Inquiry as Clarke suffers race abuse

SCUNTHORPE United boss Paul Hurst has praised Forest Green in the wake of alleged racist comments directed to player Jordan Clarke during his side’s victory.

Referee John Busby paused the game midway through the second-half and spoke to Hurst and Forest Green head coach Mark Cooper. A minute after this, an announcement over the PA system said that there had been reports of racist language in the East Stand.

Hurst said: “I wondered what was going on initially and then the referee came over and said the fourth official had been made aware of a racist comment towards Jordan Clarke.

“I mentioned about an announcement, which later followed, and helped everyone in the stadium. There was then a lot of sympathy and understanding about halting the game.

“Some of the Forest Green fans were singing towards the individual who made the comment that it is unacceptable, and we all know that.”

Forest Green have launched an investigation into the incident.

Rovers dominated a dour first-half. Liam Shephard and Jack Aitchison traded passes for Farrend Rawson to arrow in a strike, which Roy McArdle cleared off the line.

Rovers looked odds-on to break the deadlock but Matty Stevens contrived to lift the ball over Jake Eastwood and on to the top of the bar.

Scunthorpe broke the stalemate when Gilliead was afforded time and space to run unhindered and spank beyond Lewis Thomas from the edge of the box.

And Eisa made it 2-0 as his howitzer from 25 yards flew into the top corner.

The Iron’s Levi Sutton was sent off in stoppage-time when a bad foul earned him his second booking.

Cooper felt his side paid for Stevens’ second-half penalty miss after Rawson had drawn a foul. Stevens’ spot-kick was straight at Eastwood.

Cooper said: “We played well first half and should have been in front. We missed a penalty and we paid for that.

“It was a blatant penalty, he pulled him back. The penalty changed the game but I am not going to berate my player for missing it.

“He’s an honest boy who works his socks off. Fair play to the keeper for standing up.”