Skipper Michael Clunan on aiming to keep standards high on home soil

Skipper Michael Clunan is happy to be back in the side following his recent illness and injury, and feels as though the side are going from strength-to-strength on the pitch.

The Iron have won their last three games on home soil, scoring 13 goals in the process, while they are unbeaten in the last four having picked up all three points at Banbury United in midweek.

“I’m enjoying it,” he stated.

“The way we like to play is possession-based, which is what I’m used to and what I’m good at. I like to organise on the pitch, and I like to think that I bring the best out of others around me, which is what the manager brought me in for. We’ve been on a good run since I’ve returned. I’m enjoying it, and I’m enjoying my run in the team, and hopefully we can get the three points tomorrow.

“We’ve got some great players. There’s some really good footballers in the team. We’ve got a good blend of youth, experience, technical players and lads who are going to roll their sleeves up and do the dirty side as well.

“Winning breeds confidence. We had a bit of a stutter with the results, but hopefully now we’re back on track and momentum will carry us through to pick up as many points as we can.”

Returning to Glanford Park where the Iron have scored six in each of their last two games, Clunan is aiming to continue the high standards and ensure complacency doesn’t set in when the side in 23rd arrive in North Lincolnshire.

“Our home form is obviously very good, which we are pleased about,” he continued. 

“It’s something we need to continue. This will be by no means an easy game for us. Gloucester are a good side, and in previous seasons years they’ve been right up there. I think their position in the table is probably a little bit false at the minute, and they are looking to pick up results.

“We are in good form, but I always think you’re probably at your most vulnerable when you’re on a good run, because complacency can set in. We’ve prepared really well this week, since the game on Tuesday. We’ve done our homework on Gloucester, and we’ll be giving it everything tomorrow to get all three points.”

After Saturday’s game, the skipper will return to former side King’s Lynn Town in claret and blue, for the first time since departing the Linnets in the summer.

Speaking ahead of his return, he added: “I’m excited for it. It’s a lot smaller commute for me. 

“I’ll be looking forward to going back, but my focus is fully on Gloucester this weekend. It’s going to be a tough game for us, and then we will move our attention to King’s Lynn Town.

“It was a very enjoyable time for me in my career. We achieved back-to-back promotions, and the club was riding the crest of a wave, and I was lucky enough to be part of that.

“It will be strange, it’ll be different walking into the away dressing room after being there for eight years. But I’m a Scunthorpe United player now, and I’m fully focused on getting this club promoted and where it belongs. That ultimately means going out to beat King’s Lynn Town next Tuesday.”