Cooper is fuming at Rovers’ rocky run

FRUSTRATED Mark Cooper blasted his side’s defending as Forest Green Rovers slipped to their eighth game without a win.

John McAtee scored the only goal of the game just after half-time to hand all three points to the Iron.

And Cooper was left disappointed as his side’s play-off bid took another blow.

“I feel frustrated. We were really comfortable in the first half and I thought it was a matter of time before we went ahead,” he said.

“But straight away we concede an horrendous goal to a long ball. Then they have something to hold onto to. Throwing themselves in the way of things and getting blocks in.

“We weren’t clinical enough in the final third. We didn’t have enough urgency.

“At half-time I told them to stay in the game and we’d get a chance because I couldn’t see them scoring.

“It didn’t look like there was a goal coming unless it was a horrendous mistake and that’s what we gave them.”

Neither keeper was tested in a first half of few chances, but the Iron took the lead immediately after the restart.

McAtee fired into the bottom corner after Abo Eisa’s lay-off after 46 minutes to set the hosts on course to completing the double over Cooper’s stuttering side.

The forward could have doubled his tally but was well kept out by Lewis Thomas.

Match-winner McAtee was once again frustrated by Thomas after being set up byJames Perch.

Centre-back Farrend Rawson squandered a great chance for a late leveller when he heard over from close range.

And Scunthorpe defended for their lives at the death to secure the points.

Interim manager Russ

Wilcox believed his side were worthy winner.

“It took hard work and organisation,” he said. “We know Forest Green are a good footballing unit and we knew they’d have a lot of possession.

“We stood firm. First half was tricky but I thought second half we came out all guns blazing and we got the early goal.

“We changed shape a bit and that worked better. I thought we looked fairly comfortable after it.

“It’s great to get a win with a clean sheet again. Over the 90 minutes we were worthy winners.”