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League One: Two Scunthorpe goalkeepers break arms against Bristol City

Sam Slocombe: A luckless afternoon for Scunthorpe's No 1
Image: Sam Slocombe: A luckless afternoon for Scunthorpe's No 1

Scunthorpe had been on a stunning run in League One but hosted second-placed Bristol City on Saturday and needed all the luck they could muster.

Instead, manager Mark Robins watched on in despair from the touchline, as not one, but two of his goalkeepers had to leave the field in the first half with a broken arm.

First-choice keeper Sam Slocombe went off with his injury after only eight minutes and that was just the start of it. 

Only 30 minutes later, his replacement Jamie Severn was hurt when denying Matt Smith and had to be stretchered off and rushed to hospital with a suspected fractured arm. 

I’m massively disappointed for them both and I’m disappointed for all the players because we were the better team on the day
Mark Robins

That forced centre-back Andy Boyce to pick up the gloves, having given away the spot-kick that allowed Jay Emmanuel-Thomas to score the opener.

It proved the downfall of a new-look Scunthorpe who had given their opponents a run for their money in the opening stages having seen home debutants defender Jordan Clarke, winger Jacob Murphy and striker Tom Hopper all impress.

With Boyce showing no signs of nerves in goal, The Iron continued to create chances as they hunted an equaliser but their fortune took one final battering when City wrapped up the points with a second goal in the 85th minute from Luke Freeman.

Robins told The Iron Player: "I’m proud of my players because every one of them to a man has been absolutely magnificent. 

"It typifies the spirit in the camp when Boyce goes in and takes over in goal but I’m just really disappointed. 

“We’ve lost two goalkeepers in this game to the same injury - both broken arms under a challenge from one of their players. I don’t know the full extent of the damage but it’s sufficient enough that I’m going to need at least one more goalkeeper. 

“I’m massively disappointed for them both and I’m disappointed for all the players because we were the better team on the day.

"We’ve caused them all sorts of problems, we’ve created all sorts of chances and their manager says he thinks he’s got the best players in the division and if that’s the case then ours can hold their heads up high today because we’ve outplayed them.”

After the game, Boyce, who thankfully appeared to be injury free, said: "I was near [Severn] when he went down so I went over to the bench and said I will do it. It was no problem.

"They obviously said to put it on the keeper so I punched a few and caught a corner - I was more surprised than anyone when I caught it!"

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