AN injury to Craig Dudley is Athletic's only concern after a victorious week which has seen them take maximum points from two away games. The striker limped out of Saturday's win at Scunthorpe when his hamstring tightened up, preventing him from playing at full pace. The problem got worse as the match wore on and physio Alex Moreno was assessing the damage today. The injury isn't thought to be too serious, although it could force Dudley out for two or three weeks if a strain is diagnosed. As Athletic don't have a midweek fixture — the only time that's the case until May — Dudley has a few extra days in which to recover. He will not want to miss Saturday's home game against Cambridge as Mark Allott is now back in action and Steve Whitehall is keen to break back into the side after being dropped for the first time in four months. First-half goals by Shaun Garnett and Paul Rickers gave Athletic a deserved win at Scunthorpe, following up their success at Colchester five days before. They are now preparing for a busy month featuring two away matches and no fewer than six at Boundary Park.

The reserves are at home to Burnley tonight in the quarter-finals of the Pontins League Cup (kick-off 7 pm). Trialist Wassim El Banna is set to play from the start after making a 45-minute appearance against Manchester United last week. Matthew Tipton is left out to make room for El Banna, while David Miskelly is away with Northern Ireland under-21s. Richard Dunning plays again, and the defence will also include senior players Stuart Thom and Richard Graham. Reserves: Robertson, Thom, Futcher, Graham, Dunning, Smith, Boshell, Salt, Innes, El Banna, Sugden. Subs: Whittle, Gardiner, McLoughlin, Walsh, Tipton.

ATHLETIC have now won more games away than at home and, on the evidence of an entertaining clash with Scunthorpe, they might not be finished yet. This seventh success — the second in a week and another earned by a long-range wonder-goal — again showed the magical powers of an hour or two spent on the motorway. Athletic created umpteen chances at Glanford Park, and also saw Mark Allott’s penalty saved, after Paul Rickers hit a peach of a shot to restore their lead. Despite a bad day on the finishing front, they are up to 13th in the table and have surely now banished the spectre of relegation. Yet, strange to relate, current form suggests the number of home matches coming up could actually cost them a place in the top half. With nine games to go, the only trips are to Bournemouth, Notts County and Luton. And, if the progress is to continue, Athletic need to start reproducing displays like this one when they return to Boundary Park.

Scunthorpe’s defeat was their 10th at home this season, setting a club record which is unlikely to be yelled from the rooftops. They haven’t tasted victory in seven at Glanford Park and extended their extraordinary run of winning only one match on a Saturday since September. Athletic’s only change saw Steve Whitehall dropped to accommodate fellow forward Allott. Andy Ritchie’s decision may have been tough on Whitehall, who had scored five in nine games, but it was no surprise that the boss wanted his top scorer back in action. In the end, Allott looked a shade off the pace following his injury-enforced absence. With co-striker Craig Dudley also below his best, it was, ironically, Whitehall who shone the brightest in the 38 minutes he was allowed. Had Athletic been less charitable, they would have made much lighter work of opponents with visibly fragile confidence. Showing all the signs of a team fraught with nerves, Scunthorpe played deep enough to allow wide-open spaces between defence and midfield. Athletic didn’t always take advantage of the gaps available, but Allott dropped deep whenever needed and the midfield did well when taking turns to lend a hand.

Rickers, in particular, had an excellent game, producing endless legwork to complement his goal. Another vital feature was the strategy of the wing-backs, Scott McNiven and Andrew Holt. Both men pushed on to add numbers in midfield, as well as frequently appearing in attack. Scunthorpe couldn’t come to terms with Athletic’s adventurous approach and, on the balance of chances, could have no complaints about the final outcome. It took only three-and-a-half minutes for Athletic to grab the lead, through defender Shaun Garnett’s second goal of the season. The provider was John Sheridan, who sent over a right-wing corner which Garnett met powerfully at the near post. Goalkeeper Tom Evans got a hand to the ball but couldn’t prevent it from creeping a foot over the line to give Athletic a dream start. As well as the material advantage of putting the visitors in front, Garnett’s strike delivered a psychological blow to struggling Scunthorpe. But they drew level after 14 minutes when the dangerous Brian Quailey ran through the inside-right channel to reach an astute pass from Richard Logan.

