Scunthorpe United
nPower League 1
Tuesday 26th February 2012
Glanford Park, Doncaster Road, Scunthorpe, DN15 8TD
Kick Off: 7.45pm
Weather Forecast: Cloudy, 2°c
Referee: G Salisbury (Lancashire)
Stevenage travel to Scunthorpe United this Tuesday evening looking for a much-needed win to buck the recent tough run of results.
Last time we met:
A fine strike from Greg Tansey was enough for Boro to pick up a win over Scunthorpe and stay second in the League 1 table. Mike Grella fired over the visitors in the first half as both sides struggled to test the goalkeepers. Filipe Morais’ tame effort was comfortably saved by Iron keeper Sam Slocombe as the second period looked to be headed the same way. But Tansey won it with a 25-yard free kick that curled into the top corner.
Boro: Arnold, Comminges, Risser (Grant), Roberts, Charles, Akins, Dunne, Tansey, Morais (Freeman), Shroot (N’Gala), Haber
Subs not used: Day, Ball, Rogers, Lopez
Team News:
Scunthorpe have doubts over captain Paul Reid (virus) and Mark Duffy (shin). On loan James Alabi scored on his first professional appearance but is likely to remain on the bench. Andy Barcham could replace Josh Walker in the starting line-up after coming on for the former Boro loanee against Hartlepool.
Stevenage could welcome back Greg Tansey (bruised ribs) and Filipe Morais from injury for this game. Miguel Comminges, Luke Freeman and Sam Hoskins will all be hoping for recalls.
The Shrewsbury Scout Report
Recent Form:
Scunthorpe are in 20th place in League 1 having picked up nine wins, eight draws and suffering 17 defeats in their 34 games so far.
Despite sitting in the relegation zone The Iron have been mounting a push for survival recently, picking up three wins in their last five games. Portsmouth (2-1), Crawley (2-1) and Carlisle (3-1) all left Glanford Park pointless after home victories, although Yeovil and Hartlepool have since handed Brian Laws’ men consecutive defeats.
Those three recent home wins have been much needed as prior to this Scunthorpe had won just once at home in the league, versus Colchester back in September. They’ve also secured five draws and suffered eight defeats, scoring 21 goals and conceding 30.
Possible Scunthorpe line-up for Tuesday (4-4-2 formation):
Sam Slocombe; Eddie Nolan, David Mirfin, Niall Canavan, Tom Newey; Mark Duffy, Josh Walker, Michael Collins, Jimmy Ryan; Akpo Sodje, Karl Hawley
Subs: James Alabi, James Severn, Christian Ribeiro, Mike Grella, Connor Jennings, Matt Godden, Andy Barcham
Key Man:
Former Boro striker Akpo Sodje has scored four goals in his first eight games for Scunthorpe including both goals in the 2-1 home win over Portsmouth and a brace in the 3-1 victory against Carlisle. The journeyman striker arrived at Broadhall Way on loan from QPR back in March 2001 and scored on his debut against Morecambe. He went on to make just a couple more appearances for Boro before moving on to play for a number of non-league sides. Hudderfield then gave him an opportunity back in the Football League and he’s since played for such clubs as Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton, Hibs and Chinese side Tianjin Teda. The 33-year old scored seven goals for Preston earlier this season before leaving Deepdale just before Christmas, arriving at Glanford Park in early January.
Stat Attack:
• The referee for this game will be Graham Salisbury from Lancashire who last took charge of a Boro game in the 1-0 defeat at Colchester. That game saw him issue six yellows and one red.
• A goal for Mark Roberts will be the skipper’s 25th for the club since joining in 2008 whilst a goal for Lucas Akins will be his 10th this season, making him only the second man to reach double figures for Boro in a Football League season.