Report:Scunthorpe United 3-2 Sheffield United

It was one of the maddest games you’ll ever have the privilege of watching: and for the first time this season – the Iron secured a positive result when having conceded first.

In what turned out to be a thoroughly unexpected goal-fest: the Iron shocked us all and bounced back from two early away goals to secure an absolutely vital win that moves Scunny above their relegation rivals and close the gap to safety to just 3 points.

Now unbeaten in 3 games: and with 2 games in hand on 4th bottom Crystal Palace: there is real hope around North Lincolnshire that the Iron might just be about to do the impossible and survive another season in the Championship.

But there are lessons to be learned from the game, and ones that need to be absorbed if the Iron are to have any chance of survival this season.

If the Iron defend like they did for the first half: then they’ll get some major schellackings between now and May. They were devoid of communication, ideas and coherence. It seemed wholly reversed from Forest & Derby, but still simply unacceptable.

Then completely shellshocked at having conceded 2 awful goals – particularly the latter one: but for nearly half an hour they couldn’t repond coherently, string two passes together or win a header.

The Iron’s lifeline came out of nothing: but using Garner’s intelligence and penalty drilled home: two back-post headers gave the Iron an extraordinary win that sent their loyal fans home dancing…

The Iron began the game unchanged from Saturday’s draw with Derby County.

This left Scunny with Josh Lillis in goal: behind the back four of Ben Gordon, Paul Reid, Michael Nelson and Andy Wright.

In midfield for the Iron – there was only a switch in wingers: with Duffy on the left & Hughes on the right surprisingly. This left the pair of Josh Wright and Sam Togwell in the middle.

Then up front, completing the starting line-up for the Iron were the loanee pair of Miller & Garner.

On the bench for the hosts were Sam Slocombe, Michael Raynes, Eddie Nolan, Michael Collins, Abdisalam Ibrahim, Bobby Grant and Matt Godden.

The game began at its very beginning in un-revealing mood, with the pitch pushing the game in the direction of the scrap and battle it was very much expected to be.

The Iron created the first half chance of the game: with Duffy working well on the flank, and cutting in to whip in a deadly cross: but the rising Miller could only flick his header wide of the post.

And the Iron were to be supremely punished for this, and then with some slack defending to boot.

With the Iron having given the ball away slack, they were caught out on the left-hand side. Gordon slipped, allowing the cross to come in from the wing: and with all too ease – it was nodded down to CRESWELL who drilled home into the corner.

This, all Iron fans: signalled doom – knowing all too well they’d previously failed to take so much as a single point when having conceded first.

And literally a minute later, absolutely comedy defending gifted Sheff Utd their 2nd, and seemingly 3 points at that.

Josh Wright turned under pressure, knocking to Lillis a suicidal back-pass, and one that was under-hit at that: which the keeper raced out to, but stupidly deciding to drill it straight up the miller, the charging CRESWELL got his body to it: and wheeled away in celebration as the ball rolled into the net.

With just 7 minutes gone, this was the cue for the Iron fans to vent their feelings of disgust and the away army feeling that they were on for their first win over the Iron in donkey’s years: and their first period under Micky Adams’ reign.

Given the Iron’s shell-shocked reaction to this, it wasn’t a surprise.

They couldn’t spring two passes together, were beaten to absolutely everything: and everybody seemed resigned to defeat.

Sheffield United were no great shakes, but with the Iron displaying some of the worst performances seen at Glanford Park – their opponents looked far superior: albeit not creating many chances.

Although: in the 26th minute, a fizzing effort from loaned winger Riise struck the goal-frame as Lillis seemed helpless.

But with just 7 minutes of the half remaining: out of absolutely nothing, the Iron found a foothold in the game and a lifeline.

Garner was working hard up front, and even with little service: did brilliantly well to out-muscle the Sheff United defender Collins, who then was helpless whilst bringing down the loanee.

It was clever forwarding and then GARNER stepped up to float the penalty straight down the middle and into the net.

It was a lifeline the Iron hadn’t really deserved, but one that the fans were desperate that they weren’t to waste.

But neither side had managed to really create flowing football or create chances. But it was the away side who were bossing: as they looked to have responded to the ocassion much more successful: up for the battle and scrap much more than the Iron.

Evans still should have done better though after the Welshman knocked it past Gordon: but could only drill it past Lillis’ right-hand post.

But then in the penultimate minute of normal time of the half – the Iron’s eye-boggling comeback was complete.

Another great ball from the brilliant Duffy floated to the back-post – where the clever Hughes knocked it back across goal to the un-marked GARNER who nodded it home to make it 2-2.

This sent three stands of Glanford Park into delirium as they all saw the momentum swinging with the Iron: delighted at the position they’d pulled themselves back from.

And that was it really – with the Iron understandably happy to take their equaliser into the break and the game fizzed out into the three additional minutes.

Despite the dreadful start and play for the majority of the half – the Iron found themselves level…

HALF-TIME SCUNTHORPE UNITED 2-2 SHEFFIELD UNITED

Whatever had been said at half-time had clearly stirred the unchanged Iron side: who came out possessed and un-recognisable from that which had started the game.

And with Sheffield United now on the backfoot as the Iron pressed – it was the visitors shellshocked and devoid of reaction after losing the lead they’d though unassailable.

The Iron then hammered home their first chance of the half, and had completed the stunning turn-around.

In the 54th minute: Garner really cleverly won a free-kick from the giant centre-halves.

Duffy then stepped up to whip in a divine free-kick to the back post. And with the visitors’ unique idea of pressing leaving MILLER in acres of space at the back – and the Scottish forward didn’t make the same mistake twice and banged his header into the roof of the net.

This sent the Iron players and home fans absolutely spare: thoroughly delighted at the stunning turn-around they’d seen.

But with so long remaining, you wondered as to if this might be the cue for the Iron to withdraw into their shell: desperate not to relinquish their lead.

This indeed happened: although the Iron did threaten on the counter: particularly when Garner & Duffy began racing at the Sheffield backline – who seemed absolutely terrified of them.

Despite going three at the back – and throwing on the pair of Bent & Bogdanovic: only direct balls and the inevitable scrambles did threaten the Iron.

But with the introduced Raynes alongside the back four – the Iron did cope reasonably well: particularly with Lillis coming for balls when it was apt.

Despite all the expected pressure: with the Iron dropping deeper and deeper: they didn’t threaten as much as expected – although a Riise cross really should have been tapped home.

Garner came close for the Iron: although the sub winger Yeates should have scored but could only drag his effort wide.

The game became more and more stretched – the visitors more and more desperate. And despite the pressure and the worries: the Iron coped reasonably well.

And it was a brilliant counter: with Duffy racing away, feeding in Garner: who was then cynically brought down by Lowry – who was duly given his marching orders by the ref.

And despite the 5 minutes stoppage and the anguish: the visitors never really threatened.

Bar the furious screams declaring the players weren’t fit to wear the shirts: it was the gleeful Iron fans who dominated the airwaves. Deciding they were really staying up: and that the visitors had thrown away their brilliant position.

And following the whistles and cackles – the ref didn’t disappoint: cue wild celebrations and hugs from all the Iron fans and players. What a turn-around, and what a win!

FULL-TIME SCUNTHORPE UNITED 3-2 SHEFFIELD UNITED