Scunthorpe 1 Shrewsbury Town 0 - Report and pictures

One-time Town target Novak glanced in a delicious Josh Morris cross to leave Town with a fourth defeat in nine League One games.

After a dull and uninspiring first period, where John Askey’s Town were the better side for 30 minutes but faded badly, the Iron burst out of the traps in the second period and could’ve scored more than the one they managed.

The victory was Scunthorpe’s first home success of the season but for Shrewsbury, who finally ended their run without a win against Southend last week, it was a case of struggling to build any momentum.

The visitors were hoping to add to a first League One success under Askey but fell flat on an afternoon where they were lacking in the final ball. They created zero chances in the first period and the opportunities they did fashion after Scunthorpe’s opener were poorly taken.

Analysis

For just the second time in nine league games the Town boss decided to use an unchanged XI.

For the first time this season Askey’s men were going for back-to-back wins after ending their victory drought against Southend last time out.

It feels like the Town chief has settled on a preferred XI after believing his side have shown great improvements over recent weeks.

Lee Angol continued as the lone ranger in attack flanked by Alex Gilliead and Shaun Whalley in Askey’s 4-3-3 formation, where midfield trio Greg Docherty - who had netted twice in two games - Ollie Norburn and Anthony Grant kept their places.

Hosts Scunthorpe were in desperate search of a first Glanford Park victory of the season. Boss Stuart McCall, who was appointed after the sacking of Nick Daws five games in, has made the Iron a threat in attack but, so far, failed to fix a leaky backline.

Going into the clash Scunthorpe had conceded the most goals in League One, they had also twice thrown away a two-goal lead at home.

To have dangerous winger Ryan Colclough available for the clash, after a training injury scare, was a boost for the hosts and early touches showed why he is such a tricky customer.

A couple of early set-pieces for the home side did little to help an oddly subdued Glanford Park as Askey’s men began to click into gear after an indiffierent 10 minutes.

Both sides were guilty of giving the ball away in the opening exchanges but Town, who were pressing the Iron high in midfield through the energetic Docherty and Norburn, were having some joy down the left.

Both Whalley and Norburn saw dangerous strikes blocked by the Iron defence but McCall’s hosts were struggling to string two passes together with any precision.

Groans emerged from the stands before the mid-point of the first half, but the visitors - despite looking the better side - had not fashioned any clear opportunities on goal.

Town sensed a lack of ability in the home side and cranked up the pressure. Norburn saw their best chance inside half hour after Shrewsbury pounced on another error, broke sharply on the right, but the midfielder - after dummying his way past one defender - saw a 12-yard shot blocked.

Scunthorpe only looked remotely threatening through Colclough’s energy and skill down the right. Otherwise Town were - unsurprisingly with an extra man in midfield against 4-4-2 - winning the battle and playing better football.

The entertainment factor was at a premium as Town struggled to turn their energetic display into a lead as, too often, the final ball went astray.

Things turned niggly too, as referee Andy Haines was all too happy to go into his book. Luke Waterfall, Norburn and Whalley were all booked. The latter two for dissent.

The encounter got more flat as the first period went on but, on the stroke of half-time, both keepers were finally forced into some work.

A sharp Shrews corner was meant for Norburn but ended in Docherty getting a toe-poke at goal from the edge of the box but keeper Jak Alnwick - linked with a move from Rangers to Town in the summer - was equal to it.

Down the other end and Joel Coleman was tested and responded with flying colours - more than can be said for Mr Haines from Town fans behind that goal.

Docherty felt he was fouled outside Scunthorpe’s box but the Iron broke and, with Chelsea loanee Ike Ugbo sent clear on the left side of the box, tested Coleman with a fierce strike.

The keeper was equal to it but the ball rebounded out into the action and, as Ugbo battled with the Town defence - illegally according to the away fans - he tested the keeper with another effort.

Askey’s men were clearly the more confident side in possession but did not create near the desired chances on goal in a dull first half.

Out of nowhere the home side burst into life at the start of the second half.

Ugbo shot wide before a succession of corners had Coleman flapping in the Town goal and it was the away side that couldn’t clear their lines.

