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Kevin van Veen and Abo Eisa (two) got the goals as United defeated League One side Blackpool 3-1 away in the Leasing.com Trophy second round on Wednesday night, and made it four wins on the spin in all competitions.
The Iron entered the game naming an unchanged side from the one that defeated Port Vale at the Sands Venue Stadium four days earlier.
The game started with a Blackpool attack as Calum Macdonald floated a cross in but it was headed behind by Rory McArdle. The subsequent set-piece was headed away by Harrison McGahey and the ball was sent back in, hitting James Perch, who had to receive treatment for a minute before continuing. Soon after, there was another stoppage in play as Blackpool’s Ollie Turton had to receive treatment.
United took the lead with the first chance of the match on 12 minutes as van Veen slotted home from inside the area. Matthew Lund stood the ball up for Lee Novak, who won the header and it dropped for the Dutchman to give United the lead.
Minutes later, the hosts sent a free-kick into the area which was beaten away by Jake Eastwood in the away goal.
Shortly after, Alex Gilliead threaded the ball through to Novak but the flag was up against the striker as Mark Howard made the save.
The home side then had a chance as a corner was flighted in from the left flank but headed wide by Rocky Bushiri.
Following a great ball from van Veen to Novak down the left flank, Scunthorpe made it two on 25 minutes. Eisa doubled the Iron’s advantage with a brilliant strike, cutting inside before opening up the angle and unleashing an effort which nestled into the bottom corner.
Shortly after, Ryan Hardie rolled an effort just wide of the upright for the Tangerines, taking aim from the edge of the area.
After great play from Kgosi Ntlhe down the left on 35 minutes, United attacked across the pitch, with Novak playing it Alex Gilliead, and then to Jordan Clarke, whose shot from the right took a deflection off Novak and forced a save from Howard in the home goal.
Scunthorpe continued to control the opening half, and during the eight minutes of stoppage time, came close as van Veen’s free-kick was weighted towards McArdle at the back post. His header eventually reached Ntlhe who almost connected with a bicycle kick, but the ball went out for a goal kick.
Shortly after, following a right-wing Thompson corner, Joe Nuttall sent an effort wide of goal for the hosts.
The visitors started the second-half well as Curtis Tilt had to get a challenge in to deny van Veen a clear run on goal on 48 minutes, before, a minute later, Eisa played it to the Dutchman, who blasted a shot over the crossbar.
Following a triple substitution, Blackpool tested Eastwood in the Iron goal as Sullay Kaikai’s low powerful effort from 25 yards prompted him to parry the ball away, diving low to his right.
The ball was then played through down the right side of the area to Nuttall, and the Iron central defenders had to marshal away for a corner. The set-piece was cleared before Curtis Tilt sent a shot in, which Eastwood had to dive down low to his left to keep out.
After Lund won a free-kick 25 yards out, van Veen stepped up to take it on 69 minutes, and his fizzing strike drew a stop from Howard, retrieving the ball to his left.
The 70th minute saw the hosts pull one back through Joe Nuttall, who halved the deficit from close range after Nathan Delfouneso’s shot had been blocked away.
Eastwood was forced into a smart stop moments later, blocking away an effort from Matty Virtue.
The 75th minute saw Callum Guy sent off for the hosts, shown a second yellow card after a deliberate handball to stop Eisa breaking away down the left flank.
United tried to make their extra man count, and a passing move on 77 minutes ended with van Veen clearing the crossbar with a long range strike.
With 10 minutes left. Clarke played Novak in down the right, who fizzed an effort goalwards that was tipped away by the goalkeeper, but the offside flag was up.
After a dangerous ball into the Iron area, the ball dropped for Bushiri, but Eastwood got down well to make a terrific stop to keep out the Seasiders’ player’s attempt.
Shortly after, as United broke down the left and got a cross in, the ball reached Clarke, who struck an attempt over the crossbar.
Novak was then put through down the left side of the area, springing the offside trap, on 87 minutes but dragged his strike wide of goal.
The victory was sealed on 90 minutes as Gilliead dribbled through the centre of the field and played in Eisa, who rounded the goalkeeper and fired in his second goal of the game to seal a 3-1 success.
