Scunthorpe United (H) League One, Tue 27 Sep, 7.45pm

[Welsh_Saddler]

For the second consecutive game we welcome top-of-the-table opponents, hopefully with the same outcome. A quick glance at the League One table would suggest that Scunthorpe United will be a bigger handful than Bolton Wanderers were though - Scunthorpe have scored twice as many League One goals as Bolton (20 against 10) so our defence will need to be at its best, which may be difficult given that we are without Joe Edwards (suspended) and possibly unable to call on Scott Laird depending on whether Scunthorpe gave their permission for him to play against them! Scunthorpe's recent League One form:

20 Aug Gillingham (H) Won 5-0
27 Aug Port Vale (A) Lost 3-1
10 Sep Southend United (H) Won 4-0
17 Sep Shrewsbury Town (A) Won 0-1
20 Sep Charlton Athletic (H) Drew 0-0
24 Sep Sheffield United (H) Drew 2-2

The only comfort I can find from their "scoring for fun" season so far is that they haven't scored more than 2 goals in any of their away games, all the thumpings having taken place at their home base - a bit like ours....the big difference being that their old ground is now a Sainsbury's whereas ours is a Morrison's. Josh Morris (League One's August player of the month) looks to be Scunthorpe's main threat with 8 goals to his name already, and Kevin van Veen is not far behind with 6. That's 14 goals between just those two, compared to 10 in total from the Saddlers.

Familiar faces to have featured for the "Iron" include Ian Botham, Kevin Keegan, and Richard (Dicky Dosh) Money, last heard of coaching in Atlanta. A current familiar face of course is Sam Mantom, whose main function seems to be that of warming the bench.

The one certainty is that a 0-0 result is extremely unlikely - but recent performances would suggest that the "gelling" factor is improving game by game and as I said in the Peterborough preview, if the enthusiasm and attitude shown by the depleted side against Bolton Wanderers can be repeated then there's every possibility of a winning outcome. However, bearing in mind Scunthorpe's scoring proclivities this season, I think I would be happy with a 1-1 scoreline (Bakayoko please!).

[killers left foot]

1-1 makris to get off the mark and mantom to continue getting splinters :D

[saddlerphil]

I haven't done this for a while, so here goes....

1-2 (3892 + 50 in the Sir Ian Botham Executive Lounge)

Joint Manager : Neil Woods

Andy Butler for us
Craig Shakespeare & Bjarni Larusson for them

Ron Green saves a last minute penalty from our Neil Cutler sending the Iron home happy!!

[Barren Flak]

As there's no chance of a 0-0, I'm going for a scoreless draw instead.

[chunkster]

I fully expect us to win tonight. if the story from whit's is correct and the game has coincided with all of our players being fit, and he can select his more settled and best 11. so a 2-1 win with makris getting his first goal as a saddler :D

[booster cogburn]

Laird is ineligible.

[NEWPORT SADDLERS DAD]

Laird is ineligible.

Right but can he play.

[chunkster]

Laird is ineligible.

Right but can he play.

:lol:

Laird is ineligible.

Right but can he play.

:lol: :lol:

[One time faithful]

Well mantom is starting so he'll score

Neil
Kinsella
Jimbo
Toner
McCarthy
Chambers
Osbourne
Morris
Ozzy
Flo
Sorry miss jackson

[Ancient Moaner]

Well mantom is starting so he'll score

Neil
Kinsella
Jimbo
Toner
McCarthy
Chambers
Osbourne
Morris
Ozzy
Flo
Sorry miss jackson

KINSELLA!!!!!!!! what on earth does Whitney see in this lad? Scunny will be clapping their hands in glee! Hard to imagine which side Scunny will be attacking down eh?

[BathSaddler]

I'll take a point against a very good Scunthorpe side.

So, 1-1, in front of 3,793, including 230 Irons.

[IHTC.]

5 mins to go and what a pathetic turn out, will be surprised if we hit 3,500

[tipton saddler]

Pissed off I'm missing this one as I've only just finished work, hope I'm even more pissed off about missing it come full time.

Come on u saddlers

[SoccerHQ]

Scunny rotated a bit...regulars Dawson, Van Veen and Paddy Madden all subs. Mantom starts....

Reckon this will be a draw....much more solid look about things with Osbourne back again.

[BathSaddler]

Well mantom is starting so he'll score

Let's hope Isaiah Osbourne can do the same to even it out (ex-Scunny) :wink:

[Welsh_Saddler]

A very early goal in darkest Derbyshire - Chesterfield 1 Gillingham 0 (1 min)

Port Vale 1 Millwall 0 (3 min)

[BathSaddler]

5 mins to go and what a pathetic turn out, will be surprised if we hit 3,500

3,300 tickets sold online 45 minutes or so before kick off, so it should be slightly more (providing they all turn up) than 3,500 in total when you add in the away fans.

[One time faithful]

Iv not had much chance this season to see the team but last year I didn't mind kinsella but by all reports yes this year he's been poor and the one game I was there when he played I agree not poor just obsolete really which arguably worse

[Welsh_Saddler]

Can't resist it..... Wigan Athletic 1 Dingles 0 (4 min) :D

... and back in League One, Swindon Town 0 Northampton Town 1

MK Dons 0 Bury 1

[chunkster]

wigan 1-0 wolves :)

[Welsh_Saddler]

Scunthorpe have a penalty, 9 minutes...... :(

We have a yellow card.

Scunthorpe score, so it's 0-1

[SoccerHQ]

:roll: 0-1, Kinsella handball.

[chunkster]

Scunthorpe have a penalty, 9 minutes...... :(

yep AM's favorite player kinsella :|

[BathSaddler]

0-1 :(

handball against Kinsella

[Ancient Moaner]

:roll: 0-1, Kinsella handball.

Do I or 3,500 out there need to say more!!!!! :evil: get him off and put a proper player on the field!!

[Welsh_Saddler]

In other news, Allardyce quits as England boss...... :shock:

[Welsh_Saddler]

Walsall 0 Scunthorpe Utd 2 :evil: :evil: :evil:

[SoccerHQ]

Inexperience of the defence I'm afraid...not even October and already two penalties for handball conceded.

0-2..... :shock:

[BathSaddler]

FFS. I said they were good side though

[SoccerHQ]

FFS. I said they were good side though

Josh Morris scored 11 goals already...where did they get him from?!