Utter shambles

There are no positives that can be taken from the 5-2 humilation at Barnsley, which overshadowed Peter Beagrie’s 100th professional goal.

Beagrie, who recently celebrated his 40th birthday, converted a penalty in the 89th minute to notch up the milestone.

It was also his 31st strike for the Iron, making it his most prolific club.

But the personal milestone will mean nothing to the veteran winger, as the home side were already 4-0 up at the time and well on their way to the easiest three points they will get this season.

Before the match, manager Brian Laws had insisted he was confident of getting a positive result – citing the improved performances at Aldershot and Swansea as evidence of an iminent revival.

He was wrong, very wrong.

It took just two minutes for the hopes of the travelling support to crumble.

Barnsley’s Chris Shuker outpaced the visiting defence, and crossed low to the far post for Martin Devaney to side-foot home unchallenged.

And after seven minutes the Yorkshire side were effectively home and dry, when Jacob Burns’ free-kick was headed home by captain Bobby Hassell.

Former Iron striker Paul Hayes, who quit Glanford Park in the summer for Oakwell, ran his former team-mates ragged.

He could have had a hat-trick before the break, and set up Barnsley’s third goal after half an hour.

After forcing his way into the box, his ball through found Marc Richards who finished past Tommy Evans.

United never looked capable of finding a way back into the game, and Hayes set up Shuker to make it 4-0.

Beagrie did score from the spot when Cleveland Taylor was felled in the area, but then his poor pass allowed Hayes to make it 5-1.

And although loanee Neil MacKenzie made it 5-2 with an impressive drive, Laws was taking no positives out of the game at all.