Ian Baraclough could not fault Scunthorpe's effort but was left to rue a lack of killer instinct in the final third as his side went down 2-0 at home to Coventry. Gary McSheffrey opened the scoring after 31 minutes when he turned the ball home after Marlon King's effort was blocked, and the controversial striker was denied credit for the second goal when his shot came back off the woodwork and went in off United goalkeeper Joe Murphy. "We have matched Coventry's physical style of play for most of the game," said Baraclough. "They have not had many opportunities but have scored from two of them. At the opposite end we have not passed the ball well enough, though the conditions were getting difficult as the pitch became more frosty. "We have not hurt Coventry enough when we have got in behind them. We had an early chance and it might have been a different story if (Michael) O'Connor's shot had not been well saved." Meanwhile, Sky Blues boss Aidy Boothroyd backed the Iron to avoid relegation. He said: "Scunthorpe is a difficult place to come and they're in a false position at the moment, down near the foot of the table. I know their manager Ian Baraclough well and I'm sure he will soon get them climbing back up the table."

Source: PA

---