Swansea City v Scunthorpe United
at the Liberty Stadium
Monday, April 5, 2010 - 3.00pm

The Iron face Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium on Easter Monday bidding to extend the gap between themselves and the Championship's bottom three.

With just six games remaining, United sit four points clear of third from bottom Crystal Palace. However, with games running out they know they need a win to keep their immediate relegation rivals at bay.

The Swans were defeated 2-1 at bitter rivals Cardiff City on Saturday night and need a win to stop in-form Blackpool from overtaking them in the play-off zone.

It was the Seasiders who defeated Scunthorpe 4-2 in their last game on Friday, a match in which manager Nigel Adkins felt his side showcased some poor defending.

The players were back on the training ground on Saturday and Sunday and will have been trying to rectify that before travelling to South Wales on the latter of those afternoons.

Manager Nigel Adkins admitted after the match on Friday that a number of players were carrying knocks, naming midfielder Sam Togwell and left-back Marcus Williams, and there could well be changes at the Liberty Stadium.

The game will come too soon for Kenny Milne, who started his second match in 19 months on Friday, so there is also likely to be a defensive change. Niall Canavan could come in, as Rob Jones has been struggling with a knee problem in recent weeks.

Adkins was hopeful that David Mirfin, who missed Friday's match with a calf problem, would prove his fitness over the weekend.

Club captain Cliff Byrne boosts the Iron though by returning from a five-match suspension and looks almost certain to return to the starting line-up.

Ian Morris remains out with a knee injury for United, who visit the stadium for the second time this season.

The two teams met there in the Carling Cup second round back in August, with the hosts having three players sent off and losing 2-1 after extra time. Niall Canavan and Gary Hooper scored the Scunthorpe goals.

The hosts could welcome Albert Serran back into their squad. The defender, who has been plagued with injuries throughout the season, trained all last week and could make his first appearance since January.

Federico Bessone (knee), Ferrie Bodde (calf) and Jordi Lopez (ankle) remain on the sidelines.

The referee for the game is Dean Whitestone.

THIS WEEK'S CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES



MONDAY
Barnsley v Peterborough, 15:00
Blackpool v Doncaster, 15:00
Crystal Palace v Preston, 15:00
Derby v Ipswich, 15:00
Leicester v QPR, 15:00
Newcastle v Sheff Utd, 19:45
Nottm Forest v Cardiff, 17:15
Plymouth v Middlesbrough, 15:00
Reading v Coventry, 15:00
Sheff Wed v Bristol City, 15:00
Swansea v Scunthorpe, 15:00
Watford v West Brom, 15:00