Brandon’s hat-trick severely dents Iron
IT was a day of records for Salford as they enjoyed their biggest-ever win in the Football League, while Brandon Thomas-Asante scored a first career hat-trick.
And the Ammies have been backed to extend their eightgame unbeaten run by assistant-boss Billy Barr after pushing Scunthorpe ever nearer to the relegation trapdoor.
Matt Smith and Stephen Kelly were also on target, while Joe Nuttall grabbed a reply for the beleaguered visitors.
“The players are happy,” said Barr. “When they scored we went a little bit, but in fairness we came back and raised it again and went on to score three more goals.
“We’ve threatened to do that to teams, but haven’t done it. This is a great run we are on and it’s great to get our highest EFL result. Everyone is happy with that.
“Some days it falls for you and some days it doesn’t so thankfully we came away with the goals.”
The home side were cruising when Smith glanced a header beyond Iron goalkeeper Rory Watson after 17 minutes from captain Jason Lowe’s precise cross.
Thomas-Asante then scrambled home in first-half injury time to put Gary Bowyer’s side 2-0 up with the Iron offering little in response.
Smith also had a well-taken early goal ruled out, but against the run of play the visitors grabbed a secondhalf lifeline when Nuttall swept home after good work from sub Sam Burns.
That hope was extinguished six minutes later when Thomas-Asante pounced on Smith’s flick-on to slot through Watson’s legs.
Kelly then bent home a beauty and Thomas-Asante grabbed the match ball by rifling home the rebound after a stunning save from Watson.
United also had their assistant boss Tony McMahon in charge with Keith Hill unwell, and he made no excuses for the humbling defeat.
“We are very disappointed,” he revealed. “I thought there was not a lot in the game first half except for two individuals mistakes that cost us.
“Players have to take responsibility. We can given them information, but they have to do their jobs.
“There shouldn’t be any surprises on the pitch. They just have to deal with it. It’s really, really disappointing.”