Saturday sees the Iron take on Gillingham for the 42nd time in their history. Here’s a lowdown of our past meetings.
FIVE-STAR IRON PERFORMANCE...
Scunthorpe United 5-0 Gillingham
Saturday, 20th August, 2016
League One
Scunthorpe continued their storming start to the League One season with a comprehensive 5-0 thrashing of previously unbeaten Gillingham.
Most of the damage was done in the first half as they swept into a 3-0 lead.
Gillingham never recovered from a fifth-minute blooper by goalkeeper Stuart Nelson which gifted the home side the lead. A speculative 25-yard shot from Kevin van Veen slipped through his grasp and into the net.
In-form Scunthorpe made it 2-0 from the penalty spot in the 20th minute when Josh Morris converted confidently after he himself had been brought down just inside the box.
There was no stopping the Iron and on the stroke of half-time they made it 3-0 when full-back Jordan Clarke popped up at the far post to head home an inswinging right-wing corner from Morris.
Gillingham's misery continued in the second half when another mistake by Nelson on 59 minutes allowed a long-range shot from Morris to squeeze past him to make it 4-0.
The visitors were denied even a consolation goal late on when an angled drive from Jay Emmanuel-Thomas was turned away at full stretch by Luke Daniels.
Instead, it was Scunthorpe, now second in the table, who made it 5-0 in the 83rd minute when striker Tom Hopper converted a low cross into the box from Hakeeb Adelakun.
It should have been 6-0 but substitute Scott Laird's tame stoppage-time penalty was saved by Nelson after Conor Townsend had been brought down in the box.
PHOTO: The Iron celebrate Neal Bishop's goal in the 2014 win at Gillingham.
MANAGERLESS IRON BOUNCE BACK...
Gillingham 0-3 Scunthorpe United
Saturday, 11th October, 2014
League One
Scunthorpe won away in the league for the first time that season with a 3-0 victory at 10-man Gillingham.
Gills captain Doug Loft was sent off for a two-footed challenge on Luke O'Neill before half-time.
Managerless Scunthorpe, who were watched by prospective boss Mark Robins, went ahead through Paddy Madden's composed finish.
Further goals from Neal Bishop and Gary McSheffrey sealed the Iron's first away win since April that year.
PHOTO: United celebrate during the 2007 home win over the Gills.
FIVE IN A ROW FOR LEAGUE LEADING IRON...
Scunthorpe United 3-1 Gillingham
Saturday, 24th February, 2007
League One
Scunthorpe moved seven points clear at the top of League One with a fifth successive victory.
They opened the scoring in the 24th minute when Richard Hinds headed home a left-wing cross from Lee Ridley.
Matt Jarvis levelled the scores in the 54th minute with a simple tap-in but Gillingham had Ben Chorley sent off for pulling back striker Jermaine Beckford.
Dave Mulligan scored the free-kick and substitute Ian Morris wrapped up the scoring from just inside the box.
THE FULL RECORD...
PHOTO: United celebrate Richard Hinds' late leveller in August 2005.