Quailey outstripped Garnett and stuck a fine angled drive inside Gary Kelly’s far post to launch a much more convincing spell from the hosts. Athletic didn’t threaten for some time afterwards, having to wait until the 36th minute for Nathan Stanton to bring down Dudley on the edge of the box. Dudley was bearing down on the ’keeper and, in the context of the challenge, Stanton was fortunate only to be booked. Athletic, however, reaped a far more valuable dividend when they went back in front from the resulting free-kick. Sheridan’s initial effort hit the defensive wall, rebounding to Rickers in a central position 25 yards from goal. After taking one touch for control, the midfielder smashed a tracer bullet of a shot high into the corner for the kind of goal which comes along once every Beckham crew-cut. Athletic introduced Whitehall for Dudley soon after the break, and the substitute’s first touch was a turn and shot which goalkeeper Evans turned over the bar.

Lee Duxbury headed over from the corner-kick, while Allott missed a good opening after Whitehall and Holt combined smartly down the left. With Athletic well on top, home manager Brian Laws brought on Lee Hodges, his star player who was recovering from injury, and man-mountain striker Guy Ipoua, surprisingly in place of Quailey.

Ipoua quickly tested Kelly with a curling shot but, after 65 minutes, Athletic were wondering how they failed to score when a set-piece routine ended with a frantic scramble in Scunthorpe’s six-yard area. Ten minutes later, their worries deepened as Allott’s penalty miss left the game on a knife-edge. The spot-kick arrived after a breakaway in which Allott and Whitehall set up rampaging defender Holt. His shot was saved but, when it came out to Duxbury, the follow-up effort was clearly handled by Wayne Graves. Allott’s penalty was struck well enough, but Evans produced a terrific stop diving away to his right. Athletic passed up another chance to secure the points when Sheridan miscued after being left all alone in front of goal. And, three minutes from time, they needed Kelly to bale them out with a brave block as Steve Torpey nipped in to rob Garnett. A second equaliser, however, would have been harsh on Athletic. They gained just reward for outplaying their hosts on a day when, once again, the coach driver played a vital role.

ANDY RITCHIE revealed there were frayed nerves in the dug-out before Athletic wrapped up victory on their first visit to Glanford Park. If the manager and his assistant, Billy Urmson, had any hair to spare, they would have torn it out before the final whistle. Ritchie said: “The second half performance was excellent, and the first half wasn’t far behind. “But I’m disappointed we didn’t kill Scunthorpe off because we had enough chances to do it. “They were launching the ball at us in the last 10 minutes and we had to scrap to get it away. “We should have been 4-1 up by that stage. That kind of thing is no good for me or Billy — although I think he’s in more danger than I am! “I thought the lads at the back were excellent again. They didn’t cover well enough for Scunthorpe’s goal, but that was the only mistake they made. “We also pushed on very well from out wide. I don’t know what Andrew Holt drank at half-time, but he should start having a pint of it before the game. “He was more like a marauding winger in the second half and we need to start doing that more. “We should show more trust in the three centre-backs, although the system we play is getting better all the time.”

Ritchie, who said Athletic’s travelling army had played a big part in the success, added that Paul Rickers’ explosive goal was something he should try more often. “He was in the same position a couple of minutes before he scored and he tried to pass it out wide,” the manager explained. “We told him to have a strike at goal because, even if it goes over the bar, you’re putting sides under pressure. “It was a great goal, but that was only his third of the season and he should score more often. “He gets into the right positions and, when he has a try, he’s got a good shot on him.”

