SCENE-SETTER…
Under-23s manager Russ Wilcox will take charge of the team, supported by Kevin Pressman, Lee Turnbull, Paul Musselwhite and the rest of the backroom staff, following the midweek departure of previous manager Paul Hurst and assistant Chris Doig.
Scunthorpe come into the match following a 3-0 defeat at Northampton Town in midweek which saw striker Kevin van Veen dismissed in the first half for a push on former defender Charlie Goode.
Prior to that result in the league, the Iron had put in two battling performances to get a pair of 2-2 draws away at Bradford City and at home to Crewe Alexandra, respectively.
Crawley had a 2-2 draw of their own in midweek, away at Plymouth Argyle. They led the game through Ollie Palmer's goal before Antoni Sarcevic drew the Pilgrims level with a penalty just before half time.
Luke Jephcott put the hosts ahead with seven minutes to go, but Palmer's second of the game and 12th of the season in the 92nd minute earnt the Reds a sharing of the spoils.
Scunthorpe come into the match sitting 16th, but could climb to 13th if results go their way. Meanwhile, John Yems’ Crawley sit in that 13th position.
TEAM NEWS…
United will continue to be without on-loan defender Junior Brown, who is set to miss the next couple of weeks with a medial ligament injury.
There was good news on Thursday though, with Kevin van Veen's red card at Northampton Town overturned, which wipes out the three game ban he'd have had to serve.
Rory McArdle (hamstring) will also be assessed after missing the last five matches through that injury and illness prior.
Yann Songo'o (knee) could receive some game time in the Under-23s against Hull City on Monday should he get through training well this week.
Elsewhere, Jordan Clarke will miss most of what remains of this season with a calf injury, while Kgosi Ntlhe faces at least six weeks out with an Achilles injury.
Jordan Hallam (hamstring) remains absent, though is nearing a return to contention, while Regan Slater (ankle) is likely to be out until the end of February at least.
PAST MEETINGS…
Rory McArdle and Matthew Lund scored the goals, and Rory Watson saved from a spot kick, as the Iron drew 2-2 against Crawley Town at the Sands Venue Stadium back in August in the reverse fixture.
| SEASON - DATE | COMPETITION | RESULT | IRON SCORERS |
| 2019-20 - Sat Nov 9 | FAC R1 | Crawley 4-1 Iron | Colclough |
| 2019-20 - Sat Aug 17 | LG 2 | Iron 2-2 Crawley | McArdle, Lund |
| 2014-15 - Sat Apr 11 | LG 1 | Iron 2-1 Crawley | Dickson (og), Madden |
| 2014-15 - Sat Nov 22 | LG 1 | Crawley 2-2 Iron | Madden, Taylor |
| 2012-13 - Sat Feb 9 | LG 1 | Iron 2-1 Crawley | Ryan, Canavan |
| 2012-13 - Sat Aug 18 | LG 1 | Crawley 3-0 Iron |
| SCUNTHORPE WINS | DRAW | CRAWLEY WINS | |
| LEAGUE | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| FA CUP | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| TOTAL | 2 | 2 | 2 |
ELSEWHERE IN LEAGUE TWO
Cambridge United v Colchester United (3pm)
Cheltenham Town v Morecambe (3pm)
Grimsby Town v Forest Green Rovers (3pm)
Macclesfield Town v Northampton Town (3pm)
Mansfield Town v Carlisle United (3pm)
Oldham Athletic v Bradford City (3pm)
Plymouth Argyle v Newport County (3pm)
Port Vale v Salford City (3pm)
Stevenage v Leyton Orient (3pm)
Swindon Town v Exeter City (3pm)
Walsall v Crewe Alexandra (3pm)
