Hill previews Bradford home encounter this Saturday

First team manager Keith Hill has previewed the Iron's home Sky Bet League Two game against Bradford City this Saturday (3pm kick-off), as his team look to build on a 1-1 draw against promotion-chasing Leyton Orient in midweek.

The Bantams are expected to bring around 2,000 fans to the Sands Venue Stadium, with a squad including seven former United players in the form of Levi Sutton, Alex Gilliead, Abo Eisa, Levi Sutton, Yann Songo'o, Niall Canavan and Charles Vernam.

Hill told iFollow Iron: "I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully there will be a big crowd which always generates an energy on the pitch and in the stadium. It's something we're really looking forward to.

"There was a lot to be proud of from my perspective on Tuesday night, as a manager watching the group of players. What we didn't get against Mansfield we got in abundance against Leyton Orient. We had a fighting spirit and went toe-to-toe, playing as much as we could on the front foot, and we got higher up the pitch.

"So I've got to give the lads respect because they did their best to try and maintain the energy to at least retain a fighting chance of winning the game.

"Going 1-0 down we could have imploded against one of the heavyweights of the division but we stuck to it and got a little bit of fortune for the goal, but it was well put away (by Jake Scrimshaw).

"We had luck when the opponents missed the target and potentially could have scored, but having said that Alex Perry very nearly won us the game towards the end with his chance and it would have been a very good win.

"We've scored in every game we've played in the league (since I took over) so I'm encouraged and really pleased with the physical performance of the players against Salford and then against Leyton Orient.

"It would be absolutely superb (to get the win this weekend) but there are no givens in football. The only given is you should be willing to work hard to represent your team, the club, the fans and the manager's beliefs in pursuit of three points. It doesn't matter where you are in the league, but it comes down to those fine details and decisions made on matchday.

"We'll be well prepared and the opponents will know us well too, because there are a lot of those players who have represented Scunthorpe in the past. There's a lot of stake but the league positions will not be decided on this one game."

Hill provided an update on Mason O'Malley, who came off at half-time with a groin injury against Orient on Tuesday.

He added: "He's still a little bit tender but we're hoping he can make Saturday. If not, it will be the Stevenage game (next up for the Iron on Tuesday, December 7th). He's just opened his groin up taking a corner kick on Tuesday night. He'll be assessed this morning and then we'll make a decision on him tomorrow.

"It will be a similar squad, with just Pughy (Tom Pugh) suspended (after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season on Tuesday night).

"Rory (Watson, who has missed the last two games with a hamstring issue) will also be assessed and we'll be in touch with the EFL with respect to his injury and seeing if we can extend (Kieran O'Hara's seven-day emergency loan spell) or not."

See much more from Keith Hill and Aaron Jarvis on iFollow Iron.