Words: James Whitbread
After a 3-2 triumph at home against Brackley on Tuesday, the Iron look to their next fixture against mid table side South Shields at the Attis Arena.
Against Brackley on Tuesday night, Alfie Beestin got Scunthorpe off to a good start after some good footwork, he drilled a shot into the bottom corner. Maxim Kouogun doubled the advantage before our opponents got on the scoresheet through Matt Lowe. Mark Beck scored the winner with his first goal for the Iron before Jez Abbey got a goal back to make a nervy last ten minutes which United managed to see out.
Last time out, South Shields stumbled to a 1-0 loss at home to Darlington on New Year’s Day. The Mariners will have some potential cobwebs to erase as they have had a couple of games postponed meaning this is their first game since New Year’s Day, the Iron in contrast have played three since then. South Shields have shared out their results this season with 11 wins, 11 losses and three draws in the league this season, and two wins, two losses and a draw in their last five. As they look to be a rather unpredictable team, in front of a home crowd Scunthorpe will be hoping to build on their last result.
Away from home, the visitors have struggled this season. Four wins, one draw and seven defeats on the road in the league, it’s clear most of South Shields’ points are picked up on home turf. The Iron’s home record hasn’t been how they would have wanted it to have looked like before the season, with six wins, six draws and one loss, it’s clear losing it home is not the problem it’s turning draws into victories. But after beating Brackley by scoring three, United will want to get a few goals again and claim all three points.
A key player for South Shields is 26 year old bagsman, Paul Blackett, the number nine signed for the Mariners before the 23/24 season and hasn’t failed to impress. Last season, Blackett scored more than any player in the league with 30 goals from 44 appearances and he’s looking to claim similar numbers this season too. Paul Blackett has netted 14 goals this season from 21 appearances, currently the joint top scorer with Charlie Caton and Callum Stewart, Iron winger Callum Roberts just one goal behind them with 13 league goals. Blackett has also bagged four assists this season and has been involved in 45% of South Shields’ goals this season.
As United look to build some momentum a victory would set the Iron up quite nicely for another home game on Tuesday against Needham Market. The task will be to stop Blackett from getting a goal involvement as the striker will be looking to get back on the scoresheet.
