Robins is left to rue Iron’s glut of misses
AFTER watching two of League One’s leakiest defences tighten up to ensure a point apiece in an entertaining goalless draw, Scunthorpe boss Mark Robins could only shake his head as the Iron passed up a host of chances.
Pulled apart by Wigan Athletic in a 3-0 defeat in midweek, Scunthorpe created the better of the chances but found a visiting outfit that had conceded seven goals in their previous two games too tough a nut to crack.
They even missed a 79th minute penalty, which Paddy Madden blasted over the bar after Gary McSheffrey had gone to ground following a tussle with Mark Beevers.
It resulted in a scoreless affair, which left both bosses pleased with their respective sides’ defensive efforts.
“I thought we were unlucky.We were good in spells and created enough chances to win two games, but the disappointing thing is we haven’t taken those chances,” said Robins.
“We spurned too many of them, but I was pleased with the way we kept going. On another day we could have had four or five goals and that’s not an understatement.
“We got a good clean sheet and at times we defended really well. Once or twice we got a bit of luck, but not as much luck as they had.”
League debutant keeper Jordan Archer was the reason Scunthorpe did not go in at half-time ahead. Preferred to the experienced David Forde – dropped to the bench for the first time in more than a year – he denied Madden in the sixth minute and also got down well to push away Jack King’s header that looked like it might sneak in.
Kevin van Veen also rattled the bar as unlucky Scunthorpe, for whom Madden also had a goal disallowed in the second half, cut loose.
The Lions were not without a goal threat either. Shaun Williams should have done better from eight yards out following a pull back from Lee Gregory that Joe Anyon kept out and in injury time, Steve Morison fired against the post.
“I thought the penalty was a foul to us and having watched it back, it clearly was,” said Lions boss Neil Harris. “We should have had a penalty at the other end of the pitch as well.
“We didn’t get the decisions, but there’ll be other ones in the season that go our way.
“I’m absolutely delighted with the result. Sometimes you’ve just got to roll your sleeves up and take a little bit of luck when it comes your way.
“I thought we played well with a slightly different shape. When you change things you get a little grey area, but I thought we dealt with them really well.”