Alan Knill hopes first win of the season will answer Scunthorpe United's critics
Manager Alan Knill admitted he was 'delighted' to see Scunthorpe United get their season up and running with a 1-0 win at Shrewsbury Town.
But, more importantly, he hopes it is a starting point for the Iron to answer their early-season critics.
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Alan Knill became the first visiting manager to win at the Greenhous Meadow in 35 matches on Saturday - 18 months after he triumphed there with Bury. Picture: Phil Cook.
Knill had come under pressure following defeats in the first four games of the campaign and a failure to beat nine-man Sheffield United last week meant United had made their worst start to a season in 49 years.
Scunthorpe though looked a different team at the Greenhous Meadow, with the power and presence of Leon Clarke – who scored the game's only goal – and Karl Hawley making them much more dangerous in attack.
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The Iron boss hopes it is the start of things to come as he attempts to build a side capable of challenging in the top half of the table with little financial muscle to flex.
"There's been a lot of rubbish flying around which the players read, but we're trying to keep the group close together," said Knill at the Greenhous Meadow.
"The only way you can answer any critics is on the pitch and that's that we're trying to do. Today was a big step for the group.
"We're still only six games in.
"Don't get me wrong, it's a results business, but around the results there has been some other things that have gone on.
"I said last week that the football club now is a different club to three years ago.
"We're all coming terms to with that, but everybody else needs to come to terms with it too.
"We're a League One team and by no means a League One team with the biggest budget.
"But we're trying our best to compete, financially put the club right and live to our means.
"Some of the players today were playing at their max and that's all we can ask from them."
Having combined for the Iron's goal in the fifth minute, Clarke and Hawley, who both made their first starts since moving to Glanford Park, were also praised for their work ethic without the ball.
They were the Iron's first line of defence, harrying and pressing Shrews defensive duo Darren Jones and Ruben Hazell to help Scunthorpe add a first clean sheet to a first victory.
"It's hard work (chasing down the ball) but you have to put that hard work in first and then the quality comes out," continued Knill, whose side ended Shrewsbury's 34-match unbeaten home run.
"They certainly did that and gave their two centre-halves no time whatsoever.
"They have been a big boost for everybody. We knew we needed some quality and they've added that to us.
"In nearly all our games, we've never really been battered - where Sam (Slocombe) has had to make really good saves.
"But I'm delighted that today we've come away with a clean sheet, that's something we can build on now.
"We build on being solid as a team because we think we can score goals.
"That's our season up and running. It's taken a while, but I thought we were good from start to finish today.
"I'll take 1-0, but in the game we had many chances to score."
Comments
by bartonscorp
Thursday, September 20 2012, 11:39PM
“Stevescunny,
Because it is club policy NOT to inform their supporters of happenings within the club, how are the fans to be anything other than hostile, when our club is in swift decline, and have just won our first match, five weeks into the season.
Please tell me how you come to be awareof such secret information regarding what WHARTON does for the club !!!!!!!!!!!!! are you one of the office staff at GP, or just another supporter that sits near you in the stand, and always knows everything that goes on ??????/”
by stevescunny
Tuesday, September 18 2012, 11:10AM
“Although always wanting my team to do well, it's a bit difficult to believe in the current manager. His stated approach is to build a team of young, hungry players. His approach hasn't worked so now he is signing more mature players. This is good but shows a flawed "model". We can only hope that he has learnt from this.
Also Knilly is forever bleating about funds. Am I correct in saying that he was spent up on the budget, got rid of 1 player (Grant) and Mr W, for all his critics, has funded four additions to the wage bill since then ?
We should acknowdge this. If Mr W acted on the opinions on here, we would have 3 or 4 managers every season!”
by Blue_Jean
Tuesday, September 18 2012, 9:22AM
“To be fair, most of the "rubbish" flying around hasn't been about the players at all.
It's been about Knill - and not rubbish in my opinion.”
by bartonscorp
Tuesday, September 18 2012, 12:21AM
“When the manager turns round and condemns the crowd because of "a lot of rubbish flying around" he should realize that the so called "rubbish" has resulted in what was being served up on the field.
And then he states that the only way of correcting this situation is on the pitch, is he that stupid that he cannot see that any supporters of ANY club would have been sick of the stuff being served up in front of them !!!, we had NO points from 4 matches, and just ONE point from the first 5 League games, three of which were HOME MATCHES, plus being knocked out of two cup competitions, did he actually think supporters would be less than pleased with his team, and his football style ?? The man must be blind, no wander he could not see and avoid that squirrel.
So this was a nice turn around by Saturdays win, keep it going now lads, that was the first Sunday that I and I assume many other supporters had a smile on their faces.
As stated, a very good win and performance, but not lets get carried away with this win, we are still in the bottom four, so a few more wins are required before supporters are going to come flocking back.
Just one other thing, please lets not keep hearing every day that the club is finacially in trouble, and have no money to spend, because this has resulted in the clubs action of not signing a couple of players that would have kept us in the Championship, many supporters warned the club at the time, but no notice was taken.
UP THE IRON !!”
by DaBone
Monday, September 17 2012, 7:39PM
“"Some of the players today were playing at their max and that's all we can ask from them." Some of the players? Surely it should have been all of them playing to their max or is Sufc no longer a professional team and the players not getting paid?!”
by carllewis2010
Monday, September 17 2012, 5:21PM
“Mr knill the so called rubbish flying around is the truth,the trouble is the truth hurts just as much as the club and Telegraph trying to convince us all is rosy at our club.Time for the telegraph to ask questions what matter and need answers such as,why where the fans told we would have a new all seater stand when our chairman had not the slightest intention of this happening,what happened to the renaming of the ground and most importantly why where supporters told we are a well run club,when whartons recent statement says we are living above our means.So here is the challenge to the telegraph please ask vital questions about our club ,not the usual spin stories from certain players night after night.Apathy at SUFC will remain unless the fans start to see positive actions from our club not flannel and bull****."UP THE IRON"!!!”
by Blue_Jean
Monday, September 17 2012, 3:12PM
“If the "rubbish" Knill is referring to is what the fans have written about the team's performances then he is a cheeky begger in my book.
Our start has been appauling and to be quite honest embarrassing.
He's lucky to still have a job and the club is lucky a core of such passionate, loyal fans.
If you don't like it Knill just do one.
The fans will be here long after you've packed off to Stalybridge Celtic or somewhere equally "rubbish".”
by hurtingfan
Monday, September 17 2012, 12:26PM
“Other things going on at the club! His he refering to the rumour that is goin round that P Reid broke his hand fighting with Mokia when the iron went to ireland,Or is it like i said just a RUMOUR?”
by thanxman
Monday, September 17 2012, 7:15AM
“How does it go ???? One swallow does not a prozzie make .................”
by scunnyexile
Sunday, September 16 2012, 10:35PM
“When our appalling goal difference gets onto the plus side the fans will have been entertained, which after all is the main reason they go to the games. After last season's drabness it´s amazing that so many have turned up to see even more. I really hope they can keep up or even improve on Saturdays performance in the coming months.
Regarding the reports of friction between players it is up to the manager to sort things out. I assume he has done this. You don't necessarily have to like all your workmates to be part of a good team.”