‘Gutted’ Robertson vows to turn tide
CARETAKER boss Dave Robertson vowed Peterborough United’s players will ‘work their socks off’ to put their play-off push back on track, which faltered further at struggling Scunthorpe.
The Iron dominated, with goals in each half from Paddy Madden and Theo Robinson giving them a first win in ten matches.
Posh have now lost three of their last four games and a top-six finish seems a tall order, despite their stand-in manager’s defiance.
“People can say what they want,” said the visibly deflated Robertson, when it was suggested the reaction to the result may be that ‘the bubble had burst’.
“We’ll sit down with our players and we’ll make sure we get things right.
“Am I disappointed? I’m gutted, but that’s the first time I’ve lost back-to-back games. It’s definitely not going to happen with a third one on Monday.
“There was a surprising lack of energy from the team.
“Scunthorpe are in a relegation battle and they out-competed us. That, in my opinion, is unacceptable and I’m really disappointed about it.”
Posh’s best two efforts of a dreadful afternoon both came from 20 yards out, via the boot of skipper Michael Bostwick. Each time the midfielder saw his effort turned over the bar by Luke Daniels.
Really, though, this game was all about the industry and flair of the Scunthorpe attacking quartet, in which Gary McSheffrey thrived playing in the hole behind striker Kevin van Veen.
McSheffrey was involved in the Iron’s brightest play and it was from his initial shot, blocked by the boot of a Peterborough defender, that Madden stole in to sweep home his 16th goal of the season, five minutes before half-time.
The strike lifted the atmosphere a notch at Glanford Park and also raised Scunthorpe’s performance level.
In the second half they cut Posh open time and time again with van Veen and McSheffrey, via a header, both going close to a second goal.
But the Iron deservedly made the game safe in the 73rd minute when Robinson met McSheffrey’s cross in the six-yard box.
Mark Robins, the Scunthorpe manager, could even toast only his side’s third clean sheet of the season.
“It was a good win, a good performance and a good clean sheet. I’m delighted,” he said.
“I thought we grew into the game and were pretty good with and without the ball. To get a clean sheet was outstanding and though we got two goals, it could have been more.
“We’ve been as good as I’ve seen for a while and we looked very confident.”