Graham Alexander staying grounded despite Salford’s flying start

Salford’s Football League journey could scarcely have got off to a smoother start as Emmanuel Dieseruvwe’s historic double secured Graham Alexander’s men the opening-day spoils against Stevenage.

After 79 years at varying levels of non-league football, Saturday lunchtime saw the Ammies kick off their maiden EFL season thanks to four promotions in five divisive years.

Dieseruvwe opened the scoring in May’s Wembley play-off final win and was the hero in Salford’s Sky Bet League Two curtain-raiser, with the imposing striker netting the club’s first Football League goals as Stevenage fell to a 2-0 loss.

But the club so many love to hate due to their high-profile owners enjoyed a rather understated start to life in the Football League.

Paul Scholes was the only member of the Class of 92 among the 3,416 in attendance for the start of a new chapter that manager Alexander did not get carried away with.

“I try and stay detached from that,” the Salford boss said. “The players have to focus and make sure we have a result.

“The play-off final last season was a great experience of managing a big game and occasion and we did that really well. We remind ourselves it is a great start but it’s only one game.

“We are trying to improve each weekend. Good to start with a win. We did not have a point after three games last year and we still got promotion, but the win will have settled people down.

“I thought the players handled the game superbly but I had confidence in them.”

Salford never looked in any danger of the opener going awry, with Adam Rooney seeing a volleyed effort tipped onto the crossbar during a bright start.

Emmanuel Sonupe was denied a penalty in a rare Stevenage attack, but shortly after Dieseruvwe scored Salford’s first Football League goal when turning home a cross by Scott Wiseman in the 29th minute.

Dieseruvwe proved a constant thorn in the side and netted again in the 48th minute after a penalty-box melee, with the striker going close on several occasions to grab an opening-day hat-trick.

“We understand what he brings to the team,” Alexander said. “He is a better player than people give him credit for. He links play really well. We continue to encourage him to get into goalscoring positions.”

The win will surely have gone down well with the Class of 92, even if Gary and Phil Neville were unable to make it along with Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt and David Beckham.

“I don’t know because the phone reception is crap,” boss Alexander said when asked if there had been any messages from the owners.

“Hopefully when I get to the car park I will get a few messages but they have been really supportive and they will be buzzing.

“They are great supporters and I’m hoping the phone will start dinging.”

As for Stevenage, they never really got going on a day when more injury issues compounded manager Dino Maamria’s frustration.

“I think the first game of the season is always difficult because you get so emotional – six weeks preparation and everyone excited by the first game,” he said.

“It’s always brilliant to get a first win.

“Sometimes you just learn from it and move on, but that’s not going to decide the fate of our season.”