Alan Knill rues missed chances as Scunthorpe United lose at Portsmouth
Alan Knill says Scunthorpe United squandered not just one point, but all three as they crashed to defeat at Portsmouth on Saturday.
Fratton Park has rarely been a happy hunting ground for the Iron, but on few occasions have they been in a better position to end a 48-year wait for a win on the south coast.
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Alan Knill watches the Iron from the dugout at Fratton Park. Picture: Carl Gac.
They led after just six minutes – courtesy of Leon Clarke's fifth goal in as many games – but saw the home side quickly level and then snatch an 89th minute winner.
"We're all gutted. We had enough of the game to take three points, but we didn't," groaned Knill.
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"The most disappointing thing is that we haven't come away with anything.
"If you can't win it, don't lose. Yet in the end, somehow, we've lost the game.
"We'll take the performance all day - I thought we were excellent - but we needed that second goal.
"I think we're getting better all the time.
"Portsmouth are a good side, despite what's happening off the pitch. They've got some good players, so it was encouraging that we were more than a match.
"If anyone was going to score in the second half, I thought it was going to be us."
Clarke's early goal was the fourth time in the last five matches United have opened the scoring inside the 10 minute mark.
It's their failure to get a second goal, though – something they have not managed to do in their last 15 League One matches – which is proving costly.
"We want to get the first goal," continued the Iron boss, whose side host league leaders Tranmere Rovers at Glanford Park on Tuesday.
"It makes the game so much more difficult for the opposition if you can do that, because they have to come out.
"Now we just the second one. If you get two, it's very rare that you lose.
"It's not as if we're not creating, we just need to be a bit more clinical in front of goal.
"I think someone's going to be on the end of a hiding, because we've got some really talented players.
"It's just a matter of time before it all clicks.
"The front two are a handful, Jimmy and Duff too - every time they get one v one, we look dangerous.
"We have to be better. We have to be more determined to keep the ball out of our net.
"The last goal was so difficult to take for everybody.
"We think we're going in the right direction – but we needed the points to go with the performance today."
Comments
by DFlated
Tuesday, October 02 2012, 7:55AM
“Just shows what a poor manager we have. Is that the best he can come up with.”
by bartonscorp
Tuesday, October 02 2012, 12:59AM
“Comment by AK :- "Portsmouth are a good side"
Their home record before Saturdays game against Scunthorpe was P4-W0-L3-D1, and all their players recruited from guys without clubs, and all on one monthly contracts.
So how are they a good team, they were 3rd from bottom and are a very poor team, but still good enough to beat our lot, so what does that make our team ???”
by HoneyBadger
Monday, October 01 2012, 3:59PM
“Bring back Brian Laws! :)”
by Deereyme
Monday, October 01 2012, 10:32AM
“At least he looks inspiring in that image. The player must really respond to a manager who is trying his best to feel every inch of the chair vinyl. I don't expect you to smile Knill but at least straighten up your back and look like you're hungry for it!”
by DFlated
Sunday, September 30 2012, 5:13PM
“Knill rues having a one man team. He scores and the rest of the team just give up. Do we have anyone else who knows where the back of the net is. It is getting embarrassing to think what will happen when he goes.
16 games since we scored more than one goal in the league (where it matters).”
by johnmmaw
Sunday, September 30 2012, 2:59PM
“"We want to get the first goal," continued the Iron boss, whose side host league leaders Tranmere Rovers at Glanford Park on Tuesday.
"It makes the game so much more difficult for the opposition if you can do that, because they have to come out.
Trouble is we do get the first goal and then they do come out and beat us”
by scunnyexile
Sunday, September 30 2012, 2:23PM
“Tighten up the defence by all means but surely we don't want to go all season trying for a one nil win every game. The fans like to see goals. If the opposition get two and we get three guess what? Yes, we've won and seen an entertaining game! If we do keep a clean sheet..great.”