Blackpool were knocked out of the EFL Trophy at the second round stage with a disappointing defeat to League Two Scunthorpe United.
Blackpool were knocked out of the EFL Trophy at the second round stage with a disappointing defeat to League Two Scunthorpe United.
First-half goals from Kevin Van Veen and Abo Eisa did the damage as the Seasiders lost for the first time in eight games.
Simon Grayson’s men did briefly threaten a comeback when Joe Nuttall reduced the arrears with 20 minutes remaining with his second in as many games.
But those hopes were dashed when Pool were reduced to 10 men, Callum Guy the man to receive two soft yellow cards.
Scunthorpe subsequently added a third in the final minute of normal time to make sure of the win, Eisa completing his brace.
It saw Scunthorpe run out winners as Pool exited the competition, with focus now turning to Sunday’s FA Cup second round tie against Maidstone United.
The EFL Trophy has been used by Simon Grayson as a competition to blood plenty of fringe players this season.
That was the case once again, as the Pool boss made eight changes to the side that drew 2-2 at Ipswich Town on Saturday.
Ryan Edwards, Calum Macdonald and Joe Nuttall were the three players to keep their place in the side.
There was a second start of the season for goalkeeper Mark Howard, who was named captain in Jay Spearing’s absence.
Elsewhere, there were starts for the likes of Rocky Bushiri, Callum Guy, Sean Scannell and Ryan Hardie - fresh from his recent hat-trick in the reserves.
Top scorer Armand Gnanduillet was rested once again, with the striker continuing to be rested following his recent thigh injury.
As Grayson suggested before the game, there was a spot on the bench for 16-year-old youth-team starlet Tony Weston - his first involvement in a match-day squad.
Scunthorpe, meanwhile, named an unchanged side having no FA Cup game at the weekend to look forward to.
A muted atmosphere prior to kick-off was not helped by a slow start to the game, with a lack of intensity from both sides.
The biggest cheer of the opening 10 minutes came for keeper Howard, who produced a neat little Cruyff turn to deceive Lee Novak before clearing his lines.
Unfortunately for the Seasiders, there was no such luck a couple of minutes later when the away side took the lead with the game’s first opportunity.
Kevin Van Veen took it clinically, lashing home high into the net after latching onto Novak’s clever flick-on.
Pool responded well to the early setback and produced a good chance to level when Rocky Bushiri was left unmarked from a Jordan Thompson corner, only for the defender to head harmlessly wide.
The visitors weren’t as wasteful in front of goal when they doubled their lead with another well-taken finish.
The scorer of the first goal Van Veen turned provider as he laid the ball off to striker Abo Eisa, who took a touch to settle himself before sending a low shot beyond Howard and into the bottom corner.
While Scunthorpe’s finishing was ruthless, Blackpool’s was comparatively uneconomical as Hardie bobbled a weak effort wide of goal from the edge of the box.
The visitors almost added a third 10 minutes before the break when Novak diverted Jordan Clarke’s wayward effort towards the bottom corner only for Howard to get down and make the save.
Scunthorpe came agonisingly close to a third in the eight minutes of stoppage time at the end of the first half, which were added on after Ollie Turton received lengthy treatment early on.
Van Veen hooked an effort over his shoulder towards goal after Pool failed to clear their lines and the effort almost fell to Kgosi Nthle at the back post, but it just eluded him.
Nuttall wasted an equally glorious effort a minute later when he somehow failed to hit the target from just six yards out from Thompson’s corner.
Grayson turned to the bench to change it 10 minutes into the second half when he brought on regular first-teamers Matty Virtue, Sullay Kaikai and Nathan Delfouneso.
Kaikai almost made an instant impact, stinging the palms of keeper Jake Eastwood with a powerful drive from 25 yards out.
The Seasiders continued to probe, with Nuttall latching onto a delightful clipped ball from Thompson only to be crowded out after opting to take a touch rather than hit it first time.
Curtis Tilt then tested the keeper with an acrobatic volley on the half turn, Eastwood collecting it at the second chance after initially spilling it.
