SCENE-SETTER
After the weekend’s battling 1-1 draw at home to Bradford City, Paul Hurst and his players will be looking for similar character to be shown in the Iron’s away clash with Plymouth Argyle this Saturday, especially after going down to 10-men in the first half.
The Pilgrims sit in mid-table after an mediocre start to the season, following their relegation from League One last season along with the Iron, and will be no doubt be looking to break into the play-off spots with a win, following on from their away win at Mansfield Town last weekend.
A win for the Iron could see them close the gap on teams above them, heading into a match against Northampton Town at the Sands Venue Stadium, a week on Saturday.
TEAM NEWS
Paul Hurst will be without midfielder Matthew Lund, who has so far been an ever-present in the league for the Iron this season, as he begins the first of a three-match suspension after his early dismissal last weekend. Levi Sutton (medial ligaments), who made a return in the Leasing.com Trophy and was on the bench last weekend, and Regan Slater are two possible replacements for the 28-year-old.
The United boss also said there are a few doubts going into the game with the Pilgrims following a bout of illness among the squad. Kevin van Veen (ribs), who missed last weekend's encounter, is available.
Yann Songo'o and Junior Brown both picked up knocks at Walsall a fortnight ago but both played in the encounter against Bradford City last week, while Lee Novak made a return from his ankle injury by making a substitute appearance against the Bantams.
Elsewhere, Jordan Hallam (ankle) and John McAtee (shoulder) remain absent.
OPPOSITION VIEW
Argyle manager Ryan Lowe said: "Paul Hurst is a fantastic manager, he’s been there, done it, seen it. We know they are down the bottom; we said this a few weeks ago but they are in a false position for me. They’re not turning up here just to make their numbers up, they’re turning up here to try and get a win.”
PAST MEETINGS
The Iron have won five of their last seven meetings with the Pilgrims, dating back to the era when both clubs were in the Championship.
The two clubs most recent clash came at Home Park, on the final day of last season. The Pilgrims ran out 3-2 winners, with Kyle Wootton and Josh Morris grabbing the goals for the Iron.
| SEASON/DATE | COMPETITION | RESULT | IRON SCORERS |
| 2018-19 | LG 1 | Plymouth 3-2 Iron | Wootton, Morris |
| 2018-19 - Sat Oct 27 | LG 1 | Iron 1-4 Plymouth | Novak |
| 2017-18 - Tue May 1 | LG 1 | Iron 2-0 Plymouth | Adelakun, Toney |
| 2017-18 - Sat Aug 26 | LG 1 | Plymouth 0-4 Iron | Madden 2, Hopper, Morris |
| 2013-14 - Sat Mar 15 | LG 2 | Plymouth 0-2 Iron | Syers, Cole og |
| 2013-14 - Sat Sep 21 | LG 2 | Iron 1-0 Plymouth | Esajas |
| 2009-10 - Sat Mar 20 | CHAMP | Iron 2-1 Plymouth | Thompson, Woolford |
| 2009-10 - Sat Oct 3 | CHAMP | Plymouth 2-1 Iron | Hooper |
| 2007-08 - Tue Mar 11 | CHAMP | Iron 1-0 Plymouth | Morris |
| 2007-08 - Sat Dec 1 | CHAMP | Plymouth 3-0 Iron | |
| 2001-02 - Tue Jan 22 | DIV 3 | Plymouth 2-1 Iron | Carruthers |
| 2001-02 - Sat Dec 22 | DIV 3 | Iron 2-1 Plymouth | Hodges |
| 2000-01 - Sat Mar 17 | DIV 3 | Iron 4-1 Plymouth | Garcia, Torpey, Quailey 2 |
| 2000-01 - Tue Oct 17 | DIV 3 | Plymouth 1-0 Iron | |
| 1998-99 - Tue Mar 30 | DIV 3 | Plymouth 5-0 Iron | |
| 1998-99 - Sat Aug 29 | DIV 3 | Iron 0-2 Plymouth | |
| 1995-96 - Sat Feb 10 | DIV 3 | Iron 1-1 Plymouth | McFarlane |
| 1995-96 - Tue Jan 23 | DIV 3 | Plymouth 1-3 Iron | Hope, Turnbull, McFarlane |
| 1983-84 - Sat Apr 7 | DIV 3 | Iron 3-0 Plymouth | Bell, Brolly, Cammack |
| 1983-84 - Tue Sep 27 | DIV 3 | Plymouth 4-0 Iron | |
| 1972-73 - Tue Feb 6 | DIV 3 | Plymouth 3-0 Iron | |
| 1972-73 - Tue Oct 10 | DIV 3 | Iron 1-1 Plymouth | Kirk |
| 1963-64 - Sat Feb 29 | DIV 2 | Plymouth 3-1 Iron | Hodgson |
| 1963-64 - Sat Nov 16 | DIV 2 | Iron 1-0 Plymouth | Neale |
| 1962-63 - Sat Feb 23 | DIV 2 | Plymouth 2-3 Iron | McGuigan, Howells, Brownsword pen |
| 1962-63 - Sat Oct 6 | DIV 2 | Iron 2-2 Plymouth | Godfrey, Hodgson |
| 1961-62 - Sat Mar 31 | DIV 2 | Plymouth 3-1 Iron | Kaye |
| 1961-62 - Sat Nov 11 | DIV 2 | Iron 5-1 Plymouth | Thomas 4, Thorpe |
| 1960-61 - Sat Apr 22 | DIV 2 | Iron 2-0 Plymouth | Thomas, Bonson |
| 1960-61 - Sat Dec 3 | DIV 2 | Plymouth 3-1 Iron | Sharpe |
| 1959-60 - Thu Sep 3 | DIV 2 | Iron 2-0 Plymouth | Sharpe, Haigh |
| 1959-60 - Mon Aug 24 | DIV 2 | Plymouth 4-0 Iron |
| SCUNTHORPE WINS | DRAWS | PLYMOUTH WINS | |
| League | 15 | 3 | 14 |
| Total | 15 | 3 | 14 |
ELSEWHERE IN LEAGUE TWO
Bradford City v Swindon Town (3pm)
Cambridge United v Macclesfield Town (3pm)
Colchester United v Stevenage (3pm)
Crewe Alexandra v Exeter City (3pm)
Forest Green Rovers v Crawley Town (3pm)
Grimsby Town v Mansfield Town (3pm)
Newport County v Carlisle United (3pm)
Northampton Town v Leyton Orient (3pm)
Oldham Athletic v Cheltenham Town (3pm)
Port Vale v Morecambe (3pm)
Walsall v Salford City (3pm)