Scunthorpe boss Brian Laws had a scare before kick-off when striker Brian Quailey got stuck in traffic and arrived with only 45 minutes to spare. Quailey, whose goal separated the two scored by Athletic, was accused of a lack of professionalism by his unhappy manager. Laws went on: “That game summed up the way things are going for us at the moment — we aren’t getting the luck we want. “But it’s about switching on and listening to what people tell you. If you don’t do things properly, what else do you expect?”

Oldham may have won on Saturday but Andy Ritchie felt that the Latics season-long failure to kill-off the opposition was evident again. "It should have been 5-1 and we really do need to find that ruthless streak. We played some very good football but we aren't getting the finishes we deserve." "It has been the same story for most of the season and we really should be scaring the life out of some sides." Shaun Garnett opened the scoring for the Latics after four minutes, which was cancelled out by a Scunthorpe equaliser ten minutes later. However, Paul Rickers, the quiet man of Boundary Park, hit the winner in the 38th minute for only his third goal of the season.

The Latics reserves are in action on Tuesday night when they take on Burnley in the Pontins League cup. The reserves are set to field a strong side, which will include the likes of Stuart Thom, Richard Graham, Mark Innes and Matthew Tipton.The match will also give Andy Ritchie another chance to check on Danish under-21 international striker Wassim El Banna, who has been strongly recommended.

Same old story as Iron set new record
And now, the end is near. But while it may still be premature to suggest that Scunthorpe United are facing the final curtain with six weeks of the second division season to go, Saturday's 2-1 defeat by Oldham has certainly left them perilously close to the relegation trap-door. Starting the day just one place and one point above the bottom four, United knew they could ill afford not to take maximum points from the Latics, who know all about brushes with relegation danger after their exploits in recent years. Yet just four minutes had passed when Oldham took the lead with a stooping header from defender Shaun Garnett, pouncing on a John Sheridan corner to open the visitors' account and silence the home crowd. Scunthorpe 'keeper Tommy Evans got his hands to the ball as he dived to his left but, as Mark Allott moved in to challenge for the rebound, referee Eddie Wolstenholme indicated that the ball had crossed the line and gave the goal. It was a real body blow for United who had started the week looking for six points from their two home games with Brentford and Oldham in a bid to pull clear of the thickening relegation mire. Spurred on by their early goal, the Latics threw everything at Scunthorpe in an attempt to put the result out of reach in the opening 10 minutes, with only Nathan Stanton's last ditch tackle denying Craig Dudley a clear shooting chance. United manager Brian Laws made an early tactical switch to change into the 5-3-2 formation that has served the Iron so well on their travels this season, with teenager Wayne Graves moving into the right wing-back slot to great effect. The change around gave Scunthorpe a fresh impetus and, on 11 minutes, Brian Quailey forced visiting 'keeper Gary Kelly to make his first save of the afternoon with a low drive from wide on the right of the penalty area. The United striker had missed much of the team's pre-match build up after getting stuck in traffic — but he was certainly motoring three minutes later as he fired the home side back on level terms with his fourth Iron goal. Picking up Paul Harsley's through ball wide on the left hand side of the area, Quailey turned inside Paul Jones before drilling the ball low past Kelly and into the bottom corner of the net from a tight angle. It was only the second game in the last seven at home that a United player had managed to put his name on the scoresheet and, as the players celebrated, the relief around Glanford Park was all too evident. With the goal behind them Scunthorpe started to play with more fluency and went in search of a second, Harsley forcing a smart save out of Kelly after a neat move between Quailey and Steve Torpey. Harsley was again involved just before the half-hour mark when his low shot rebounded to Graves, who drove the ball agonisingly wide of Kelly's right hand post from just inside the area. The game opened up and both sides had chances to score. But unfortunately for United, it was the visitors who grabbed the decisive next strike with a goal of high quality. With eight minutes to go until half-time, Stanton was penalised for pushing Dudley on the edge of the penalty area. The defender was booked for the challenge but there was a far worse punishment to come for United as Sheridan blasted his free kick into the wall. The ball rebounded out as far as Paul Rickers who dispatched a right foot blockbuster past Evans and into the top corner of the net from 25 yards out to give Oldham the advantage once again. With the interval approaching there was little Scunthorpe could do — yet they set about the second half in determined fashion, knowing that the points were still very much there for the taking. A last gasp tackle from Mark Hotte stopped Graves in his tracks after the United man had exchanged passes in the penalty area with Quailey, while at the other end Evans did well to push a speculative effort from substitute Steve Whitehall over the bar. With the game moving into its final third Laws went for broke, sending on top scorer Guy Ipoua and fit-again midfielder Lee Hodges in an attempt to salvage something from the game. And within moments of his introduction, Ipoua had Kelly scrambling to make a save after trying his luck with a curling right foot effort from just inside the box. The game looked beyond Scunthorpe when referee Wolstenholme awarded Oldham a penalty after Holt's fiercely struck shot was handled in the box by Graves. Leading scorer Allott stepped up to take the spot kick in front of the 775 visiting Latics fans but, although he hit his penalty low and hard, Evans flung himself to his right to make a brilliant save and keep his team in the game. Having been given a reprieve by their 'keeper, United continued to pour forward in an attempt to rescue something from the match and keep their heads above water. With just three minutes remaining Richard Logan came as near as any Scunthorpe player had all afternoon with a close range effort from Justin Walker's hopeful cross. Logan's shot looked destined for the back of the net but it was just not to be, as Kelly somehow managed to get across his goal to scramble it away to safety. With just one point from their back to back home games, the Iron trooped off the pitch to find they had slipped back into the bottom four for the first time since early September. It was a club record 10th home defeat of the season and, perhaps it is not such a bad thing that five of United's final eight games are away from Glanford Park, where they have struggled all season. The first of those games is tomorrow night at Wrexham where, after seeing United drop to 22nd place in the second division, Laws will be hoping for a similar effort from his players, yet with a bit more luck.