At the other end, Howard got across his goal well to calmly claim Van Veen’s dangerous 25-yard free kick.
Pool finally reduced the arrears 20 minutes from time when Nuttall tapped home from close range for his second goal in as many games.
The 22-year-old pounced on Eastwood’s save after the keeper had tipped Delfouneso’s curling effort right into his path.
Having trailed for so long, Pool came close to grabbing an equaliser just a minute later when Virtue’s shot from Rocky Bushiri’s lay-off was blocked from inside the six-yard box.
Pool’s momentum was cut short soon after when they were harshly reduced to 10 men when Callum Guy was shown a second yellow card.
The midfielder was adjudged to have handled the ball to stop a Scunthorpe counter, despite not appearing to be intentional.
The 10 men of Blackpool almost levelled the game against all the odds when Bushiri, the hero in the last EFL Trophy encounter against Wolves’ U21s, was denied by Eastwood with a low fizzing effort.
Scunthorpe had a chance to seal their passage into the next round three minutes from time when Novak beat the offside trap only to scuff his effort wide of goal.
They did eventually go on to add that third, Eisa notching his second of the game after rounding Howard to slot into the back of the empty net.
‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
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Scunthorpe Post Match on 22:09 - Nov 27 with 396 views
Blackpool 1 Scunthorpe United 3: Magnificent Iron defeat League One side Blackpool to advance in Leasing.com Trophy
Two goals from Abo Eisa and Kevin van Veen secured the victory
Scunthorpe United were truly spectacular on a cold Wednesday evening in Blackpool as they defeated the League One side 3-1.
Two goals from the high-flying Abo Eisa and one from Kevin van Veen secured the victory as they advance in the Leasing.com Trophy.
The Iron were the better side throughout the game and got the better of The Tangerine's in all facets.
Surprisingly, Paul Hurst named an unchanged from their impressive league win over Port Vale at the weekend.
The home side had the more possession but Iron defended well early.
The first chance though, would fall to Scunthorpe with Kevin van Veen continuing his rich vain of form.
Lee Novak had time to slide the ball to the Dutchman's feet, who had time to turn towards goal and fire in the bottom corner - his shot had too much on it for Mark Howard to keep out.
Blackpool responded well as their direct approach challenged Scunthorpe's defence. Joe Nuttall took aim from 20 yards out but McArdle got his body in the way of a goalbound effort.
The home side continued to throw the ball forward, but struggled to make anything happen in the Iron's final third.
Scunthorpe though, continued to move the ball around nicely with Matthew Lund and James Perch controlling the game in the centre.
The Iron quickly looked to get the ball out to the wingers, Alex Gilliead and Abo Eisa, and the latter soon made his presence known.
A ball over the top found him down the left as he was able to dance his way into the box before cutting back inside onto his right foot and firing the ball into the bottom corner - an excellent finish from the in-form man.
Blackpool had their best passage of play after the goal, but could not create anything substantial as McGahey and McArdle continued to shut them out.
A few minutes before half-time, the Iron could have made it three.
Van Veen's cross was whipped towards the back post finding Rory McArdle who nodded back towards goal towards Lund, he flicked the ball into the danger area as Kgosi Ntlhe acrobatically tried to finish but couldn't make contact - a good attempt.
The last chance of the half was a huge one and really should have given Blackpool a goal back.
The ball was whipped into the box to Joe Nuttall who's side-footed effort from five yards out just had to hit the target, but he blazed it over the bar.
In the second, either side struggled to create much of anything through the first 15 minutes.
But it was Scunthorpe who always looked the more likely with Lee Novak running the channels.
Blackpool then made a triple substitution introducing Sulley Kaikai, Nathan Delfouneso and Matty Virtue as they looked to get back into the game.
The home side immediately looked more dangerous with Jordan Thompson coming alive in the middle of the park as he played a delightful ball into the box for Delfouneso, but McArdle got back and stopped an attempt on goal.
A few minutes later, they would not be denied.
Delfouneso found his way into the box and was able to get a shot off which was saved by Eastwood, but Nuttall was there to tap home the rebound.
