Words: James Whitbread

The Iron are back in action looking to end 2024 with three points, in a top of the table clash on New Year’s Eve, for a fixture which is set to feel very much like a ‘six pointer’ with both sides within touching distance of top spot.

Last time out, on an away trip to Peterborough Sports the Iron secured a 1-0 victory courtesy of a late deflected goal by Cal Roberts. After picking up yet another clean sheet, Ross Fitzsimons and the Scunthorpe defence have now picked up five clean sheets in their last six, conceding just one goal over the course of those games.

Last season United failed to beat King’s Lynn over the two fixtures in the league. In November, the Iron lost 3-1 away from home, after an Andrew Boyce opener, Josh Coulson equalised for the hosts, and a double from George Morrison won the game. In March, the most recent match-up, neither side broke the deadlock in a 0-0 stalemate draw. Scunthorpe will be looking to end this rut with an important three points to climb the table.

The Iron this season have often come unstuck at home, after a really strong start to the season. Despite only one side having a better home goal difference (+13) at home, United have currently got the 12th most points at home with 18 points from their 11 games, with four wins, one loss and six draws. In their last two home games, Scunthorpe have drawn 0-0 to Hereford and Alfreton, the task for the Iron is to add more goals to their game and keep up their defensive momentum with five clean sheets in their last six, yet also only scoring five goals in their last six resulting in three wins and three draws.

The danger man up top, and top goalscorer for the visitors is ex-Iron striker, Jonathon Margetts. The prolific attacker has bagged eight goals from 16 appearances this season, averaging a goal every two games, Jonny has been a riveting success since joining the Linnets in the middle of last season from Matlock Town. Margetts joined Matlock in the summer before the 2023-24 season and netted 22 goals in his short spell of 21 games as he left the club in January to join Town. Despite his early departure Margetts was just four goals away from winning the Northern Premier Division Golden Boot whilst missing out on significant amount of games. The forward played 16 games for King’s Lynn last season, after joining in January and bagged an impressive nine goals in the second half of the season after making the step up from the Northern Premier Division to National League North.

As the Iron go into this game with statistically the tightest defense in the league, leaking less goals than any other side (15), they are set to face a huge task to keep Jonathon Margetts quiet and shut out the opponents.

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