The Iron are back on home soil on a bank holiday Monday, to face a Halifax side looking
to turn their unfortunate form around.
Last time out, Scunthorpe got all three points on
the road coming back from behind to beat Sutton United 3-2. Declan Howe opened the
scoring to make it three goals in his last two, before the hosts pegged us back with two
goals scored side of half time by Jack Taylor and Brandon Njoku. Oli Rose scored the
equaliser just six minutes after replacing the injured Kian Scales, six minutes before
United clinched the winner scored by Danny Whitehall. A Liam Vincent sending off for
the hosts, further compounded misery for the opposition, who didn’t manage to get a
goal back.
After an impressive season last year, qualifying for the play offs, the visitors have really
struggled for points in this early stage of the season, with just one win so far from their opening
four. After losing their first two games of the season, a 1-0 victory in midweek away from home
against Boston would’ve been seen as a big step in the right direction for The Shaymen, but in
their most recent clash hosting Robbie Savage’s Forest Green Rovers, they were defeated 2-1,
making this fixture all the more vital for Halifax desperate to get another away victory.
Ex Iron midfielder Tom Pugh was a strong asset for our opposition last season during a strong debut season, helping guide his side to the play offs. The 24-year-old midfielder has struggled to get into new manager Adam Lakeland’s side with three appearances this season, all coming on as a substitute playing a combined 20 minutes this season.
Looking to impress, Pugh will be keen on making an impact should he get the chance
to do so. Another familiar face is Town’s number nine Will Harris who spent a spell on loan at
the Attis Arena during the 24/25 season, making four appearances for Scunthorpe. The attacker
won’t be available for this game as he is suspended for his side after a red card in the 15th
minute against Wealdstone. Forward Jamie Cooke was a key player last season bagging nine
goals and assisting three, but the 23 year old is yet to register a goal involvement for the
Shaymen this season from four appearances. As his side struggle in front of goal, yet to score
more than one goal in a game this season, Cooke will be looking to get back amongst the goals
to help his side inspire a victory against an in-form Scunthorpe team.
The Iron enter this game in some form, with maximum points picked up from the opening three
games of the season. Declan Howe and Danny Whitehall are already becoming a key
partnership for Scunthorpe, going into this game full of confidence. Howe bagged two in the last
home game against Woking, and made it three in two last time out against Sutton. Whitehall has
also been pivotal, with a goal in every game this season, scoring a stunning free kick on open
day, and two poachers finishes at home against Woking, and then the winner against Sutton
United. Cal Roberts has also shown threats with an assist in every game this season, as the
Iron have multiple goal threats in vivid form, the target will be picking up another three points in
front of a home crowd.