The home side were then reduced to 10 men when Callum Guy was sent off for a deliberate handball - his second yellow.
Although down to 10 men, Blackpool looked dangerous when they flooded men forward as Nuttall had a shot on goal saved by Eastwood with a few minutes to go.
The Iron had a chance to seal it when van Veen played Novak through on goal, but the latter pulled his effort wide.
In the 90th minute though, Scunthorpe wrapped it up.
Alex Gilliead played a perfect through ball to Eisa, who timed his run to perfection before rounding the keeper and sliding the ball into an empty net.
A truly excellent away performance from the Iron as they advance to the next round of the Leasing.com Trophy.
Blackpool were knocked out of the Leasing.com Trophy with a 3-1 home defeat to Scunthorpe United.
Goals from Kevin Van Veen and a brace from Abo Eisa ensured the visitor’s safe passage, despite a Joe Nuttall goal in the second half to make it 2-1.
A quiet opening few minutes were sparked into life by the visitors when Kevin Van Veen scored for Scunthorpe. A clever lay off by his strike partner, Lee Novak, opened up the Seasiders defence, with Van Veen picking up the loose ball and firing past Howard on 11 minutes.
Scunthorpe soaked up a good amount of pressure and doubled their lead on 25 minutes with a well worked goal from Abo Eisa. The forward cut inside well on the left and drilled an effort low into the far corner to make it 2-0.
Minutes later Ryan Hardie had a good effort from distance for Blackpool, just dragging it wide of Jake Eastwood’s far post.
Joe Nuttall then had a half chance to score from a corner in added time, but his effort went over the goal with the visitors taking their 2-0 lead into the half-time interval.
Half-Time: Blackpool 0 Scunthorpe United 2
It was a slow start to proceedings from both sides in the second half and Simon Grayson made a triple change after ten minutes, bringing on Delfouneso, Kaikai and Virtue to try and change things.
Kaikai stung the palms of Jake Eastwood in the Scunthorpe goal minutes after coming on with a good effort from distance, but the goalkeeper managed to tip it away.
Curtis Tilt then did well on 67 minutes with a volley from inside the area following a corner kick, but Eastwood saved well again.
With 20 minutes remaining, Blackpool deservedly halved the deficit thank to Joe Nuttall’s second goal in as many games.
A lovely bit of play from Delfouneso and Thompson on the left hand side allowed the former to open up and try an effort from the corner of the area. Eastwood saved well, but the ball fell straight to Nuttall who fired into an empty net to make it 2-1.
Just moments later, Callum Guy was shown a second yellow card for an apparent handball on the far side.
Blackpool struggled to find the all important equaliser being a man down and in added time Abo Eisa grabbed his second and Scuthorpe’s third of the game by rounding Mark Howard and slotting into the net to ensure the visitors safe passage into the next round and knock Blackpool out at the last 32 stage.
Manager Disappointed With Application Of Squad In Scunthorpe Defeat
Simon Grayson made no excuses for his side in the Leasing.com Trophy defeat to Scunthorpe United.
The visitors caused a shock at Bloomfield Road, with goals from Kevin Van Veen and Abo Eisa securing their place in the last 16 of the competition and dumping the Seasiders out.
Reflecting on their first defeat in eight matches, Grayson was disappointed in how the team approached the game.
“We’ve played well over the past few weeks, but tonight we’ve really let ourselves down,” he said.
“It was the application and attitude that was hugely disappointing from my perspective. The players didn’t do themselves any justice in the first half in particular. Scunthorpe ran quicker than us, they were more alert than us, they were a constant threat and played with a purpose.
“I don’t think the players tried hard enough and didn’t do the basics right.
“We want to win as many matches as possible, but I don’t mind losing if we know we gave 100% in the game. Unfortunately, the lads didn’t do that tonight so hopefully that will be a reality check as we go forward.”
Learning to read clusters is not something your eyes do naturally. It takes constant practice.
Simon Grayson not happy at all with his side's display and says a number of players played them out of contention for Sunday's FA Cup tie against Maidstone.
‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’
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Scunthorpe Post Match on 09:58 - Nov 29 with 372 views
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