Matt’s gloss finish

PAUL Dickov paid tribute to super-sub Matt Smith, who responded to being dropped by heading a fine winning goal as Athletic broke their duck at Scunthorpe last night.

The 22-year-old rose highest to connect with a Filipe Morais free-kick in the 82nd minute at Glanford Park and earn the visitors a 2-1 win, their first of the npower League One season.

“I thought the big man was dead on his feet on Saturday, so that is why I decided to leave him out,” said Dickov, who made three changes to the line-up which lost 3-1 at Yeovil on Saturday.

“Reuben Reid and Chris Taylor, without the ball, worked ever so hard for the team and Reuben was feeling his hamstring a little bit so it was the right time to bring the big man on.

“It was a fantastic header, but I have seen him do that before.”

Victory was just reward for a display full of endeavour.Athletic rode their luck at times as Scunthorpe hit the frame of goal three times, the last deep in injury time.

But thanks to Smith’s first goal in professional football, following a well-taken David Mellor strike in the first half which represented an identical landmark, Athletic moved above their opponents and out of the relegation zone.

“I am delighted for the boys and the fans who were here again,” Dickov added. “I gave them a bit of a battering after Saturday and asked them for a reaction – to go out there and show me a bit of passion and desire. Every one of them did that.

“It was a fantastic goal (from Mellor) and he showed a great attitude. He tired a bit towards the end.

“We changed it around a little bit and I must say the players’ attitude was bang-on.

“They were together all the way through and that togetherness has got to take us forward now.

“We had the disappointment of three defeats in a week, but I still believed we were a good team.

“I thought the basics were great here and the desire shown to get a result was fantastic.

“But we don’t get carried away. We have a big game coming on Saturday against Rochdale.

“We have got to build on it and it is a long season.”