Words: James Whitbread
The Iron are back on the road after a 2-2 draw at home to Oxford City, to face fifth place Chester as three points would take United’s points this season to 24 and retain the top spot in the table. Chester are in great form in the league and will definitely be a difficult game for Butlers’ side.
Chester are unbeaten in the league since losing the first two games of the season, and are a massive threat. No side has picked up more points this season on home soil than our opponents (13). Despite the dangerous eight game unbeaten run in the league, Chester will be looking to bounce back as they lost their most recent fixture in an FA Cup Fourth Round Qualifying fixture, away at Scarborough Athletic.
Back on home soil, the Blues will be looking to claim all three points and rejuvenate their form, and the hosts have some key players who can inflict some damage onto the Iron. Kurt Willoughby, Chester's 27-year-old number nine, has started his season off well with two goals and two assists in his opening 10 appearances. The loanee from Oldham was on loan in Scotland at Ayr United and managed just three goals in 28 appearances, Willoughby is just one goal away from reaching that tally from last season having made eighteen less appearances.
Another important player looking to cause damage is 24 year old Welshman, Iwan Murray. The attacking midfielder, despite having only one assist to his name this season in the league, is a constant threat and bagged himself a fantastic consolation last time out against Scarborough, whipping a free kick on the edge of the box into the top right corner with the last kick of the game. Murray will hope his impact will have more of a meaning against the Iron.
The top goalscorer and standout player this season for Chester is 21-year-old Charlie Caton. The Welshman has netted seven goals in his opening 10 appearances in the league this season. Caton came through the Shrewsbury Town academy, and signed for the Seals after impressing as a loan signing netting seven goals in 26 appearances as a 19-year-old. The extremely prolific danger man will be looking to keep himself in fine form and Scunthorpe will have a tough task to keep Caton quiet.
City manager Callum McIntyre has spent two full seasons at the club and is now into his third season in charge as first team manager. Callum started his management career as Chester’s Head of Academy Coaching, and during his spell moved up to a caretaker manager role for a month in the 2017-18 season to stabilise form, this was four years before taking the permanent manager role at Chester. As he looks to finally claim promotion to the National League after finishing third in 2022-23 and finishing six points behind the play-offs last season, this fixture truly is a huge game for the Englishman.
Iron gaffer Andy Butler, will be hoping his side can also get back to winning ways on the road against our opponents on Saturday, to get the first victory in the league since our away clash with Curzon Ashton which ended 1-0 to the Iron, courtesy of a goal scored by Will Evans. After being just minutes away from claiming all three points against Oxford City as the Iron conceded in the 94th minute, the hunger for three points has intensified for United.
