A Matthew Lund winner and a superb penalty save from Jak Alnwick ensured United beat Bristol Rovers 2-1 away from home last weekend, climbing to 17th position.
Meanwhile, Portsmouth kept their spot at the top of the table despite not playing due to international call-ups.
TEAM NEWS…
United manager Stuart McCall reported Ryan Colclough as the only fresh injury, with the attacking midfielder set to miss the rest of the season through a ruptured cruciate ligament sustained at Bristol Rovers last weekend.
Jordan Clarke faces around six weeks on the sidelines with a ruptured tendon in his shoulder, while Levi Sutton will also sit out a similar length of time after tearing his thigh in training a fortnight ago.
The game will come too soon for midfielder Josh Morris, as he looks to come back from a broken jaw.
Elsewhere, Matt Gilks (knee) and Rory Watson (arm) continue to miss out, but George Thomas has returned from international duty with Wales and has recovered from the ankle injury sustained against Burton Albion.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS…
Last season, the Iron drew 1-1 at Fratton Park, whilst they defeated Pompey 2-0 at Glanford Park. The two goals came from Lee Novak and Duane Holmes in the first-half of that match.
| SEASON/DATE | COMPETITION | RESULT | IRON SCORERS |
| 2017-18 - Sat 13 Jan | LG 1 | Portsmouth 1-1 Iron | van Veen |
| 2017-18 - Sat 23 Sep | LG 1 | Iron 2-0 Portsmouth | Novak, Holmes |
| 2013-14 - Sat 22 Feb | LG 2 | Iron 5-1 Portsmouth | Syers 3, Winnall, Madden |
| 2013-14 - Sat 23 Nov | LG 2 | Portsmouth 1-2 Iron | Syers 2 |
| 2012-13 - Tue 5 Feb | LG 1 | Iron 2-1 Portsmouth | Sodje 2 |
| 2012-13 - Sat 29 Sep | LG 1 | Portsmouth 2-1 Iron | Clarke |
| 2010-11 - Sat 7 May | CHAMP | Iron 1-1 Portsmouth | Nunez |
| 2010-11 - Tue 1 Mar | CHAMP | Portsmouth 2-0 Iron | |
| 2003-04 - Sat 24 Jan | FAC R4 | Portsmouth 2-1 Iron | Parton |
| 1979-80 - Sat 26 Jan | DIV 4 | Iron 1-0 Portsmouth | Partridge |
| 1979-80 - Sat 25 Aug | DIV 4 | Portsmouth 6-1 Iron | Pilling |
| 1978-79 - Tue 3 Apr | DIV 4 | Iron 2-2 Portsmouth | Couch, Bloomer |
| 1978-79 - Tue 12 Sep | DIV 4 | Portsmouth 0-0 Iron | |
| 1963-64 - Sat 1 Feb | DIV 2 | Portsmouth 3-4 Iron | Hodgson 3, Smillie |
| 1963-64 - Sat 21 Sep | DIV 2 | Iron 1-1 Portsmouth | Hodgson |
| 1962-63 - Sat 9 Mar | DIV 2 | Portsmouth 1-2 Iron | Hodgson, Wilson |
| 1962-63 - Thu 7 Mar | FAC R3 Rep | Iron 1-2 Portsmouth | McGuigan |
| 1962-63 - Sat 26 Jan | FAC R3 | Portsmouth 1-1 Iron | Godfrey |
| 1962-63 - Fri 19 Oct | DIV 2 | Iron 1-2 Portsmouth | Brownsword |
| 1960-61 - Sat 15 Apr | DIV 2 | Portsmouth 2-2 Iron | Kaye, Godfrey |
| 1960-61 - Sat 12 Nov | DIV 2 | Iron 5-1 Portsmouth | Thomas 2, Godfrey 2, Sharpe |
| 1959-60 - Sat 2 Apr | DIV 2 | Iron 1-0 Portsmouth | Donnelly |
| 1959-60 - Sat 14 Nov | DIV 2 | Portsmouth 4-0 Iron | |
| 1953-54 - Mon 8 Feb | FAC R3 Rep2 | Portsmouth 4-0 Iron | |
| 1953-54 - Wed 3 Feb | FAC R3 Rep | Portsmouth 2-2 Iron | Jones 2 |
| 1953-54 - Sat 30 Jan | FAC R3 | Iron 1-1 Portsmouth | Jones |
Our full record against Portsmouth is as follows:
| SCUNTHORPE WINS | DRAWS | PORTSMOUTH WINS | |
| League | 9 | 6 | 5 |
| FA Cup | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Total | 9 | 9 | 8 |
ONE TO WATCH…
Forward Ronan Curtis joined Pompey this summer from Northern Irish side Derry City and has already found the back of the net six times for his new club in 15 league games.
The 22-year old has also been providing goals for his teammates with six league assists and has recently made his debut for Republic of Ireland.
ELSEWHERE IN LEAGUE ONE…
Friday:
Coventry City vs Peterborough United (7.45pm)
Saturday:
AFC Wimbledon vs Southend United
Barnsley vs Doncaster Rovers
Blackpool vs Burton Albion
Bradford City vs Oxford United
Charlton Athletic vs Bristol Rovers
Gillingham vs Luton Town
Plymouth Argyle vs Fleetwood Town
Rochdale vs Accrington Stanley
Walsall vs Sunderland
Wycombe Wanderers vs Shrewsbury Town
