Full-time: Stevenage 1 Scunthorpe United 0
Scunthorpe United slid to a third successive defeat, losing to the second-placed side in League One at the Lamex Stadium.
Greg Tansey's 76th minute free-kick separated two hard-working teams – and left the Iron rooted in the bottom four.
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Greg Tansey peels away in celebration after guiding a 76th minute free-kick into the top corner to earn Stevenage a 1-0 success over Scunthorpe United. Picture: Carl Gac.
They had plenty of possession, particularly during the first half of a match which created few openings at either end, but their failure to turn that play into goals again proved costly.
Despite facing one of only three third tier sides to remain unbeaten after 10 league games, the Iron started brightly.
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Barely a minute had passed when Mark Duffy dangerously swung a ball into the box from the right and it narrowly evaded the lunge of Leon Clarke.
A target for United to aim at from set pieces, the on-loan Charlton Athletic player proved just as good an option with his feet, with some clever runs in behind the Stevenage defence providing the visitors with some good openings early on.
Scunthorpe kept hold of the ball well – albeit until they entered the Boro penalty area – and did even better without, harrying their hosts into playing at a pace with which they did not seem comfortable.
Despite being under pressure for decent spells, Stevenage had the best chance to break the deadlock in the 21st minute, after intercepting a pass from Josh Walker in the middle of the park.
A quick break saw the ball fall kindly to Tansey and he lifted a curling shot onto the Iron bar from 20 yards out.
Patient - on occasions a bit too much so – when going forward, United failed to capitalise on their superior possession count. They also failed to test home keeper Steve Arnold during the opening 45 minutes.
Having being recalled to the starting line-up with Karl Hawley ruled out by an ankle injury, Mike Grella did go close with a cheeky chip shortly before the half hour mark, but the effort landed on the top of the net rather than in the back of it.
Having been much of a bystander during the opening 45 minutes, Iron keeper Sam Slocombe had to be alert soon after the restart to push away an effort from Stevenage's six-goal top scorer Robin Shroot.
That chance signalled the start of a period of strong running and pressure from Boro, though despite the power of winger Lukas Akins, they still found the visiting rearguard difficult to breach.
Although they had struggled to find much joy down either flank, United's attacking players were treated to two cracking crosses from full-back Christian Ribeiro as the clock ticked past the hour mark. Sadly though, they were unable to make either count.
Having been denied by the woodwork earlier on in the afternoon, Stevenage snatched the lead with 14 minutes to play.
A decision to award the home side a free-kick from 20 yards, when Ribeiro was adjudged to have felled Boro substitute Anthony Grant when he never looked like latching onto a ball in from the right, proved costly to the visitors.
Tansey whipped an effort over the Iron wall and though Slocombe got a hand to it, he could only help it into the top corner.
Briefly the Iron threatened an equaliser, with Duffy cutting inside to sting the palms of Steve Arnold low at his near post.
But rarely did you sense Scunthorpe might actually restore parity on another ultimately frustrating afternoon.
STEVENAGE: Arnold, Dunne, Roberts, Charles, Comm inges, Akins, Shroot (N'Gala 90), Morais (Freeman 70), Tansey, Risser (Grant 59), Haber. Subs not used: Day, Ball, Rogers, Lopez.
SCUNTHORPE: Slcombe, Ribeiro, Mirfin, Canavan, Newey, Duffy, Walker, Gibbons, Ryan (Sedgewick 73), Grella, Clarke. Subs not used: Severn, Kennedy, Reid, Barcham, Jennings, Keegan.
ATTENDANCE: 2,953 (278 away).
Comments
by DFlated
Monday, October 08 2012, 9:03AM
“What does not help (amongst many other things) is going into a game with the mindset to come away with a draw and when we do score a goal to thing one goal is enough.
Stevenage have lower gates than us so their budget is lower than ours but they are second in the League. That is because they have a capable manager and have spent their money wisely. This budget restriction thing obviously does work BUT you need real and proper management not an out and out incompetent amateur like we have.”
by johnmmaw
Monday, October 08 2012, 8:16AM
“"We are not being hammered" true but at the end of the day losing 1-0 or 10-0 still means we lost and if we lose every game 1-0 we shall still be relegated. Sucess in football is all about winning, do that and the crowds shall come back to support the team”
by scunnyexile
Sunday, October 07 2012, 8:19PM
“Some good points Oldironfan but the fans do not want to be disappointed and bored, which is all they are getting at the moment. They want to be entertained! Also the silence from the boardroom is deafening. It may be interesting to hear their views.”
by Oldironfan
Sunday, October 07 2012, 7:49PM
“Amidst a background of hostility and despair on this site, I would like to make the following points:-
1. We are in a slump but we are not being hammered by teams.
2. Their manager said of Saturday's game, 'The only difference between the teams was one piece of brilliance' and Stevenage are in second place.
