IRON UP FOR DOUBLE DAWS
SCUNTHORPE’S dynamic duo made it two wins out of two to put themselves firmly in the frame to be Mark Robins’ permanent replacements.
Caretakers Nick Daws and Andy Dawson were in charge for the easy win over Colchester last weekend after Robins was dismissed following a 5-0 drubbing by Blackpool. And this was an even more impressive win as the Iron condemned Coventry to only their second home league defeat of the season.
But despite the unblemished record, Daws insists he still hasn’t discussed taking on the role fulltime with Dawson.
“This is the response I fully expected after what happened at Blackpool,” he said. “It’s the response that any manager would expect because the players are proud and they are professional.
“One thing we’ve done well in the last two games is eradicate the errors we made against Blackpool. We haven’t achieved the level of consistency we would have expected all season but the boys have been fantastic in both games, especially here against a very tough team with great quality.
“Whether we deserve the job will be determined by the chairman. If our energies start going into what might be in the future then we wouldn’t give the role our 110 percent commitment and concentration.”
Scunthorpe took the lead in the ninth minute when Tom Hopper was left free in the box at a Jamie Ness corner and shot home from close range.
There was little to choose between the sides as James Maddison and Adam Armstrong went close for the home side, but City did look nervy at the back compared to the solid Scunthorpe defensive line.
Peter Ramage completely missed a routine ball on the halfway line but Paddy Madden wasted the chance by blasting wide when he was clean through. Stephen Hunt then miscued a hooked clearance straight to Luke Williams but he curled his shot against the bar.
Armstrong had a fierce shot saved by Luke Daniels at the start of the second half as Coventry started to knock on the door but they came unstuck again when Ness’s corner was headed in by Murray Wallace.
Coventry, who were far from their best, continued to press and when Maddison, afforded no protection by woeful referee James Linington, was bowled over by Ness, the official pointed to the spot. Armstrong converted the 86th-minute penalty before Romain Vincelot saw red for a second booking.
Coventry boss Tony Mowbray was clearly frustrated.“I can’t find any excuses,” he said. “You think they are ready for it before the game but we need to show much more than we did.
“The second half was a bit better and we could have scored before they got the second but it wasn’t to be. It was too little too late at the end.
“We have to stick together and we have to come back next week. We need more but words are cheap, we have to do it out there.”