IVAN’S RIGHT ON CUE
Iron striker’s stunning trick shot pots Bradford
SCUNTHORPE 3 Toney 3, 47, Crooks 82 BRADFORD 2 Toner 14, Jones 16 IVAN TONEY must take after his snooker-playing dad – because he has a knack of potting his big chances.
Two finely-taken goals from the striker on loan from Newcastle got Scunthorpe’s League One promotion push back on course after a miserable couple of months.
And even though Graham Alexander’s men need snookers if they are to catch the top two, Toney still has hopes of a second successive promotion to make his father proud. He was on loan at Barnsley last season when they were promoted to the Championship through the play-offs.
He reckons a repeat could still happen, and is being backed all the way by his dad, also called Ivan, who used to take on Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark Selby on the pro snooker circuit.
“I’m sure we’ll come through this rough patch and get the promotion we need,” said Toney. “Anything can happen in football.
“My dad was here watching. He keeps me on my toes, and is behind me all the way. He played with all the top guys, but didn’t have the support then that I have now.
“He played Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark Selby, people like that. He said he used to beat them – but I don’t know whether he did or not.”
Matt Crooks sealed only a second win for Scunthorpe in 12 games when he headed in Josh Morris’ corner with seven minutes left. It lifted them into fourth spot above opponents Bradford, who were left wondering how their seven-match unbeaten run was ended.
Toney gave the Iron a thirdminute lead but on-loan Aston Villa defender Kevin Toner then headed his first senior goal before Alex Jones put the Bantams in front with a deflected 20-yarder.
A brilliant bicycle kick from Toney made it 2-2 early in the second half – and the visitors then missed a glut of chances. Scunthorpe keeper Luke Daniels saved well from Timothee Dieng, Charlie Wyke and Mark Marshall.
And City laid siege to the home goal after Crooks scored, with Romain Vincelot heading against the bar in a frantic finish before Murray Wallace somehow cleared Danny Devine’s follow-up off the line while on the ground.
Bradford boss Stuart McCall said: “In the second half, we were well on top. It was just wave after wave. It was disappointing not to win the game, never mind get a point.
“The play-offs have always been the aim. There’s a lot of work still to do.”