3. We are having to witness some indifferent football but there is also some decent stuff on display and the effort given by the players is not in question.
4. At present several of the players recruited by AK do not seem to be fulfilling their potential at this level. Is it that he misjudged their ability or like Barcham for example , are they just going through a dip in form. Duffy had such a bad spell recently that many fans wanted him out. He is now our most constructive player.
5. The manager must shoulder much of the responsibility for some unacceptable defeats. Is he inept tactically or are the players not executing his ideas? He was recruited because of his experience of this level of football. I can't believe that this understanding has all evaporated.
He does seem reluctant to make substitutions but many of you will remember Brian Laws being screamed at by fans for not reacting quicker to make changes.
Why does he not give us a plausible reason for Reid sitting on the bench?
6. Managerial changes do not always bring about success. Any new boss would have to work largely with what we've got. Silk purses are rarely made out of sows' ears. Systems are all well and good but the ability and commitment of the player are the crucial factors. Unless AK has 'lost the dressing room' I think we still have a chance.
7. The Chairman and the board need to realize that there is anger and disappointment out here. Their failure to be seen to promote the club effectively and engage with the fans during this tough period is unacceptable.
I have supported this club for over forty years and its success has been built on a solid community spirit and prudent financial management but the missing ingredient at this time is effective communication with the supporters which may go some way towards defusing some of the frustration.
8. It cannot help our cause when a dwindling home crowd is out-shouted by a handful of away supporters. It would be good if we could make it a bit more intimidating for the opponents.
As I make these points, I feel that I may well be clutching at straws in seeing a way through the current mess without radical surgery.
Up the Iron!!”
by Deereyme
Sunday, October 07 2012, 3:34PM
“'spent force'. Now that makes me lol (as they say)! When did he actually have the force Dflated? The only satisfaction Knill can have today is that his 'one goal should be enough' philosophy was right after all. He really should walk.”
by sickasaparrot
Sunday, October 07 2012, 2:15PM
“We need the Wharton era to end and as soon as possible. The Wharton family has been involved for far too long - remember the dark old days at the OSG, well he's doing his best to take us back there! We need another David Wraith - love him or hate him he made things happen and he also showed passion, something you don't see at board level or anywhere come to think of it now! If Wharton and his cling ons have any ounce of integrity about them they should do the right thing and resign now & take Knill for nill with them. I'll be there Saturday as I've already paid for the season ticket but i will not hold back with my opinions towards the board or management (laughable) team.”
by hurtingfan
Sunday, October 07 2012, 11:55AM
“The brown smelly stuff gets deeper and what does Wharton and his band of ten bob millionaire (yes men) board do?
Absolutley nothing,just keep bumbling along with same old rubbish.
Come on STEVE,you wouldnt put up with this c**p at Whartons Shipping would you!
So why are you doing this to our football club?”
by DFlated
Sunday, October 07 2012, 9:33AM
“Looks like the club will have it's work cut out trying to turn the green arrow red when they get to work in the morning. I wonder if they have drafted in additional staff?
We seem to be losing better than before. Is this the new tactics, clam up first half on our own half followed by a second half of negative defending in our own half? The getting the early goal and sitting deep was getting tedious so at least the change of tactics will get the crowds back.
Meanwhile Knill will be sat in comfort behind his firewall knowing very well he can fiddle all he likes whilst Rome burns around him. He is a spent force, there are myriad of better managers than him who can't get a club so he might as well hang on until the death and get as much in wages as possible before he is cast into managerial oblivion.”
by localad
Saturday, October 06 2012, 6:53PM
“For Gods sake Wharton, are you just going to sit there and do nothing, ah yes, it appears you are.
Ah well, League 2 is not so bad.
And to all the diehards with your 'get behind the team ****' save it.”
by Gilberto
Saturday, October 06 2012, 5:52PM
“Another defeat and yet another disappointing peformance. Defensive ineptitude every week especially at set pieces. We rarely look like we can ever win a game. The post Adkins era has been dreadful but this season is just awful, week after week. How much longer do we have to suffer under Knill's management? This is a team of his creation so even though he has had to shop in the bargain basement, he surely should be able to make the sum of the parts add up to something better. Come on Mr Wharton, the longer you leave it the worse it will get.”