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Scunthorpe United
League Two
Jan 27, 2014 at 7.45pm UK
 
Fleetwood Town

0-0

FT

Live Commentary: Scunthorpe United 0-0 Fleetwood Town - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's text coverage of Scunthorpe United against Fleetwood Town in League Two.
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Scunthorpe United have retained their place at the top of League Two following a goalless draw against Fleetwood Town.

The away side started well and created a number of chances, but a combination of poor finishing and good goalkeeping ensured that the first half finished without a goal.

Steven Schumacher had a great chance to win the match for the Cod Army with an hour played, but his penalty was saved by Sam Slocombe.

Read how the action unfolded below.


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Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of Scunthorpe United's clash with Fleetwood Town in League Two.

Before we go any further, let's have a look at the teams.

SCUNTHORPE UNITED: Slocombe; Nolan, Mirfin, Canavan, Williams; Hawkridge, Syers, McAllister, McSheffrey; Hayes, Winnall

SUBS: Severn, Ribeiro, Sparrow, Waterfall, Adelakun, Collins, Madden

FLEETWOOD TOWN: Davies; Murdoch, Roberts, Pond, Schumacher; Goodall, McLaughlin, Taylor, Ball; Mandron, Marrow

SUBS: Maxwell, Evans, Parkin, Brown, Hogan, Cresswell, Sarcevic

The Iron make two changes to their side, as Gary McSheffrey comes in for Christian Ribeiro and Paul Hayes replaces the injured Deon Burton. Meanwhile, the away side bring in Mandron for Parkin, who drops to the bench.

As mentioned in the introduction, this match sees the league leaders up against third-placed Fleetwood, who could go top with a win. Both are in terrific form, which makes it extremely difficult to predict.

Since Russ Wilcox replaced the sacked Brian Laws in November, the Iron have gone 11 games unbeaten, winning seven and drawing four. However, they threw away a 3-0 lead against Dagenham at the weekend, so Wilcox will be looking for a response tonight.

Speaking before the match, he told reporters: "We know it's two dropped. Nobody has to ask that question – we know that for a fact that at 3-0 up we should be seeing the game out. It shows you how quickly momentum can change in games. Sometimes at 3-0, you can half think you’re home and dry."

Getting back to winning ways against the Cod Army will be a difficult task, however. Graham Alexander's men are playing some great football, and have picked up 47 points from their 26 league games. Following three defeats in a row, they have won their last four.

If they manage to come away from Glanford Park with a win, then they will move to the top of the league. That would be some achievement in Alexander's first full season in charge.

However, the Fleetwood boss knows that tonight is going to be a tough test for his players. "Scunthorpe have got players who can score goals, so it will be a tough game but we’re hoping to give them a tough game as well," he told Sky Sports News. "They’re top of the league so it’s a good occasion for everyone, too. It’s a quick turnaround so the lads will have to recover really well, and we'll look after them in between."



PREDICTION: We are five minutes away from kickoff, so it's time for our prediction. With the form that these sides are in, we will hopefully see plenty of goals. However, with home advantage I think Scunthorpe will come out on top, 2-1.

The players are making their way to the pitch. Just time to put the kettle on.

KICKOFF! The away side get us underway!

It's been a fast start by Fleetwood, with Mikael Mandron driving forward. However, the ball is lashed over the bar from just inside the area by Marrow. Positive play, though.

Scunthorpe have yet to test Davies in the Fleetwood goal, but they have passed the ball nicely in midfield. Again the visitors come forward, but the ball is out for a Scunthorpe goal kick.

SAVE! We have our first real effort of the game, but it's a poor one by David Ball. He has plenty of space 20 yards from goal, but his shot is low and Slocombe makes a simple stop.

GREAT SAVE! What a save! And what a shot! Sam Winnall runs on to a Hayes pass and fires a dipping volley at Davies's goal. However, the goalkeeper is just able to tip it over the bar. Brilliant stuff by both players there.

From the resulting corner Niall Canavan saw his header saved, but it was an easy one for Davies. Since then the ball has been exchanged in the middle of the park.

BLOCK! Charlie Taylor sends in a curling cross with his left foot and the ball eventually falls to Schumacher. However, his powerful volley is blocked by Williams. That appeared to be on target, and I think it might have caused problems for Slocombe had his defender not got his body to it first.

Taylor has been very productive for the Cod Army in this opening part of the game, and he again shows his skill as he skips away from a challenge and surges into the box. However, Murdoch gets it all wrong and slices his shot wide.

WIDE! Fleetwood are dominating at the moment and probably should be ahead. Firstly, Eddie Nolan almost turns the ball into his own net after an optimistic long ball, and then Roberts accidentally blocks Mandron's goal-bound effort.

Scunthorpe haven't threatened since that Winnall volley and they look very nervy when the ball is played into their box.

As I type that, a corner causes havoc in the Iron area, but Fleetwood can't make the most of it. Difficult times for the home fans.

WIDE! Another chance for the away side, but another miss. Again the joy comes down the flanks, although this time it's the right side. David Ball tries an ambitious volley in the box, but it goes wide of the post. Will Fleetwood live to regret their wastefulness?

