SUFC v well, SUFC! – Scunthorpe United v Southend United

February 12, 2016 by Alec Hitchman

SUFC v well, SUFC! – Scunthorpe United v Southend United

Southend United make the trip to North Lincolnshire on Saturday, attempting to get revenge after our FA Cup defeat in November.

Last time out for Scunthorpe, their home game against Doncaster Rovers was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, but before that, they beat Coventry City 2-1 away from home. Whilst for Southend, we beat local rivals Colchester 3-0, with goals from ex-Colchester midfielder Anthony Wordsworth, captain (on the day) Adam Barrett and on-loan Southampton midfielder Sam McQueen.

The two sides have only played each other 50 times in total. The first meeting was back in 1964, when Scunthorpe won 2-1. The most recent meeting came earlier this season in November (as mentioned above) when Blues lost 2-1 in the FA Cup thanks to a goal in each half from Paddy Madden. Ryan Leonard had equalised for Southend after half an hour.

Southend currently (and still, even after last week!) sit in 7th place, level on points with Millwall but just outside the playoffs on goal difference. Scunthorpe are currently 13th, 9 points behind Southend.

Overall Meetings

Scunthorpe Wins: 21
Southend Wins: 14
Draws: 15

Who are Scunthorpe United?

Full Name: Scunthorpe United Football Club
Founded: 1899
Nickname: The Iron

Ground: Glanford Park
Manager: Andy Dawson (Caretaker Manager)
2014-15 Season: League One, 16th

Most Recent Line-Ups

Scunthorpe (v Coventry): Daniels, Wiseman, Mirfin, Wallace (GOAL 62’), Townsend, Bishop, Dawson (King 82’), Williams (Clarke 90’), Ness, Madden, Hopper (GOAL 9’ - McSheffrey 72’)

Southend (v Colchester): Bentley, O’Neill, Barrett (GOAL 88’), Bolger, Thompson (Wordsworth 62’ – GOAL 82’), Hendrie, Atkinson, Leonard, McQueen (GOAL 90+1’), Payne, Barnett

Last Time We Met – 7th November 2015 – Scunthorpe 2-1 Southend

Scunthorpe: Daniels, Wiseman (Clarke 60’), Mirfin, Goode (Boyce 75’), Laird, King, Williams (Henderson 56’), Bishop, Madden, Van Veen, McSheffrey

Southend: Bentley, O’Neill, Bolger, Prosser, Coker, Leonard (GOAL 30’), Timlin, Rea (Hurst 80’), McLaughlin (Worrall 13’), Pigott (Mooney 73’), Weston

Scunthorpe’s Last 6 Results

Coventry City (A) – W 1-2
Colchester United (H) – W 3-0
Blackpool FC (A) – L 5-0
Chelsea FC (A) – L 2-0 – FA Cup 3rd Round
Wigan Athletic (H) – D 1-1
Rochdale AFC (H) – D 1-1

The Kits

Kit Images: Copyright Historical Football Kits (www.historicalkits.co.uk) and reproduced by kind permission

What Could Happen?

A win for Blues on Saturday would take them up to 5th, above Millwall and Coventry. Also, we’d go into the playoffs with a win. This is highly dependent on Millwall and Coventry failing to win against Rochdale and Bury respectively.

A win for Scunthorpe would put them level on points with Bradford, who are currently 12th.

A draw would probably be better for Southend than Scunthorpe.

Latest Blues News

Blues will definitely be without midfielder Ryan Leonard, who has been ruled out for 10 weeks after a horror two-footed tackle by a Colchester player in the Essex Derby.

Michael Timlin is back in contention having served his one match ban following his red card against Shrewsbury.

Jamar Loza is fit again after sitting out of the Colchester match with concussion after a collision with the Shrewsbury goalkeeper Jason Leutwiler last Tuesday (02/02).

Midfielder Anthony Wordsworth will be hoping for a start after he opened the scoring against his old club Colchester last week.

Blues manager Phil Brown has recently confirmed he is happy at Southend despite interest from Rotherham United, who want to take him from us.

The Opposition Thoughts

For each preview, I attempt to get the views of an opposition supporter. This week, we have three fans again, all from the Scunthorpe Forum...

"Mr Woosh Woosh Goals"

1. What is your name and how long have you supported Scunthorpe?
Mr Woosh Woosh Goals and 16 years

2. What are your views on how the season has gone for you so far?
The old managers lack of preparation pre season and the fact he signed a lot of players on free’s from the football league waste land got us off to a horrible start. Things are improving slightly still lots of dead wood in the squad

3. Who has been your most impressive player and why?
Murray Wallace,originally on loan and now permanently this signing has changed our season completely

4. Which result have you been most pleased with so far and why?
The win at Oldham away, I did go to the game and that was the start of our season really and that result changed our fortunes a top away performance

5. What are your views on Southend United?
Very much like the Iron (Scunthorpe) very inconsistent, few talented individuals

6. Are there any teams in League One who have surprised you?
Wigan were very disappointing,with the talent in that squad they should be walking this league.