Belief soared into the stands at Glanford Park and Josh Morris’s wand of a left foot turned provider.

He swung in a sumptuous cross from the right that looked to have beaten everybody on its way into the far corner of the net.

But experienced poacher Novak wheeled away in celebration after the faintest of touches had guided it in.

If away fans were hoping the opening would wake up Town they would be disappointed. Within minutes Scunthorpe should have had two more as Morris was denied one-on-one by Coleman before Ugbo darted on to a glaring Emmanuel error but again Coleman made the save.

Askey switched things up sending on Aaron Amadi-Holloway for Grant and his side woke up.

Sadler was one of half-a-dozen orange kits unable to turn home an agonizing goalmouth scramble from a corner. From the following Whalley corner, Docherty somehow smashed wide at the far post from barely six yards out.

He may have been distracted as Town appealed for a penalty on Waterfall.

Town kept coming. Whalley was then denied by smart Alnwick keeping. Gilliead’s powerful run and Norburn’s smart pass had put the winger in on goal on a tight angle.

Next it was top scorer Angol with his head in his hands. The powerful Amadi-Holloway knocked a Whalley cross into his path in the box but the forward swung rashly at the chance and it flew well wide.

Askey would have been scratching his head as to why Town waited until this period to create chances.

A flurry of chances came and went for the visitors and, if anything, it was Scunthorpe threatening. Ex-Town man Stephen Humphrys should have put Town to bed in added time but finished wastefully.

A final chance was not forthcoming to the visitors who limped to a poor defeat.

Key moments

23 - Ollie Norburn picks it up from a Shaun Whalley pull-back, tricks his way past James Perch but sees a close-range strike well blocked.

45 - Finally work for a goalkeeper to do! A short Shaun Whalley corner is aimed for Ollie Norburn but is picked up by Greg Docherty. The on-loan Rangers man tries a toe-poke from distance but it’s easy for Jak Alnwick.

45+1 - Controversy as ref Andy Haines ignores Docherty’s claim for a foul. The hosts break and Ike Ugbo is slipped in but his strike is well stopped by Joel Coleman. The rebound fell the way of the forward, after beating Town’s defence, his effort was again saved.

47 - Ugbo wriggled through a couple of bodies on the turn from a throw but drags shot well wide at near post.

49 - Two corners cause Town all kinds of trouble but they just clear. Ugbo then sent away down left side of box after poor Coleman kick but atones with straight-forward stop.

55 - Goal Iron. Josh Morris’s delicious delivery takes a nick of Lee Novak and nestles into the far corner.

57 - Iron should have two. Morris played in on goal but Coleman out to save bravely.

60 - Josh Emmanuel with a horror hospital pass that has Ugbo in on goal but Coleman stands up to come out on top.

64 - Docherty somehow puts it wide at the back post from Whalley’s corner.

67 - Whalley denied by Alnwick from a tight angle on the right side of the box after Alex Gilliead’s pacy run.

70 - Huge chance for Salop striker Lee Angol as he takes a knockdown from sub Aaron Amadi-Holloway but lashes wastefully wide.

90 - Sub Stephen Humphrys should make it two for the Iron but lifts his lob over the crossbar.

Teams

Scunthorpe United (4-4-2):

Alnwick; Perch, Burgess, Goode, Borthwick-Jackson; Colclough (Dales, 72), Lund, Ojo (c), Morris; Ugbo (Humphrys, 85), Novak (McArdle, 80).

Subs not used: Flatt (gk), Horsfield, Thomas, Butroid.

Shrewsbury Town (4-3-3):

Coleman; Emmanuel, Waterfall, Sadler (c), Beckles; Grant (Amadi-Holloway, 65), Docherty, Norburn; Whalley, Angol, Gilliead (Gnahoua, 90).

Subs not used: Arnold (gk), Kennedy, Bolton, Laurent, Barnett.

Referee: Andy Haines

Attendance: 3,784 (no away crowd given)

Star man - Greg Docherty. Not his best but worked hard.

Position in the table - 20th (seven points from nine games)