Mandron has been a real handful and he shrugs off his marker, showing strength and skill. He finds McLaughlin, but again the finish is lacking and Slocombe makes a simple catch.

The problem for Scunthorpe is that they can't find their front two of Winnall and Hayes. The service has been very poor in this first half, and they have been unable to really trouble the Fleetwood defence.

This is better, much better by the home side. For the first time since the opening minutes they force their opponents back, with Terry Hawkridge making surging runs down the flank. However, just when it looks like they might have a chance, the final ball is poor and Fleetwood get it away. Corner to the home side now.

That is cleared, but Roberts almost puts the ball in his own net with a header. It skims the top of the bar and is out for another corner. However, McSheffrey plays it short and the move breaks down.

Scunthorpe's short spell of pressure is over now, but the match is much closer than it was 15 minutes ago. Judging by how this has progressed so far, one goal could be enough.

MISS! Ball has looked dangerous, but it's fair to say that his finishing has been a little off tonight. He should do much better here, but he scuffs his shot and it rolls wide.

HALF TIME: SCUNTHORPE UNITED 0-0 FLEETWOOD TOWN

Graham Alexander will be very pleased with his side's performance at half time, but what he won't be happy with is the scoreline. Considering the chances that the Cod Army created, they should be leading at the break.

However, the hosts probably had the best chance through Sam Winnall's volley, which Davies did well to tip over. Having said that, the Iron need to up their game in the second half.

STATS: The statistics show that the visitors had 53% of possession in the first 45 minutes, with nine attempts compared to Scunthorpe's six. The home side managed four on target, two more than Fleetwood.

A good effort by the fans, especially when you consider that the match is live on television.



KICKOFF! We're underway in the second half. Fleetwood have introduced Junior Brown for Alex Marrow, which I think is because of an injury.

It's an excellent start to the second half by the visitors, who have dominated possession in these early stages. Slocombe also got a crucial touch to push away Taylor's cross. At the moment it is relentless.

Scunthorpe get the ball back with a throw in deep in their own half, but Fleetwood have it again with a free kick in a dangerous position.

OVER! Schumacher's delivery ends up at the feet of Ball, but he can't keep his shot down and it goes over from a tight angle. The Iron are well and truly under the cosh in these opening exchanges of the second half.

Scunthorpe have seen more of the ball in the last few minutes, but the away side still look the more likely to open the scoring. As I said in the first half, the final ball and coolness in front of goal are missing.

Better by the home side, who win a corner after Marcus Williams's low ball is cleared just before it reaches Winnall.

SAVE! I'm not sure if McSheffrey means to do this, but he almost scores direct from a corner! Davies get across, however, and pushes it away.

PENALTY TO FLEETWOOD!

PENALTY SAVED!

Fleetwood squander a great chance to take the lead as Slocombe produces a brilliant save to deny Schumacher from the spot. It was Taylor who was fouled by Hawkridge in the area, but it looked very dubious.

FLEETWOOD SUB: That is Schumacher's last action of the night as Antoni Sarcevic comes on.



SCUNTHORPE SUB: Hakeeb Adelakun replaces Gary McSheffrey for the home side.

FLEETWOOD SUB: Alexander introduces his final sub as Jon Parkin comes on for Mikael Mandron.

Not much has happened since that penalty miss, which could come back to haunt Fleetwood. Eddie Nolan did smash a shot over the bar from distance, but it's an even game now.

SAVE! Sam Slocombe has been excellent tonight and this time he denies Antoni Sarcevic, who had hammered a volley at goal from a tight angle. We're into the final 20 minutes now, still 0-0.

SCUNTHORPE SUB: Paddy Madden is on for Sam Winnall, who has had precious little service in the second half.

As it stands the home side will be staying top of League Two, but they have been poor in this match. With 77 minutes on the clock, Fleetwood have the momentum, but can they find a way past Slocombe?



BLOCK! Despite being second best all night, Scunthorpe do look threatening on the counter. Adelakun does really well to skip past a defender and has time to pick out his man. He chooses Hayes, but his shot is blocked by Roberts. The home fans shout for handball, but I think it was chest.

Jon Parkin gets a lump of vaseline on his head after suffering a nasty cut. He has to swap his shirt, and I think his new one is a few sizes smaller than the first.

SAVE! Scott Davies hasn't had much to do in this second half, but he keeps his concentration to stop Madden's fierce drive from the edge of the box. The last five minutes or so have been end to end.

Fleetwood don't clear the ball properly and it is curled back in by Madden, but Hayes sees the ball whistle over his head. We're going to have three minutes of added time.

BOOKING! The first card of the night goes to Scott Davies for time wasting.

FULL TIME: SCUNTHORPE UNITED 0-0 FLEETWOOD TOWN

So, Scunthorpe retain their lead at the top of the table, but Fleetwood will feel that this draw is a missed opportunity. They created numerous chances, but the crucial moment was the penalty save with an hour played.

That's all from me tonight, but stay with Sports Mole for the latest news. Goodbye!

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