be so worth it to have that feeling just before I went to sleep that night of a vital 3 points.
Niall Canavan scored 2 goals so we will all erase the fact that the consolation goal Walsall scored through Grigg was completely his fault!
The game finished 4-1 to the Iron… Stunning!
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| Picture evidence of me licking my wall – Worth it. |
On to recent news coming out of Scunthorpe United. Yesterday Matty Godden joined Ebbsfleet on loan. Hopefully he can go find some form and get some valuable game time under his belt.
There has been plenty of truth in the rumour that we are trying to bring back Iron Legend Matty Sparrow in on loan however the Iron’s finances seem to be a stumbling block at the moment. I would suggest Lawsy send Robbie Gibbons, Mark Hughes and Jordan Keegan out on loan. This would be win-win for us as we would leave ourselves with a few more pennies to bring in Matty whilst these lads also gain some more experience. I believe they do have a future at the club so a bit of experience for them would be vital. Make it happen Lawsy, we know you’re a father figure to Spadge!
Finally a short look at this weekend’s game away at Coventry. We go into the game without David Prutton who is suspended after his red card on Tuesday. David Mirfin is a big doubt and Michael Collins looks like he will be rested as a precaution. I would put Damien Mozika in to replace the suspended Prutton. Canavan to keep his spot after an impressive performance on Tuesday.
My predicted Line-up:
GK: Mildenhall
RB: Ribs CB: Canavan CB: Reidy LB: Newey
RM: Duffers CM: Mozzy CM: Walker LM: Barch
ST: Clarke ST: Hawley.
My predicted final score:
Coventry City 2-3 Scunthorpe United. Mark Duffy x2, Karl Hawley.
To any Iron fans making the Journey, travel safely. Lets get some momentum going and grab 3 points from the Ricoh Arena.
Up the Iron!
Any Old Iron 