The Iron are back in action on a huge away day in the FA Cup First Round Proper against
Blackpool. After coming back to beat Aldershot 2-1 last time out in the league, thanks to
goals from Cal Roberts and Zain Westbrooke to complete a first half comeback, United
will be looking forward to facing the Seasiders. Scunthorpe made it two wins in two in
midweek in National League Cup action after a 3-2 victory against a Middlesbrough U21’s
side. Declan Howe, Tyler Sellars-Fleming and Mark Beck all got on the scoresheet to
heighten the confidence for Andy Butler's side.
Our opponents from Lancashire have had a difficult start to the season in League One and sit
23rd two points above Peterborough. After 11 league games Steve Bruce was relieved of his
duties as manager having won just two, drawn two and lost seven. Since Bruce’s departure, the
Tangerine’s form has improved with just one loss in their last four matches. Stephen Dobbie
took over on an interim basis and lost one against Stockport County before winning the EFL
Cup and getting a point against Wycombe in the league. Ian Evatt has been appointed as
Blackpool manager and won in his first match beating a struggling Peterborough a victory which
put them above the Posh, and got manager Darren Ferguson sacked. As Evatt coached just his
second match at the club, and his first home match at Bloomfield Road, a victory in the First
Round feels crucial to build form.
An important player for the hosts is experienced striker Ashley Fletcher. With Premier League
experience, the 30-year-old has bags of experience and will be hoping to start finding the back
of the net more often. In their last home match, Fletcher bagged the opener for Blackpool, and
he may see this cup match as a good opportunity to find his shooting boots. Another player with
huge experience is Blackpool goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrel. The Leeds United academy
graduate on loan from Birmingham City has plenty of EFL experience and is Northern Ireland’s
number one goalkeeper, keeping a clean sheet against Slovakia and conceding just one goal
against Germany in the October international break. Blackpool’s high level experience will be a
strong task for the Iron to match.
The last time both sides met was in November 2019 and it was the Iron who came out victorious
away at Bloomfield Road in the EFL Cup, winning 3-1, Kevin Van Veen and an Abo Eisa double
won the game for United. This is the first FA Cup Round One Proper game for Scunthorpe since
the 21-22 season, when Doncaster Rovers won 1-0 at the Attis Arena. With the Iron in better
form than Blackpool, many will have strong hopes of United causing an upset against Blackpool
in front of a sold out away crowd, on a day Scunthorpe where the new third kit for the first time.