7. Links – What do you think of former Scunthorpe (and current Southend) midfielder Michael Timlin and Sheffield Wednesday striker (also ex-Scunthorpe & Southend) Gary Hooper?
Timlin never really made an impact at the Iron, was very lightweight at the time and Gaz Hoops is a fantasic finisher but I would say the championship is his level,doesn’t have the quality to make it at premier league level

8. Where do you expect both Scunthorpe and Southend to finish this season?
Realistically between 8th-10th would be a successful season for both, the iron because of the poor start to the season and Southend because of the limited resources they possess

9. What advise would you give to those Southend fans travelling to the game? (I.e. the area round the ground, pubs, etc)
I would recommend you park at the ground or in the car parks on just outside the ground (McDonald’s,subway,Marks) and if you’re looking for food then I wouldn’t advise eating at farmhouse but the pints are lovely

10. Which Scunthorpe players should Southend fans look out for?
Paddy Madden and Stephan Dawson are both exciting to watch,both give 100% from the first whistle and obviously Paddy has an eye for goal

11. Score Prediction for the game?
I’m going with my gut and saying Iron 3-1 Shrimpers

Mick West

1. What is your name and how long have you supported Scunthorpe?
Mick Ronald West. 69 years.

2. What are your views on how the season has gone for you so far?
The season started very poorly after lots of optomism and many promises of an attacking side. We signed some solid league one players and proceeded to beat some good teams in pre season, like Sheffield Wednesday. The boardroom point to that as an indicator that we are good enough to mount a challenge, The problem being that we were playing a team who were using the game as a training exercise. Robins should have been sacked after the Blackpool game at home, which was one of the most pathetic performances of all time. I have to say, there are three or four games that are up there with the worst I’ve ever seen. Blackpool away being another shocker. I still think, despite all this, we might just have enough to get into the top 8, which wouldnt be too bad after all.

3. Who has been your most impressive player and why?
David Mirfin has shured up the defence. Madden has scored plenty of goals. Murray Wallace looks great on his return. The rest have been 5s and 6s/10.

4. Which result have you been most pleased with so far and why?
Chesterfield away. 3-0. Revenge for last season’s cup defeat. Oldham was good as well. Performance wise last week at Coventry was excellent.

5. What are your views on Southend United?
Forever grateful for letting us have Martin Carruthers. What a striker. Nice touch at the FA cup game as well- collecting for steelworkers.

6. Are there any teams in League One who have surprised you?
Burton. Not the most talented group but make up for it in hard work and endeavour. Sheffield United seem to have flopped a little bit again under our Nige- which is also a little surprising.

7. Links – What do you think of former Scunthorpe (and current Southend) midfielder Michael Timlin and Sheffield Wednesday striker (also ex-Scunthorpe & Southend) Gary Hooper?
Hooper was great. If he was a bit better at one on ones (he missed a bucket load) I reckon he would have scored 50 goals in a season. One of our best ever.

8. Where do you expect both Scunthorpe and Southend to finish this season?
I’m ever the optomist. We are going to sneak 6th. Southend are doing well and I reckon 8th is on the cards.

9. What advise would you give to those Southend fans travelling to the game? (I.e. the area round the ground, pubs, etc)
Come to the Berkley. Have a lovely bottle of Sam Smith IPA. Lovely job.

10. Which Scunthorpe players should Southend fans look out for?
Luke Williams

11. Score Prediction for the game?
5-0 Iron Scorers: Williams, Madden, Vose, Luer and Mirfin.

"Ironawe"

1. What is your name and how long have you supported Scunthorpe?
Name not important supporting since late 70’s

2. What are your views on how the season has gone for you so far?
On the whole disappointing with style of play boring. Changing now though

3. Who has been your most impressive player and why?
Madden probably keeps trying and scoring despite out of position for some of the season

4. Which result have you been most pleased with so far and why?
Could say the 5-0 defeat to Blackpool but probably Coventry away beginning to show what they can do

5. What are your views on Southend United?
Doing ok this season

6. Are there any teams in League One who have surprised you?
Burton for obvious reasons

7. Links – What do you think of former Scunthorpe (and current Southend) midfielder?
Michael Timlin and Sheffield Wednesday striker (also ex-Scunthorpe & Southend) Gary

8. Where do you expect both Scunthorpe and Southend to finish this season?
10th and 16th

9. What advise would you give to those Southend fans travelling to the game?
If you have time and come by train go for a beer in the honest lawyer

10. Which Scunthorpe players should Southend fans look out for?
Hopper is playing well and Madden will score

11. Score Prediction for the game
2-1 to the iron. Will be a tight game though