Iron leave it so late but make their mark

SCUNTHORPE United struck three times in the final half-hour to blow away newly-promoted Bristol Rovers.

The Iron had lacked ideas and intensity during an opening 45 minutes in which Matty Taylor volleyed the visitors ahead.

But Kevin van Veen’s rocket in the 65th minute drew Scunthorpe level and lit the touch paper for a frantic finale in which Josh Morris and Kyle Wootton secured them a first opening day win in three years.

“Kev adjusted his feet really well and put his foot through it with great quality. It was a fantastic finish,” enthused boss Graham Alexander on his side’s equaliser.

“It was the spark for the rest of the game for us as a team. It re-ignited the crowd and we then had the momentum to go on and win it.

“In the first half we made poor decisions on the ball and gave away a sloppy goal.

“At half-time we said to the players ‘this is your first test of the season’ and told them that everyone was waiting to see how we answered it.

“They knew themselves they hadn’t played how they should have done in the first half, but in the second half they put that right.”

On the back of winning promotion twice in as many seasons, Rovers were good value for their goal advantage at the break, earned when Iron keeper Luke Daniels could only parry Taylor’s well-hit volley at the far post into the roof of the net.

But when Scunthorpe, who missed out on a play-off place last season by just a couple of goals, clicked into gear, they took some stopping.

Van Veen’s fizzing strike from a tight angle, after a game of head tennis, restored parity, before summer signing Morris marked his league debut for the club with an equally impressive strike from the edge of the box in the 81st minute.

Rovers tried to find a way back, but were caught out for a third time in stoppage time when substitute Wootton rolled the ball home.

“These players have come a long way in a short space of time and they’ll learn from this,” insisted upbeat boss Darrell Clarke.

“Our shape and discipline were good and we scored a great goal but then we got a bit sloppy in possession at times, which prevented us getting a second.

“It’s a negative that we lost the game, but I thought 3-1 flattered Scunthorpe. I’ve seen a lot of positives.

“We were in control for 60 minutes, but unfortunately it’s a 95-minute game.”