Iron boss Russ Wilcox believes the League Two title is still all to play for as they go into the final game against York needing results to go their way.
Following their first defeat in 29 matches against Exeter, Scunthorpe are only a point behind Chesterfield and Rochdale, who occupy the top two spaces in the league going into the final game.A win at Glanford Park against York is imperative if the Iron are to be in with a chance of claiming the League Two title, and Wilcox told The Iron Player: “It’s brilliant (to still be in with a chance of winning the title).
“We were disappointed afterwards that we didn’t pick a point up at Exeter to keep the run going and obviously give us a better chance, but with the goal difference of Chesterfield anyway, we probably would have had to win and looking for them to either draw or lose.
“It’s great. It’s still all to play for which just shows you how tight the division is with one game to go. One point separates three teams. It’s been an incredible year really.”
The game against York is going to be a tough one for the Iron, with the visitors unbeaten in 16 games and have only conceded six in their last 22 league games. Wilcox believes the main thing is to put a display on in front of the home crowd.
He said: “You have to deal with where you are and that is where we are. We are a point behind the other two with a game to play. We know if we win and they don’t, we’ve won the title.
“I think the main thing is trying to put a display on, similar to the one against Oxford. That was probably our best home performance for a long, long time. If we can reproduce that kind of football and pick up a win, it has been an incredible year.”
Wilcox will have one eye on other results during Saturday’s game, but his main focus will be on the York game.
He added: “We have to win. First and foremost we have to do our job. But I will have somebody there. If they (Chesterfield and Rochdale) are both drawing or losing, it changes your game plan.
“If we are 1-0 up, we might decide to shut-up-shop and it puts different scenarios through your mind, different options that we might need to use.
“We won’t be able to switch off till the 95th minute on Saturday, but it is nice to go in there knowing that we have at least achieved a top three finish.”
See much more from Russ Wilcox, Eddie Nolan and Dave Syers on The Iron Player.