Same old story as Iron set new record

And now, the end is near. But while it may still be premature to suggest that Scunthorpe United are facing the final curtain with six weeks of the second division season to go, Saturday's 2-1 defeat by Oldham has certainly left them perilously close to the relegation trap-door. Starting the day just one place and one point above the bottom four, United knew they could ill afford not to take maximum points from the Latics, who know all about brushes with relegation danger after their exploits in recent years. Yet just four minutes had passed when Oldham took the lead with a stooping header from defender Shaun Garnett, pouncing on a John Sheridan corner to open the visitors' account and silence the home crowd. Scunthorpe 'keeper Tommy Evans got his hands to the ball as he dived to his left but, as Mark Allott moved in to challenge for the rebound, referee Eddie Wolstenholme indicated that the ball had crossed the line and gave the goal. It was a real body blow for United who had started the week looking for six points from their two home games with Brentford and Oldham in a bid to pull clear of the thickening relegation mire. Spurred on by their early goal, the Latics threw everything at Scunthorpe in an attempt to put the result out of reach in the opening 10 minutes, with only Nathan Stanton's last ditch tackle denying Craig Dudley a clear shooting chance.

United manager Brian Laws made an early tactical switch to change into the 5-3-2 formation that has served the Iron so well on their travels this season, with teenager Wayne Graves moving into the right wing-back slot to great effect. The change around gave Scunthorpe a fresh impetus and, on 11 minutes, Brian Quailey forced visiting 'keeper Gary Kelly to make his first save of the afternoon with a low drive from wide on the right of the penalty area. The United striker had missed much of the team's pre-match build up after getting stuck in traffic — but he was certainly motoring three minutes later as he fired the home side back on level terms with his fourth Iron goal. Picking up Paul Harsley's through ball wide on the left hand side of the area, Quailey turned inside Paul Jones before drilling the ball low past Kelly and into the bottom corner of the net from a tight angle. It was only the second game in the last seven at home that a United player had managed to put his name on the scoresheet and, as the players celebrated, the relief around Glanford Park was all too evident.

