Jimmy Dean speaks ahead of the first of three away league fixtures in a row

First team manager Jimmy Dean takes his Iron side to the Jakemans Community Stadium this evening for a Lincolnshire derby against Boston United (7.45pm kick-off).

The meeting between the two sides will be the first in the league since 2005, and a first Scunthorpe visit to their new stadium, as the Iron go looking to make it three wins on the bounce.

Speaking on Monday ahead of the game, Dean spoke on how his group of players have been since the 6-1 victory over Bishop’s Stortford at the weekend: “Jubilant, happy and bouncing. We’ve just got to set ourselves up now for a tough fixture away at Boston. 

“The away performances in the last couple have not been at it. The mentality of the last two have been miles off it. We’ve been playing in the wrong areas, making silly decisions with the ball - everything you don’t do away from home.

“We’ve got to get that side of it right. We’ve got to get our eyes on the prize with the game. We want to get a result, and it’s important that if we don’t win, we don’t lose. It’s going to be a tough week with three away games. We need to show progress with our away form.

“The fixtures coming up are ones where we’ve got to be picking up points. We’ve played a lot of the teams in the top half, and these are teams in the middle and bottom half. That’s not being derogatory to anyone - we have to start picking up points if we want to achieve our goals."

While it may not be the shortest trip for the Iron this campaign, with two quicker visits, the prospect of playing the Pilgrims gives both teams the opportunity for bragging rights in the county.

“For me as well, Boston is just down the road,” he continued. 

“It’s certainly a game that, when I was at Peterborough Sports, I always looked for. They’re a big club, well supported and they’ve been up to League One. It’s a fixture of two former EFL clubs, two clubs with fantastic facilities, fantastic players. They’ve got a good manager, great staff. It’s going to be a tough one.

“I understand it’s probably not the derby game for Boston or for Scunthorpe traditionally, but where we are right now, it is, and we’re going to treat it like that. Everyone wants the bragging rights, they’ll be no different. The most important thing we can come out of this game with is points.”

Skipper Michael Clunan missed out at the weekend through illness having returned to the side last midweek, and is touch-and-go to be involved south of the county this evening.

“Mikey is still battling,” he stated. 

“He didn’t train on Monday, but he’s still battling with his bug. I think other than that, there are no reactions from Saturday. Danny Elliott is ready to come back into the squad now.

“Jason (Law) has trained today, and there were no reactions from his knock on Saturday. We took him off as a precaution. We should be where we want to be.”

With 600 tickets allocated to Scunthorpe for the tie, and almost that number sold, it’ll be a Halloween trek for many, with superb backing once more.

“It’s crazy, on a Tuesday night,” he said. 

“It’s fantastic. Rest assured, I’ll be reminding the players that we owe these guys a performance. To come and support us with those numbers on a Tuesday night is League One support. It’s fantastic, and a great effort.”

Dean also reacted to the draw for the Isuzu FA Trophy’s second round, which will see the side welcome Darlington to Glanford Park.

“I’m glad it’s at home,” he added. 

“Obviously, we would have liked a team further down the pyramid, but we’re glad it’s at home, and glad it’s a winnable fixture. It’s one we’re going to set up for and do our best to win.

“I do, certainly. At the end of the day, if you get to the final, you get to represent yourself at Wembley. It’s one we’re going to take as serious as we can, for as long as we can.”