Slade on Scunthorpe

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 24/07/2004

FOLLOWING Town's exit from the Lincolnshire Senior cup, Town boss Russell Slade looked back on the game as a useful exercise for his squad. The former Scarborough manager told the Grimsby Telegraph: "The result was completely immaterial - the performance was far more important to me."

"Players getting match fit is crucial, as is getting a squad ready for the start of the season on August 7 - that is a priority. There is a long way to go and a lot of work to do, and the squad is not complete yet."

The Town boss was more pleased with his new attacking line-up of three up front than he was with the defence, in a game which Scunthorpe enjoyed the better of the chances.

"Andy Parkinson will be a threat at this level and Rob Jones did well too," he said. "Ashley Sestanovich held the ball up well and is a very powerful man. But some of the defending left a lot to be desired.

"I think fitness is about where we would expect it to be at this stage, it's just a matter of getting some matches under their belts."

Russell Slade is still hoping to get some additional squad members before the season starts in anger, with another forward being a priority.

Town's next pre-season friendly is on Monday night against Willem II Tilburg at Blundell Park.

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