With the goal behind them Scunthorpe started to play with more fluency and went in search of a second, Harsley forcing a smart save out of Kelly after a neat move between Quailey and Steve Torpey. Harsley was again involved just before the half-hour mark when his low shot rebounded to Graves, who drove the ball agonisingly wide of Kelly's right hand post from just inside the area. The game opened up and both sides had chances to score. But unfortunately for United, it was the visitors who grabbed the decisive next strike with a goal of high quality. With eight minutes to go until half-time, Stanton was penalised for pushing Dudley on the edge of the penalty area. The defender was booked for the challenge but there was a far worse punishment to come for United as Sheridan blasted his free kick into the wall. The ball rebounded out as far as Paul Rickers who dispatched a right foot blockbuster past Evans and into the top corner of the net from 25 yards out to give Oldham the advantage once again.

With the interval approaching there was little Scunthorpe could do — yet they set about the second half in determined fashion, knowing that the points were still very much there for the taking. A last gasp tackle from Mark Hotte stopped Graves in his tracks after the United man had exchanged passes in the penalty area with Quailey, while at the other end Evans did well to push a speculative effort from substitute Steve Whitehall over the bar. With the game moving into its final third Laws went for broke, sending on top scorer Guy Ipoua and fit-again midfielder Lee Hodges in an attempt to salvage something from the game. And within moments of his introduction, Ipoua had Kelly scrambling to make a save after trying his luck with a curling right foot effort from just inside the box. The game looked beyond Scunthorpe when referee Wolstenholme awarded Oldham a penalty after Holt's fiercely struck shot was handled in the box by Graves. Leading scorer Allott stepped up to take the spot kick in front of the 775 visiting Latics fans but, although he hit his penalty low and hard, Evans flung himself to his right to make a brilliant save and keep his team in the game.

Having been given a reprieve by their 'keeper, United continued to pour forward in an attempt to rescue something from the match and keep their heads above water. With just three minutes remaining Richard Logan came as near as any Scunthorpe player had all afternoon with a close range effort from Justin Walker's hopeful cross. Logan's shot looked destined for the back of the net but it was just not to be, as Kelly somehow managed to get across his goal to scramble it away to safety. With just one point from their back to back home games, the Iron trooped off the pitch to find they had slipped back into the bottom four for the first time since early September. It was a club record 10th home defeat of the season and, perhaps it is not such a bad thing that five of United's final eight games are away from Glanford Park, where they have struggled all season. The first of those games is tomorrow night at Wrexham where, after seeing United drop to 22nd place in the second division, Laws will be hoping for a similar effort from his players, yet with a bit more luck.

