Scunthorpe’s poor run is real test of character – Stuart McCall

Posted Wednesday, October 24, 2018 by PA

Scunthorpe United boss Stuart McCall believes his side’s poor run is a real test of their character after slipping to a fourth consecutive defeat in League One.

Armand Gnanduillet’s first-half goal proved enough to give Blackpool a 1-0 victory at Bloomfield Road and extend their unbeaten run in the league to 11 games.

The Seasiders forward found the net after 19 minutes after volleying Oliver Turton’s low cross beyond Scunthorpe goalkeeper Jak Alnwick – and the visitors were unable to find an equaliser.

But, while McCall was disappointed with the result, he was happy with the way his side responded after the break and said they deserved at least a point from the game.

“I think after the first 10-15 minutes, we grew into it, we forced it, we had a couple of efforts kicked off the line, shots saved and balls across the box, I asked for a response and there’s no doubt I got that,” he said.

“We set the bar on desire, togetherness, the team, because that is what we need to be, we need to be together, we’re in a sticky patch, we’re on a difficult run but it’s when you need to stand up and be counted and I thought we did that.

“I felt that we had our chances and we didn’t take them, we caused them problems and if we’d have got the equaliser it would have been well deserved.

“This run is a test of character and I wouldn’t expect anything less than full commitment.”

Scunthorpe had their chances to level, with Charlie Goode seeing his header cleared off the line by Jay Spearing before Stephen Humphreys’ low effort was save by goalkeeper Mark Howard.

And Blackpool assistant manager Gary Brabin was quick to hail the performance of Turton after the game, picking out the defender as the star man as his side moved up to 10th in the league.

“It’s great to get back-to-back wins, I think it has been a good week of training, we’ve had two excellent results and performances and clean sheets, so you can’t ask for more,” he said.

“He (Gnanduillet) is in good form at the minute, he is scoring goals, creating chances and getting into the box, it was good to get him involved, so it was a pretty much a good night all round.

“All over the pitch we did well, Mark Howard in goal and the back four were excellent, it was great defending tonight, and it was another deserved clean sheet.

“For me, Oliver Turton was my man of the match, he was out of position, but he was excellent defensively and carrying the ball forward.

“We expected a response from them and we had to be up for it, I thought we were excellent.”