Scunny shuffle works for Adkins

16 September 2009 08:49
United won 4-0 at Crystal Palace in the Championship on Saturday but Adkins opted to change the side that got that result by finding room in his starting XI for Gary Hooper and Grant McCann. But the pair vindicated Adkins' faith in them by sharing the goals between them, with Hooper celebrating his 100th career start by scoring two and creating a 12th-minute opener for McCann as the Iron produced a stunning display of passing football against North End at Glanford Park. "I was very pleased with the players," Adkins said. "We changed the formation and Gary Hooper came back into the team and you think 'how can you leave Jonathan Forte out?' "But he (Hooper) was galvanised tonight, and we brought McCann in and played against a very good Preston side. "We've had two games and changed the team and tactics around and I'm sure there will have been a few eyebrows raised but it's not about 11, it's about a squad. If the result goes the other way, sure, people will be baying for blood. "I thought we were top drawer in the first half and I enjoyed it. We had a good shape about us and it worked very well. "We're trying to play entertaining football and give everyone something to smile about. "It helps if you're winning but that's what we're trying to do." Preston manager Alan Irvine was left to rue a bad day following his the end of his side's 10-match unbeaten run. Irvine lost key defender Sean St Ledger to Middlesbrough early in the day before watching his players fail to compete with Scunthorpe, with Jon Parkin's consolation their only reward. "I'm very disappointed about both things," Irvine said. "The main thing was that we got a good result and unfortunately we didn't. "We didn't compete as normally as we normally do at the start of the game and we were second best. "If you don't compete in this division you don't win. We didn't deserve anything in the end. It's not the way I expect us to play." Irvine was keen to point out, though, that although St Ledger's sudden departure was not a factor behind the loss, the player will be missed by the club. "I don't think it was an influence, we had a team out there that was capable of winning the game," he said. "I am disappointed and I didn't want Sean to go but I understand what effect money has both in terms of clubs and players and I accept Sean has gone and we have to move on. "I have thoroughly enjoyed working with him and Middlesbrough have got a really good player. I think he'll continue to improve and go on to be a top player."

Source: Team_Talk