Sampson hails defensive effort

Caretaker boss Mark Sampson praised Stevenage’s “outstanding” defence as they claimed a point at fellow League Two strugglers Scunthorpe.

He is hopeful Boro are building a steely resolve after picking up a second successive clean sheet, on the back of a 1-0 victory over Morecambe that moved them off the bottom of the table a week earlier.

“It was a tight game, but everyone was probably anticipating that,” Sampson said.

“Scunthorpe have got a good record at home, so when you come here you have to be organised and make sure you stay compact.

“I don’t think our goalkeeper had to make a save that we wouldn’t have expected him to, and I’m not sure there was a moment in or around our box that I thought was going to lead to a goal.

“Defensively we were outstanding. We were great on first contacts and when we lost the ball upfield we made sure we weren’t vulnerable to counter-attacks.

“I said to the players afterwards that in every game now, we go into it believing we can win.

“In the last seven games we’ve had four wins and one defeat. That’s a good run by anyone’s standards and now we’ve got to keep building on it and keep working.”

Chances were at a premium at both ends of the pitch, with neither goalkeeper forced into a save of any real note until midway through the second half.

Having been happy to defend deep and in numbers for much of the match, Stevenage had the best chance to win it in the 79th minute when Kelland Watts blazed over the bar with the goal gaping following Terence Vancooten’s cross.

“It’s good that we took something from the game, but ultimately we’re at home and with the form we’ve shown more recently, we’re disappointed not to have got on the scoresheet,” Scunthorpe manager Paul Hurst said.

“I think you have to give some credit to Stevenage. Their game plan probably worked, although I’m sure they would have liked to have nicked one.

“I don’t think we’ve really faced opposition who’ve set up in that way this season. It was a different challenge for us and we found it difficult.

“In these sorts of games, against that sort of opposition, it’s so important to get a goal because it makes them change what they are doing.

“We needed a moment of individual brilliance, or maybe a set-play, to break the deadlock. But having not been able to find that, I’m pleased we kept a clean sheet.

“We know we weren’t at our best, but when that’s the case, you still have to try to take something from the game and a draw keeps our unbeaten home run going (at six league games).”