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Broughy · 24-06-08, 01:04 PM

Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph

Sunday 9th September

MORRIS HAS ITCHY FEET

Ian Morris stunned Iron fans this week by announcing he wishes to move to a bigger club. The news is a blow for his manager who see’s Morris as an integral part of Scunthorpe’s survival this season. The news comes after rumours linking Morris with a move to divisional rivals Stoke, a move which Morris himself has suggested would be in his best interests. With Stoke looking like genuine promotion contenders this season could the lure of Premiership football next season be too much to resist for Morris?
“Ian is a real talent, and he is fully aware that with his ability he could be performing on a bigger stage. Here at Scunthorpe we are looking for players who are commited to the club and until Ian comes to me and tells me he wants out, he is a Scunthorpe United player and will remain as such.” commented Brough.
Many fans expect to see several clubs making a move for Morris in the January window but everyone remains hopeful he will stay at Glanford Park for the foreseeable future.

Sunday 16th September

SHARP LIFTS IRON TO FIRST LEAGUE WIN

Scunthorpe lifted themselves out of the relegation zone this weekend picking up a 3-0 win over fellow relegation candidates Colchester. Sharp looked lively early on and in the 7th minute his shot was deflected into the path of Paul Hayes who rifled it home from 6 yards. Sharp and Hayes linked up well for the Iron’s second goal of the game as Hayes flicked on a Kevan Hurst throw in with his head straight into the path of his strike partner and Sharp almost broke the net from close range. Sharp scored again before the break, beating the struggling defender to the ball after Hurst crossed from deep. He could have had a hat trick had he not seen his effort rattle the crossbar with 20 minutes to go in the game. Marcus Williams had to be stretchered off after twisting his ankle and is expected to be out for at least 3 weeks. This is bad news for Iron fans but the news that the team have moved up to 19th in the league is sure to soften the blow.

Sunday 23rd September

DISAPPOINTING WEEK FOR IRON

Iron Striker Paul Hayes got on the score sheet but missed a penalty.

Scunthorpe found themselves on the wrong end of some controversial refereeing decisions this week, none more controversial than Andy D’Urso awarding visitors QPR a penalty in the 6th minute which Martin Rowlands dispatched into the bottom corner. Brough was furious with D’Urso feeling that Iriekpen had not made contact with QPR striker Rowan Vine. D’Urso confirmed his removal from Brough’s Christmas card list on 28 minutes when he disallowed a Paul Hayes goal for a foul on the goalkeeper which Brough described as “a fair challenge, Paul went up with the intention of heading the ball and he did that”. A disallowed goal for the visitors may have been the referee’s attempt to redeem himself but Brough saw it as a far easier decision as he stated, “the lad, Fuller, went in at Joe [Murphy] with his elbow leading, Joe was lucky not to be injured.” Paul Hayes bagged a goal just before half time with a near post header from a corner and United went into the break level despite Andy D’Urso’s best efforts. The momentum changed when Paul Hayes went down in the box and after having a long look at it the man in the middle awarded a penalty to the home team. As is Scunthorpe’s luck at the minute however, Hayes found his spot kick saved by Lee Camp, Hayes has now failed to convert twice from the spot this season. The visitors took the lead soon after through an Akos Buszaky strike which Joe Murphy could do nothing about, but the drama was not over as Billy Sharp looked like a man possessed chasing every loose ball in his attempts to square the game once more. After seeing his curling effort come back off the post in the 88th minute United fans could have been forgiven for thinking it was over, but Sharp had other plans and his injury time strike into the top corner was well worthy of a point for the home side. After the game an exhausted Billy Sharp was examined by the clubs medical team and found to have a bruised rib.

AWAY DAY MISERY AS BROUGH LOSES CONTROL

James Brough will have been relieved to see that Andy D’Urso was nowhere to be seen as the team coach arrived at Vicarage Road yesterday to take on an in-form Watford side. The Iron managers relief was short lived when yet another man in black awarded a penalty against his side. John Eustace converted from the spot in the 3rd minute to give Watford an early lead. Lee Trundle, deputising for the injured Billy Sharp managed to level the match on 81 minutes with a low drive from the edge of the box but yet again, a usually quiet Brough had something to say in the post match press conference after Darius Henderson headed Watford to victory deep into injury time, his 94th minute header came a whole minute and a half after the scheduled 2 minutes of added time had expired. Brough stated, “I am deeply upset that the referee’s have cost us a win against QPR and a draw today. I have no idea where that added time came from as there were no injuries and only 3 substitutions in the second half.”
Brough was today issued with a formal warning from the FA and the media-shy manager might think twice before venting his frustrations in the press in future.