Scunthorpe United 0-0 Derby County

The Iron continued their recent defensive and home resurgence by drawing 0-0 with Nigel Clough’s Derby County, and will be perhaps pondering tonight as how they didn’t take all three points.

Despite the shocking pitch: owing to the last day’s constant rainfall, both sides came to the party and served what wasn’t a classic – but nonetheless: an engaging, open and end-to-end affair.

The Iron had more shots on goal, and having had a goal controversially disallowed with just 5 minutes of normal time remaining: they’ll feel that they perhaps should have won the affair.

Instead: they had to settle for a point: which all in all was probably just about a fair result, but following Crystal Palace’s win, the Iron find the gap to safety is once again 6 points.

But their 3rd home game in 6 days does come on Tuesday: taking on 3rd bottom Sheff United – and with 2 games in hand: the Iron are not out of it, but will need to find more goals that are allowed: and continue their limited momentum – if they’re to crawl out of trouble.

They were forced to make two changes from the winning side against Nottingham Forest – with both Eddie Nolan & Chris Dagnall unfortunately unavailable.

They thus began the game withDerby born Josh Lillis in goal behind the back four of Andy Wright, Michael Nelson, Paul Reid and Ben Gordon.

In front of them was the continued midfield quartet of Mark Duffy, Sam Togwell, Josh Wright and Andy Hughes.

Thus completing the Iron’s lineup were the front pairing of Joe Garner and Lee Miller.

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

The Iron started the game well: setting the tone for a first half they were to have the better of in search of their second successive home win.

Indeed – in the 5th minute the Iron were already denied by the goal-frame. Duffy floated in a great free-kick, which was flicked to the back by Nelson: but the on-rushing Miller could only strike the post.

It was a good save from Bywater in the process: as the Iron had to settle for a corner.

Again: Duffy floated it in brilliantly – with Nelson getting free of his man to latch onto the ball with a free-header on the edge of the six yard box: but the Iro were again denied by a very alert Bywater – this time tipping the ball over the bar for the seemingly overwhelmed Rams.

But the visitors were creating chances as well. The diminutive , but undoubtedly threatening Ward did well when fed through, but after racing clear of the Scunthorpe backline: the loanee could only stab wide of Lillis’ goal.

The Iron again had a chance: this time it was a good one-two from the Iron’s strikers, which was then poked to Josh Wright: but the on-rushing midfielder could only be denied by a stunning challenge from the away skipper Barker: who had all but stopped the Iron taking the lead.

The Iron’s resurgance and seeming dominance of the proceedings so far was getting to the visitors: and a rash Miles Addison challenge typified the Rams’ frustration – deservedly earning the midfielder the proceedings’ first booking.

But that was it for the half really.

Both sides had looked threatening ocassionally, the pitch really was stopping them both from the football they’d previously become accustomed to producing: and chances were thus limited.

But there was no doubt that the Iron were bossing the game and when the referee thus blew his whistle for half-time, it was the Iron players and fans who ended the period the happiest.

HALF-TIME SCUNTHORPE UNITED 0-0 DERBY COUNTY

But half-time had seemingly come at the right time for the Rams: and Nigel Clough’s men came out the break a new side: turning the table on the Iron, who had taken their foot of the gas.

Indeed – in the 48th minute a miscued effort from Steven Davies knocked the ball through to midfielder Paul Green to ram the ball home.

But the linesman’s flag on the far-side was to deny the ex-Doncaster playmaker: and the goal was thus disallowed for offside.

But it shouldn’t have mattered for them – as wide-man Ben Davies cut inside brilliantly – but after a deflection from Reid: he was denied the goal that had seemed inevitable when he pulled the trigger.

Derby were not alone in threatening though: and it was the turn of the Iron’s right winger to make a mazy run and effort: but the Scouse playmaker was denied by the flying body of Bywater: who excellently tipped wide to deny the Iron once more.

Controversy seemed to stick to the linesmen like glue: and on-loan target-man Lee Miller thought he’d headed home for the Iron – but was questionably denied by the flag on the far side – adjudging him to be offside when the ball was played.

Both sides made substitutions to alter tactics and introduce fresh legs – as both managers and fans made it clear that they would not be settling for a point.

However: despite all this, as we all know, they had to settle for one nonetheless. But how they did: God only knows…

Both sides huffed and puffed in the remaining period: but the only concrete chance came in the 86th minute: and it was one that had Glanford Park on its feet once more, only to be denied again by the man with the flag.

Gordon had raced down the left hand side like a man possessed: and the Chelsea loanee floated in a great cross to the back post – where the sub Ibrahim towered his header into the roof of the net in front of a jubilant DRE.

But again – in thoroughly controversial circumstances: the man on the far side had his flag up for offside. Incredibly – this was the 3rd goal disallowed in the 2nd half – all for offside.

And that was it for the rest of the game really.

Despite able and thorough effort from all 22 players: neither teams could break the deadlock, despite the ball being in the net 3 times in total.

There were no chances following Ibrahim’s disallowed goal, and despite the additional 3 minutes: both sides went home with 1 point – perhaps wondering as to if they should have taken all 3….

FULL-TIME SCUNTHORPE UNITED 0-0 DERBY COUNTY