Managers job hope won’t be hurt by NUFC slump in form

Oct 21 2009 by Mark Douglas, The Journal

“It is Zurab’s natural position (centre-back) and Danny Simpson has played there on a few occasions before and done OK.”

With justification Hughton was left bewildered that United had not made their dominance pay in the game. “It is very frustrating. We set out the team offensively enough to get a result. We had enough chances but to win the game you have to put the goal in opposition’s net more than they put it in your net and we did not do that. At pivotal moments they got the goals that mattered. The changing room was very down. But is one that needs to improve to win on Saturday.

“We should have won the game, we had enough chances and their goalkeeper was man of the match, which says something I believe.

“The manner of the two goals we conceded was disappointing. If we concede the goals that we have we can’t expect to win football matches.

“It is a testament to this division – there are no easy games in this league. We felt for long periods of the game we played good, offensive football but improvements need to be made.”

Meanwhile, counterpart Nigel Adkins felt his Scunthorpe side had earned their win and dismissed talk of the game being the Iron’s ‘Cup Final’.

“We will always have the smallest fan-base in the division and the smallest budget but it is what you do on the field that matters,” he said.