Scunthorpe success no surprise - Grant
CHRIS LAKEY Scunthorpe have exceeded pundits' expectations on their return to the second tier of English football after an absence of more than 40 years - but not Peter Grant's.
CHRIS LAKEY
Scunthorpe have exceeded pundits' expectations on their return to the second tier of English football after an absence of more than 40 years - but not Peter Grant's.
Grant had has each Scunthorpe match watched by a member of his scouting team this season, and the reports have been positive, as Grant knew they would be.
“We have had them watched from day one because they are new to the league,” he said. “People get surprised when the likes of Scunthorpe and Bristol City come up and do as well as they have done - it is no surprise whatsoever to me for teams that have been together for a long time, maybe losing one or two players.
“They have been set in their ways since Brian Laws was there. Nigel (Adkins) has gone in there and done exceptionally well because he has not had to change much. He has lost one or two players but has replaced them with players he knew about. Paul Hayes went back - he was at Scunthorpe prior to going there, he knows exactly what is expected of them.”
Having been beaten by Laws' Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, Grant is hoping the legacy of the former Iron manager doesn't have a similar effect at Carrow Road tonight.
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“We know it will be a tough, tough game because they have played well,” he said. “They are tough, they know their jobs defensively, but they will have a go at you. They are organised and disciplined in what they do.
“I think it sums them up what they did going to Colchester at the weekend. A lot of so-called big clubs have gone there and struggled badly over the last 18 months to two years and they went there and won away from home and have not conceded a goal.
“They went to Charlton on the first day of the season when everybody thought they would be cannon fodder and yet again proved what they are capable of.
“All these things give them confidence to believe they are in their rightful position in this division and the results and the performances they deserve where they are.”
