There is no denying the importance of it as, with two games remaining this season, Scunthorpe find themselves 22nd in the division, in the relegation zone, and needing points to ensure their League One survival.
Dawson told iFollow Iron: “It’s important we stick together on Saturday. It’ll probably be a nervous occasion because we all know what’s at stake but that’s part and parcel of our job – we have to deal with pressure situations and go and perform to our highest ability. All the players will give that.
“I ask the fans to stick with us through the tough times of the game, which every team gets, because they really are our 12th Man. Stick with us, get behind us and we can get out of this situation together."
On-loan left-back Tom Pearce returns to contention after shaking off the hip flexor injury that ruled him out of the away clash at Charlton.
Elsewhere, Dawson reported no fresh injury worries from the Easter Monday game.
He said: “Tom has been on the grass this week and his hip flexor is a lot better, so he’ll be involved in the squad on Saturday. It was great to get minutes under the belts of Josh (Morris) and Lundy (Matthew Lund), and they came out fine.”
The game will come too soon for Tony McMahon, who has missed the last two weeks with a hamstring injury, while Jordan Clarke won’t play against until pre-season.
Dawson added: “Macca has been out on the grass, just doing the warm-up and the passing, and it’s been good to have him around. Saturday will probably come too early for him, which is disappointing, especially against his former club. He’s another one that is good to have in and around the building, because it’s important those big characters keep supporting all the boys between now and the end of the season.
“It’ll be too soon for Jord, he’s been in and around the grass but has been out for a long time now. He’ll be ready to go for next year and, like with Macca, he’ll help support the boys.”
Speaking about the Easter Monday clash at Charlton which saw the scoreline not really reflect the balance of play, Dawson said: “We had a debrief on Tuesday and showed them the really important bits that we must do better, because we were too easy to score against. The goals come in quick succession and they’re the little details that are making it difficult to come back.
“Nine minutes of second-half football saw us out of the game. We have to defend those set-plays better and retain our focus if we do get a setback.
“We were creating chances, moving it quick, cutting them open and were so close to getting on the end of it. We have to keep working hard this week to produce that little bit of magic and quality in the final third, because it might take that small detail to win us the game.”
Talking about Saturday’s opposition, he stated: “Bradford have changed the shape recently so we really don’t know what to expect from them. However, it’s all about us and how we prepare. We have to hit it head on, stay strong mentally in the tough situations during the game, because every team gets them, and then when we get those opportunities we must be clinical.
“Against Blackpool last Friday, the lads did really well, but we had to change it just to freshen it up a little bit (with the Charlton match coming so soon after). I thought the boys that came in put in some good performances. The squad is strong and it’s about picking the right team now to go and perform to their maximum ability against Bradford.”
See much more from Andy Dawson, Lee Novak and Clayton Lewis on iFollow Iron. Click here to sign up.
