New United manager Stuart McCall will be looking to get off to a dream start with three points when his side visit Accrington Stanley on Saturday (3pm kick-off).
The Iron head into the game boosted by a much improved display in last week’s 2-2 draw against high-flyers Barnsley, and will be hoping to record their second league victory of the season.
Stanley, who won the League Two title last season, presently sit in eighth position and drew 1-1 away at Blackpool in their last league game.
TEAM NEWS…
With the exception of long-term absentees Matt Gilks (knee) and Rory Watson (broken arm), United almost have a clean bill of health.
McCall told the press on Thursday that there are slight doubts over one player, but he will be assessed on Friday and the boss is optimistic he'll be okay for the game.
Jak Alnwick and Ike Ugo, who both signed on loan from Rangers and Chelsea respectively on Thursday, could come into contention for their debuts.
PAST ENCOUNTERS…
United won 3-2 in dramatic fashion on their last trip to Stanley during February 2014. Sam Winnall, Hakeeb Adelakun and David Mirfin scored as they came back from two goals down on a rainy Valentine’s Night.
| SEASON/DATE | COMPETITION | RESULT | IRON SCORERS |
| 2013-14 - Fri Feb 14 | LG 2 | Accrington 2-3 Iron | Winnall, Adelakun, Mirfin |
| 2013-14 - Sat Nov 16 | LG 2 | Iron 0-2 Accrington | |
| 2011-12 - Tue Aug 9 | LGC R1 | Accrington 0-2 Iron | Dagnall pen, Barcham |
| 1993-94 - Sun Nov 14 | FAC R1 | Accrington 2-3 Iron | Toman, Goodacre 2 |
| 1957-58 - Sat Mar 22 | DIV 3N | Iron 1-0 Accrington | Davis |
| 1957-58 - Sat Oct 12 | DIV 3N | Accrington 2-1 Iron | Fletcher |
| 1956-57 - Sat Mar 30 | DIV 3N | Iron 2-3 Accrington | Fletcher, Haigh |
| 1956-57 - Tue Jan 1 | DIV 3N | Accrington 0-1 Iron | Brown |
| 1955-56 - Sat Mar 10 | DIV 3N | Iron 2-3 Accrington | Brown 2 |
| 1955-56 - Sat Oct 29 | DIV 3N | Accrington 2-0 Iron | |
| 1954-55 - Sat Feb 19 | DIV 3N | Accrington 2-1 Iron | Turner |
| 1954-55 - Sat Oct 2 | DIV 3N | Iron 4-0 Accrington | Brown 2, Turner, Haigh |
| 1953-54 - Thu Mar 18 | DIV 3N | Iron 1-2 Accrington | McGill |
| 1953-54 - Fri Jan 1 | DIV 3N | Accrington 0-1 Iron | Gregory |
| 1952-53 - Sat Mar 28 | DIV 3N | Accrington 2-1 Iron | Brown |
| 1952-53 - Sat Nov 8 | DIV 3N | Iron 5-2 Accrington | White 2, Daley 2, Brownsword pen |
| 1951-52 - Sat Apr 5 | DIV 3N | Iron 3-1 Accrington | Cumner, Whitfield, Ottewell |
| 1951-52 - Sat Nov 17 | DIV 3N | Accrington 2-2 Iron | Martin (og), Powell |
| 1950-51 - Sat Feb 17 | DIV 3N | Accrington 0-0 Iron | |
| 1950-51 - Sat Sep 30 | DIV 3N | Iron 3-0 Accrington | Gorin 3 |
| SCUNTHORPE WINS | DRAWS | ACCRINGTON WINS | |
| League | 8 | 2 | 8 |
| League Cup | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| FA Cup | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 10 | 3 | 9 |
ONE TO WATCH…
Former Iron striker Billy Kee returned for a second spell with Accrington Stanley in the 2015-16 season and became a key member of the squad.
The forward’s first taste of league football came with the Reds in a loan spell from Leicester City in 2009, followed by permanent spells with Torquay and Burton Albion that saw him cement a reputation as a lower league goalscorer.
His form brought a move to United but after a frustrating spell there he returned to the Wham Stadium, finding the net 17 times in 2015-16 as he led the Stanley line to great effect.
The frontman scored 15 times during the 2016-17 season as Stanley pushed for promotion, and followed that up with 25 goals the following season, being awarded the Golden Boot as the Reds were crowned champions of League Two.
ELSEWHERE IN LEAGUE ONE ON SATURDAY…
Barnsley v Gillingham
Burton Albion v AFC Wimbledon
Coventry City v Rochdale
Fleetwood Town v Bradford City
Peterborough United v Doncaster Rovers
Portsmouth v Plymouth Argyle
Shrewsbury Town v Bristol Rovers
Southend United v Charlton Athletic
Sunderland v Oxford United
Walsall v Blackpool
Wycombe Wanderers v Luton Town