Scunthorpe let themselves down, says boss Graham Alexander

Posted Sunday, February 18, 2018 by PA

Boss Graham Alexander admitted Scunthorpe were their own worst enemy as they had to settle for a point in a 2-2 draw with struggling Northampton.

The Iron manager accused his side of lacking a spark and giving away soft goals, but was at least pleased with their character as they twice fought back from being a goal behind.

“I watched that game through my fingers,” said Alexander. “We conceded two average goals from set-pieces and our general play lacked spark for the first hour.

“We enabled Northampton to get a foothold in the game and the goal gave them something to protect.

“We didn’t do enough on the ball, lacked ideas and until we found the urgency we needed in the second half, it was an average performance.

“We’ve the talent and fitness levels to play better than we did, but there was no tempo to the game. It was flat and suited the away team.

“It’s our responsibility to make that better, by taking quick free-kicks and throw-ins and playing one or two touch, but that didn’t happen.”

Scunthorpe struggled to break Northampton down for most of the match and the Cobblers had even more reason to get men behind the ball after Chris Long converted at the far post in the 13th minute to put the visitors in front.

A driving run followed by a fine finish from Funso Ojo had the Iron back on level terms before the break, but John-Joe O’Toole powered home a header from a 57th minute corner to restore their advantage.

Scunthorpe, though, were deserving of a draw and having lacked ideas in the final third, they were rewarded for their tenacity 14 minutes from time when centre-back Murray Wallace climbed above a scrum of bodies to loop home a header, after Cobblers goalkeeper Richard O’Donnell had failed to deal with an inswinging free-kick.

Northampton boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was pleased with his side’s fighting spirit at Glanford Park, particularly on the back of criticism they had received in a disappointing defeat to Gillingham in midweek.

He said: “Of course we wanted more than a draw – in that aspect I’m very greedy – but I’m happy with a point.

“I think we could have done better with the goals against, but I’m sure Scunthorpe will say the same as well.

“This is a difficult place to come. Scunthorpe are a lot further on than us. The manager here has had time to build a side and you could see they are a very good team, but at times we coped really well under pressure.

“I was very happy with the commitment and how the players conducted themselves with regards to their fighting spirit. The boys wanted to put something right after Tuesday and they did.

“Hopefully that point will be very important at the end of the season.”