DON'T GIVE UP ON US United manager's message to club's supporters
Scunthorpe United manager Brian Laws has urged the club's supporters not to panic after the Iron slipped deeper into the relegation dogfight with a 2-1 defeat by Oldham at Glanford Park. And the United boss said he will not stop believing in the Iron's second division future, despite Saturday's 10th home league defeat of the season — a new club record. "We've got to keep believing and we will never give up until relegation is mathematically certain," Laws said after the final whistle. "It has put us back in the bottom four for the first time in a long time but it's so tight down there that I think it will chop and change every week. "The supporters have got to realise that the players are doing their best for them. "They are desperate to stay in this division and I just hope the supporters don't give up on us. "It was not so long ago that we all loved each other and we can't turn around now and hate each other six months later. "The players are wearing their hearts on their sleeves and they are doing their all for the cause." Laws had targeted a maximum six point return for United from last week's back-to-back home games with Brentford and Oldham to help keep the Iron out of the bottom four. Yet despite seeing the team deliver just one point to drop to third from bottom in the table, Laws said he could not have asked for any more effort from his battling players. "They are fighting for everything and I can't ask for any more than what they are giving," he said. "I cannot get any more out of these players and I could not have brought anyone new to the club who would have given me any more effort than the players I have got already. "All I can ask them to do is be a little bit more patient when they haven't got the ball." United now have two away games in five days — at Wrexham tomorrow night and at Bury on Saturday — and Laws said he is confident the Iron's away form can help pull the club clear of the relegation scrap. "It is a real test of character," he admitted. "We start with a difficult away game at Wrexham and we have got to go there and believe in ourselves — it is about time we had a bit of luck. "My job now is to pick them up and get them right for that game and I am confident we can get something out of it." If there was one positive point for United to take from Saturday's match it was the return to first team duty of Lee Hodges, who came on as a second half substitute. After missing United's previous five matches because of injury Hodges came through the final third of the game unscathed and, Laws said, could be ready to play a part tomorrow. "We thought that if we could get Lee on it might open the game up a bit because it was tight," he said. "He is still a bit tentative but I wanted to give him a go and I thought it might give the crowd a lift. "He's got 30 minutes under his belt which might make him better for the next game. "I would like the players to soldier on — but there was a lot of ice in the dressing room after the game and the players were all feeling a bit sorry for themselves." While Laws felt his team deserved more luck from Saturday's game, he said referee Eddie Wolstenholme did not help matters. "We have been unlucky but the referee did not help because he would not let the game flow," the manager added. "It was just whistle, whistle, whistle - it was like he had a new toy." United now have just eight games - three at home and five away - to get themselves out of trouble if they are to avoid a quick return to the third division at the end of the season

DON'T GIVE UP ON US
United manager's message to club's supporters

Scunthorpe United manager Brian Laws has urged the club's supporters not to panic after the Iron slipped deeper into the relegation dogfight with a 2-1 defeat by Oldham at Glanford Park. And the United boss said he will not stop believing in the Iron's second division future, despite Saturday's 10th home league defeat of the season — a new club record. "We've got to keep believing and we will never give up until relegation is mathematically certain," Laws said after the final whistle. "It has put us back in the bottom four for the first time in a long time but it's so tight down there that I think it will chop and change every week. "The supporters have got to realise that the players are doing their best for them. "They are desperate to stay in this division and I just hope the supporters don't give up on us. "It was not so long ago that we all loved each other and we can't turn around now and hate each other six months later. "The players are wearing their hearts on their sleeves and they are doing their all for the cause."

Laws had targeted a maximum six point return for United from last week's back-to-back home games with Brentford and Oldham to help keep the Iron out of the bottom four. Yet despite seeing the team deliver just one point to drop to third from bottom in the table, Laws said he could not have asked for any more effort from his battling players. "They are fighting for everything and I can't ask for any more than what they are giving," he said. "I cannot get any more out of these players and I could not have brought anyone new to the club who would have given me any more effort than the players I have got already. "All I can ask them to do is be a little bit more patient when they haven't got the ball."

United now have two away games in five days — at Wrexham tomorrow night and at Bury on Saturday — and Laws said he is confident the Iron's away form can help pull the club clear of the relegation scrap. "It is a real test of character," he admitted. "We start with a difficult away game at Wrexham and we have got to go there and believe in ourselves — it is about time we had a bit of luck. "My job now is to pick them up and get them right for that game and I am confident we can get something out of it."

If there was one positive point for United to take from Saturday's match it was the return to first team duty of Lee Hodges, who came on as a second half substitute. After missing United's previous five matches because of injury Hodges came through the final third of the game unscathed and, Laws said, could be ready to play a part tomorrow. "We thought that if we could get Lee on it might open the game up a bit because it was tight," he said. "He is still a bit tentative but I wanted to give him a go and I thought it might give the crowd a lift. "He's got 30 minutes under his belt which might make him better for the next game. "I would like the players to soldier on — but there was a lot of ice in the dressing room after the game and the players were all feeling a bit sorry for themselves." While Laws felt his team deserved more luck from Saturday's game, he said referee Eddie Wolstenholme did not help matters. "We have been unlucky but the referee did not help because he would not let the game flow," the manager added. "It was just whistle, whistle, whistle - it was like he had a new toy."

