Do me a favour - Martyn Woolford tells Iron
WINGER Martyn Woolford has found himself 'sent to Coventry' at times this season as Scunthorpe United have adjusted their playing style to cope with Championship football.
But the 24-year-old player is hoping his last minute equaliser against Leicester on Saturday will help win him a place back in the starting line-up when the Sky Blues come to Glanford Park in next Sunday's live game on Sky television.
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Martyn Woolford celebrates his last-gasp equaliser against Leicester on Saturday.
Woolford has a happy knack of scoring big goals for the Iron and came off the bench to pinch a point against Leicester with virtually the last kick of the game.
It was his 12th goal in Scunthorpe colours – which have included the winner in last season's promotion play-off final at Wembley and a brace this term against Newcastle.
Woolford has started only eight of United's 18 Championship games this season – a record he is anxious to improve on.
Manager Nigel Adkins probably wants to play him – but struggles to fit him into his present style of play.
"I seem to have been out of favour a bit this season," Woolford confessed.
"The manager has tried to go a bit more defensive with four central midfielders to try and keep the goals against to a minimum.
"The formation we are playing at the moment is not really my style.
"It has been frustrating for me, but if we are not going to be using wingers, then it is up to me to try and add something else to my game to try and get into the team again."
Woolford acknowledges that he got his chance back in the team in the previous week's 3-0 defeat at Watford – and did not take it.
He recognises too that with a small first team squad at Glanford Park, no-one is very far away from a first team chance.
"That does not help though on a Friday when you know you have been left out of the team," he declared.
"As a player you want to play every minute of every game and obviously it's frustrating when you don't.
"You have just got to put in the hard work on the training ground and take your chances when they come.
"The manager knows I think that I can score goals and hopefully the one I got against Leicester will give him a headache when it comes to selecting the team for the Coventry game.
"I would love to be involved."
Woolford is also hoping the draw against Leicester can prove a turning point for Scunthorpe.
"After losing our previous four games, it was an important point for us," he continued.
"It was disappointing to lose an early goal in the way we did, but I thought we showed a lot of good character to come back.
"Obviously I am always happy to chip in with a goal.
"Some of those I have scored this year have been quite valuable.
"It's always nice to get on score-sheet at any time but even better when it gets your team something out of game.
"I knew I would not have much time so it was just about shifting the ball and getting a shot in."
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by dave, Paris
Tuesday, December 01 2009, 12:09AM
“I agree with Dan and I can see where he is going with his team selection, however! I would still have major worry about Jones, his turn of pace is poor and to many times this season attackers have walked past him. As for Thompson he is a natural winger and everytime I've seen him play he always puts the tackles in and does his best to track back. My starting XI at home would be Murphy Spence Mirfin Crosby Williams Thompson O'Conner Wright Friend Hayes and Hooper. Tho away from home with nothing to lose same back four with Thompson (RM) O'Conner (Holding) Wright (LM) Hayes (Top of Diamond) Hooper and Forte with a bench of McCann, Woolford, Lillis, Canavan, Jones, Togwell, Sparrow and Boyce. I think we have a good young squad but we need an experienced CB and and experienced CM to pull the strings I think the young lads O'Conner and Wright are among our best palyers this season but they just lack the little extra expereince to adapt to the more demanding games. C'mon Adkins try something unexpected away from home play Hayes behind Hooper and Forte and get him to play the pair through behind the defences I think it's worth a try up the iron”
by Dan, Scunny
Monday, November 30 2009, 10:50PM
“The way they were talking on the Beeb on Saturday they were suggesting that our home form should help keep us up. (they had said on MOTD that Burnley could not be expected to stay up on their home form alone however!) I think at home we should keep with the defensive line up but I would change the personnel. My line up would be
Murphy, Williams, Mirfin, Jones Spence, Friend (LM) Thompson (RM) Wright, O-Connor, Hayes and Hooper. This way Williams (who saved our skin a couple of times on Sat and has played well so far this season) would get a bit of cover allowing him to attack a bit more acting almost as a winger (a la Beags and Dawson).
Would bring Wooly on 2nd half to run at defences at the moment for Hooper.
Away I think we have to go for it and just attack- We aren't expected to get anything from a game especially away so just enjoy it and attack nick a goal and then spend the rest of the game defending the lead ( 1-1 is better than a defensive loss and in this league every point counts).”
by Matt, Scun
Monday, November 30 2009, 4:56PM
“Love Wooly and his knack for the memorable goals. just wish he'd find the knack more often of running past his markers rather than straight into them! Shouldn't knock him for trying though, it's a lot better watching someone run at defenders rather than watching slow sideways football that the current 4 man centre midfield are serving up at the moment.”
by grimsby iron, grimsby
Monday, November 30 2009, 4:03PM
“the way we have performed over the past few weeks put woolly up front his runing from deep will frighten any defence.”
by Rich, London
Monday, November 30 2009, 1:27PM
“Play Woolford and Thompson when we're at home going for the kill....especially against sides in the bottom half who we need to be beating....and stick with the more defensive quartet when we're away. If they're all getting a game every couple of weeks then everyone should also be fairly happy. Get Sparrow out on loan at the next available opportunity so he doesn't sit for too long in the reserves. If we end up being relegated then his time will come again next season.”