Eddie Nolan rues first half miss at Brentford, but is delighted to be back in Scunthorpe United starting line-up
HE IS four games into his second stint with Scunthorpe United.
On Saturday, Eddie Nolan concedes, he should have been celebrating his first goal.
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Eddie Nolan reacts with disappointment after firing over the bar in what was Scunthorpe United's best chance of a goal at Brentford. Picture: Phil Cook.
The Iron’s game at Brentford was barely a quarter old when the Irish full-back stole inside from the right flank, laid the ball off to Karl Hawley and then Andy Barcham before receiving it back inside the the home penalty area.
Nolan was quickly closed down, but still had room to get in a shot.
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Yet unfortunately for the defender and his team-mates it flew into the back of the stand – via a flick off the top of the crossbar – rather than the back of the net.
The fact it proved to be Scunthorpe’s best effort of the game only heightened the fact the Bees had been let off the hook.
“I should maybe have done better with it, but I’m a full-back,” said Nolan, who reacted to the miss by sinking to the turn with his head in his hands.
“I was stretching a bit and leaned over it. The end result was frustrating.
“I was surprised how much it opened up. There was space to cut inside and play a one-two – on another day it goes in.
“I don’t get many chances as a full-back so it would have been nice to score. I’ve only scored once for Scunthorpe and I should have had more.”
Nolan admits the Iron’s fortunes continue to hold mixed emotions for him personally.
On one hand he is frustrated by the Iron’s struggles as they battle to keep the club out of the bottom four.
In that sense, the 1-0 loss at Brentford was particularly disappointing.
“It was a game we should at least have got a point out of because I thought we controlled some parts of the game, but it wasn’t to be,” assessed the 24-year-old.
On the opposite side of the coin, though, Nolan is delighted to again be involved in first-team football.
Having gone nine months without a competitive fixture, on the back of being released by the Iron at the end of last season, he has now started three games in eight days.
“I’m just happy to be back playing,” said Nolan, to try to add some perspective to his own Griffin Park gaffe.
“Not a lot of the players have changed. There’s a few new faces, mainly on the staff, but I’ve settled in straight away because I knew most of the lads.
“I think I’m playing in my proper position for once. I’m not sure many people knew I was right footed.”
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