| SEASON / DATE | COMPETITION | RESULT | IRON SCORERS |
| 2017-18 - Tue Sep 26 | LG 1 | Gills 0-0 Iron | |
| 2016-17 - Sat Mar 11 | LG 1 | Gills 3-2 Iron | Madden, Toffolo |
| 2016-17 - Sat Aug 20 | LG 1 | Iron 5-0 Gills | van Veen, Morris 2, Clarke, Hopper |
| 2015-16 - Sat Mar 5 | LG 1 | Iron 0-0 Gills | |
| 2015-16 - Tue 20 Oct | LG 1 | Gills 2-1 Iron | Laird |
| 2014-15 - Sat 25 Apr | LG 1 | Iron 2-1 Gills | Adelakun, McSheffrey |
| 2014-15 - Sat 11 Oct | LG 1 | Gills 0-3 Iron | Madden, Bishop, McSheffrey |
| 2012-13 - Sat 3 Nov | FAC R1 | Gills 4-0 Iron | |
| 2006-07 - Sat 24 Feb | LG 1 | Iron 3-1 Gills | Hinds, Mulligan, Morris |
| 2006-07 - Fri 1 Sep | LG 1 | Gills 0-2 Iron | Hinds, Sparrow |
| 2005-06 - Sat 25 Feb | LG 1 | Gills 1-3 Iron | Sparrow, Hinds, Keogh |
| 2005-06 - Sat 13 Aug | LG 1 | Iron 1-1 Gills | Hinds |
| 1999-00 - Sat 18 Mar | DIV 2 | Gills 3-1 Iron | Harsley |
| 1999-00 - Tue 23 Nov | DIV 2 | Iron 1-4 Gills | Ipoua |
| 1995-96 - Tue 27 Feb | DIV 3 | Gills 0-0 Iron | |
| 1995-96 - Sat 9 Sep | DIV 3 | Iron 1-1 Gills | Hope |
| 1994-95 - Sat 18 Mar | DIV 3 | Gills 2-2 Iron | Young, Turnbull |
| 1994-95 - Tue 30 Aug | DIV 3 | Iron 3-0 Gills | Thornber, Henderson, Smith |
| 1993-94 - Sat 19 Mar | DIV 3 | Iron 1-1 Gills | Juryeff |
| 1993-94 - Sat 25 Sep | DIV 3 | Gills 1-0 Iron | |
| 1992-93 - Mon 12 Apr | DIV 3 | Gills 1-1 Iron | Thompstone |
| 1992-93 - Mon 28 Dec | DIV 3 | Iron 2-2 Gills | Daws 2 |
| 1991-92 - Thu 26 Dec | DIV 4 | Iron 2-0 Gills | White, Martin |
| 1991-92 - Sat 17 Aug | DIV 4 | Gills 4-0 Iron | |
| 1990-91 - Tue 19 Mar | DIV 4 | Gills 1-1 Iron | Flounders |
| 1990-91 - Sat 13 Oct | DIV 4 | Iron 1-0 Gills | Hall |
| 1989-90 - Tue 13 Feb | DIV 4 | Iron 0-0 Gills | |
| 1989-90 - Sat 2 Sep | DIV 4 | Gills 0-3 Iron | Taylor, Flounders 2 |
| 1983-84 - Sat 12 May | DIV 3 | Gills 1-1 Iron | Cowling |
| 1983-84 - Sat 17 Dec | DIV 3 | Iron 2-0 Gills | Cammack, Cowling |
| 1973-74 - Tue 23 Oct | DIV 4 | Iron 1-1 Gills | Simpkin |
| 1973-74 - Wed 12 Sep | DIV 4 | Gills 7-2 Iron | Houghton, Welbourne |
| 1971-72 - Sat 22 Apr | DIV 4 | Iron 3-3 Gills | Kirk, Kerr, McDonald |
| 1971-72 - Sat 4 Dec | DIV 4 | Gills 0-1 Iron | Fletcher |
| 1967-68 - Mon 15 Apr | DIV 3 | Gills 3-1 Iron | Kerr |
| 1967-68 - Fri 26 Jan | DIV 3 | Iron 2-1 Gills | Blyth 2 |
| 1966-67 - Sat 17 Dec | DIV 3 | Gills 0-1 Iron | Ash |
| 1966-67 - Sat 20 Aug | DIV 3 | Iron 1-2 Gills | Thomas |
| 1965-66 - Sat 19 Mar | DIV 3 | Gills 0-1 Iron | Sloan |
| 1965-66 - Sat 25 Sep | DIV 3 | Iron 0-1 Gills | |
| 1964-65 - Tue 3 Nov | DIV 3 | Iron 2-3 Gills | Scott, Lawther |
| 1964-65 - Wed 26 Aug | DIV 3 | Gills 0-0 Iron |
Our full record against Gillingham is as follows:
| P | W | D | L | F | A | |
| Home | 19 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 33 | 22 |
| Away | 22 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 26 | 33 |
| TOTAL | 41 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 59 | 55 |