United now have just eight games - three at home and five away - to get themselves out of trouble if they are to avoid a quick return to the third division at the end of the season

laws unhappy at Quailey late show
Scunthorpe United striker Brian Quailey almost missed the Iron's 2-1 defeat by Oldham on Saturday after getting stuck in a traffic jam on his way to Glanford Park. Quailey scored his fourth Iron goal to put United back on level terms after the Latics had grabbed an early lead — yet was later criticised by manager Brian Laws, who revealed the striker had only just made it to the ground in time. "He looked out of sorts at the start and almost didn't play because of the traffic," Laws said. "It was just a case of bad preparation. "I am not blaming Brian for the result but I would have liked to have seen a bit more professionalism from him. "He should have stayed here overnight and not had to worry about tearing up a motorway 45 minutes before the kick off. "He's got himself a goal but I thought his touch let him down a bit." Quailey was hauled off by Laws on the hour mark as top scorer Guy Ipoua was sent on to try and salvage something from the match. But United could not find the goal they needed to pull level, and have now dropped to 22nd place in the second division table. Meanwhile, Laws has appealed to supporters to give new signing Mark Jackson more time as the midfielder tries to get to grips with life in division two. The former Leeds United man made his fourth appearance for Scunthorpe on Saturday, but was substituted to make way for Lee Hodges in the second half. "He (Jackson) has got a lot of adjusting to do," Laws admitted. "He has not got the pace of second division football yet and we have got to be careful how we treat him. "He is new here and I believe he is a very good player and everybody needs to believe in him. "Don't judge him yet because he does not deserve it." United will immediately get out of the bottom four with victory at Wrexham tomorrow. Bottom club Chesterfield are the only other team in the bottom six in action.

laws unhappy at Quailey late show

Scunthorpe United striker Brian Quailey almost missed the Iron's 2-1 defeat by Oldham on Saturday after getting stuck in a traffic jam on his way to Glanford Park. Quailey scored his fourth Iron goal to put United back on level terms after the Latics had grabbed an early lead — yet was later criticised by manager Brian Laws, who revealed the striker had only just made it to the ground in time. "He looked out of sorts at the start and almost didn't play because of the traffic," Laws said. "It was just a case of bad preparation. "I am not blaming Brian for the result but I would have liked to have seen a bit more professionalism from him. "He should have stayed here overnight and not had to worry about tearing up a motorway 45 minutes before the kick off. "He's got himself a goal but I thought his touch let him down a bit."

Quailey was hauled off by Laws on the hour mark as top scorer Guy Ipoua was sent on to try and salvage something from the match. But United could not find the goal they needed to pull level, and have now dropped to 22nd place in the second division table. Meanwhile, Laws has appealed to supporters to give new signing Mark Jackson more time as the midfielder tries to get to grips with life in division two. The former Leeds United man made his fourth appearance for Scunthorpe on Saturday, but was substituted to make way for Lee Hodges in the second half. "He (Jackson) has got a lot of adjusting to do," Laws admitted. "He has not got the pace of second division football yet and we have got to be careful how we treat him. "He is new here and I believe he is a very good player and everybody needs to believe in him. "Don't judge him yet because he does not deserve it." United will immediately get out of the bottom four with victory at Wrexham tomorrow. Bottom club Chesterfield are the only other team in the bottom six in action.

just thought I would ask a quick question. Where do these player ratings come from? I have looked over them in the last few weeks and I haven't seen one yet which I would agree with. I understand that you use these so that those who cannot see games for themselves, can see how our players performed. Do you agree with the following ratings though? I though Holt was possibly Man of the Match, especially in the second half. And I thought Garnett's 1st half performance was shocking. He stood off players, and was caught out by Quailey for the goal. Just my opinion though. I would love to hear you opinion on this. What did you think of the game on Saturday overall? That second half ranked as one of the best halves of the season, I thought. We passed it around brilliantly. But again, that is my opinion.