Scunthorpe Preview

By: Richard Hubbert
Date: 05/11/2004

IT’S the game Town and Iron fans have been waiting for since the fixtures came out in June - Scunthorpe vs Grimsby - the first league meeting between the two clubs in fourteen years.

IT’S the game Town and Iron fans have been waiting for since the fixtures came out in June - Scunthorpe vs Grimsby - the first league meeting between the two clubs in fourteen years.

For weeks, fans from both sides have been taunting and winding each other up about the clash between Town and "Scunny" - whether at work, on internet messageboards or on the radio phone-ins on Radio Humberside. Finally, it has arrived. Scunny will be eager to prove why they are top of League Two, while Brian Laws will want to get one over his former club. Town on the other hand will want to show that they’re better than their lowly place in the table suggests as well as giving Peter Beagrie a slice of humble pie to munch on after he criticised the Mariners on TV at the start of the season.

The Opposition

Overview Unfortunately, we all know about Scunthorpe’s season so far - they are top. They’ve lost just three of their first 16 league fixtures - those defeats coming against Kidderminster, Boston and Chester. Chester are the only team to win at Glanford Park, which on paper makes it a tough task for the Mariners - but this is a one-off derby game, in which anything could happen... Their Squad Brian Laws made didn’t make many summer additions, certainly not compared to Russell Slade, but those he brought in have made a big difference to a side that finished third from bottom of Division Three last season. Paul Musslewhite, like Justin Whittle, was not offered a new contract at neighbours Hull and has provided safe hands between the sticks. A the back, the signing of ex-Oxford man Gary Crosby has been well paired with the talented Andy Butler. Ex Mariner Ian Baraclough has been one of the Iron’s start performers in midfield - whilst 38 year old Peter Beagrie (left) and Richard Kell have also featured regularly. In attack, the form of Paul Hayes has been the most pleasing element of the season perhaps. The ex-Norwich youth player has notched seven goals - which has reportedly had higher division teams watching him. Key Player Steve Torpey - If Town let Torpey get the better of the Mariners defence, then Grimsby could be in trouble. The former Swansea and Bristol City man has scored over 50 goals for the Iron since his move in 2000. A typical third division "target man", Torpey will is handful for any defence in this division.

Recent Form

Town Scunthorpe D Swansea (h) 1-1 L Chester (a) 1-2 D Shrewsbury (a) 1-1 D Bristol Rovers (h) 0-0 W Northampton (a) 1-0 Currently 18th in League Two. D Leyton Orient (a) 1-1 W Yeovil (h) 1-0 W Southend (h) 3-2 L Kidderminster (a) 2-3 W Wycombe (h) 2-0 Currently 1st in League Two.

Team News

Town Scunthorpe Town have horrendous injury problems which led to the recall of Greg Young on Thursday from his loan at Northwich Victoria. Dean Gordon, John McDermott, Jason Crowe and Michael Reddy have not trained all week which makes them all extremely doubtful. Clint Marcelle and Ronnie Bull are the most likely to replace McDermott and Crowe, but Slade will wait until the very last minute on Saturday morning before making a final decision. Similarly, Michael Reddy is very doubtful, after he needed stitches in his leg after last weeks game with Swansea this means that, Colin Cramb may well get a start in attack. After his outburst last week, Ashley Sestanovich may make the bench - but at the moment it remains unclear whether he will play any part in the biggest game of the season so far. Terrell ForbeS, meanwhile may not be available as he prepares for his court case. Russell Slade is hoping to have the ex QPR defender available but may have to cope without his absence. This means that GREG YOUNG will get a starting place if Forbes fails to make it. Defender Andy Crosby picked up a back injury in last weeks 1-1 draw with Orient, but is expected to make the game after intensive treatment in the last week. Full back Nathan Stanton is suspended after his dismissal last week which means that Cliff Byrne, Wayne Graves and Mark Jackson will fight for his place, with Jackson being the most likely option.

Probable Teams

Town Scunthorpe 1 Anthony Williams 28 Terrell Forbes 6 Justin Whittle 18 Rob Jones 16 Ronnie Bull 15 Terry Fleming 17 Thomas Pinault 23 Clint Marcelle 10 Andy Parkinson 24 Jon Daly 29 Colin Cramb 23 Paul Musselwhite 5 Mark Jackson 4 Andy Crosby 18 Andy Butler 12 Lee Ridley 7 Matt Sparrow 19 Richard Kell 11 Ian Baraclough 14 Peter Beagrie 10 Steve Torpey 9 Paul Hayes

Subs

Town Scunthorpe 3 Greg Young 11 Stacy Coldicott 7 Ashley Sestanovich 13 Paul Fraser 30 Nick Hegarty 15 Clevland Taylor 3 Kevin Sharp 29 Michael Rankine 1 Tom Evans 8 Wayne Graves

Head to Head

History is with Town, having beaten ‘Scunny’ 24 times, but having only lost on 10 occasions. The last time Town lost to the Iron was back in 1978 - in the last 12 meetings, Town are unbeaten. P 49 W 24 D 15 L 10 F 75 A 45 Scunthorpe Head-to-Head (6th on The Opposition Ladder).

Connections

The most obvious connection of course is Scunthorpe manager Brian Laws who was Mariners boss from 1994-1996 when Town were in the first division. Laws appeared as a player for Town 30 times, and 11 for Scunthorpe until retiring as a player in 2000 - becoming a full time manager. Ian Baraclough played a few times for the Mariners in the early 1990s, so will meet his former side. Ashley Fickling (above) followed Brian Laws to Glanford Park in 1998 after appearing 26 times for Town. Jamie Forrester made a similar move and has since enjoyed spells at Hull and Northampton. Mark Smith was a tricky left winger who played for both sides during the 1990s - with more success at Glanford Park under Richard Money. And while we’re talking ex Scunthorpe managers - current Town physio Dave Moore was the Iron boss between 1994 and 1996, as was another former Town manager, the late Ron Ashman.

Last Meeting

Town may have not met Scunthorpe in the league for 14 years, but they met in the Cup back in 1998 in the Auto Windscreens Shield, which the Mariners then went on to win. Two goals in the last five minutes from Town through Wayne Burnett and Paul Groves, put Town into the regional semi-final. Two full-backs, John McDermott and Nathan Stanton are the only remaining squad members from both the sides that evening. Grimsby Team: Davison, McDermott, Gallimore, Handyside, Lever, Burnett, Donovan, Black (Jobling, 68), Livingstone, Clare (Lester, 68), Groves Subs: (not used) Butterfield Scunthorpe Team: Clarke, Walsh, Marshall, Sertori, Wilcox, Hope, Walker, D'Auria, Phillips (Eyre, 74), Forrester (Ormondroyd, 86), Calvo-Garcia Subs: (not used) Stanton Attendance: 4,596

Prediction

Town to win 2-1 2-1 Recent Predictions Game Prediction Score Points Swansea 2-0 1-1 0 Chester 0-0 1-2 0 Northampton 2-1 1-0 1 Cheltenham 1-1 1-1 3 Cambridge 1-0 2-0 1 Charlton 1-2 0-2 1 Leyton Orient 2-2 2-0 0 Macclesfield 1-1 1-3 0 Wycombe 2-2 0-2 0 Mansfield 1-1 2-0 0 Reader's POMs

Directions

Click on the link for directions to Glanford Park (left).

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