Huge relief after getting job done

Players show their appreciation to the crowd at the end of the Crawley game

The Latics star writes every week for Chron Sport

THE WEATHER was good, our fans were out in force and there was a feeling around the dressing room: Let’s go out and get the job done now.

We all said beforehand that we fancied Scunthorpe to go and get a result at MK Dons - as unlikely as that may sound.

That meant we believed we had to pick up something against Crawley. Thankfully, we managed to do just that — and provided the supporters and the board with a bit of relief too.

The first half of the game was a cagey affair. Even after that, I never felt they really threatened us, and their goal was a soft one to concede.

Smudge (Matt Smith) had put us one up with one from his left foot — unusual for him. It’s a good job it went in: I was ready to hammer him for not passing to me!

His goals have been absolutely vital for us recently and he gives us a real presence up front.

There were a nervy five minutes after Crawley equalised, but I always felt we were going to win.

Up popped Big Jean in added time to power in another header which sparked a pitch invasion.

It was good to be able to walk round the pitch afterwards in the knowledge that we had achieved safety. It was important to give thank back to the fans, who stuck by us this season.

After breathing out a sigh of relief, it was on to Shrewsbury on Tuesday night where the manager gave a chance to a few of those who haven’t played recently.

There was nothing riding on the game, so in terms of intensity there was something missing even with the players trying to impress.

On Saturday, we finish the season at Leyton Orient. They are captained by a good friend of mine, Nathan Clarke, who played here on loan last season.

I am looking forward to hopefully coming up against him. The aim is to get one over both on him and on Orient, to complete the league double over a good side who are currently seventh in the table and who went close to getting into the play-offs.