The Opposition:

Having won promotion from League One to the Championship with Peterborough last year, Scunthorpe United’s ultimate objective for this season is survival. So far, after 37 games, they find themselves 2 points and 2 places above the Championship trap door on 41 points. The ‘Iron’ haven’t exceeded pre season expectations and have found themselves in the lower echelons of the league table all season, despite picking up some impressive results including a 2-1 home victory against Newcastle in October, a 4-0 win against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park and a 4-1 win at Pride Park against Derby. Having, in the words of their chairman, “broke the bank” to secure promotion to the Championship last year, ‘Iron’ boss Nigel Adkins didn’t have much to spend, although Michael O’Conner and Adam Boyes did join the Glanford Road club from Crewe and York respectively for a combined fee of £350,000. Stockport defender Michael Raynes has since joined the club for £178,000. Should Scunthorpe overcome ‘The Posh’, who have an appalling away record, they will increasingly confident that they can avoid the drop this year.

Scunthorpe United were established in 1899 after formerly being known as Scunthorpe and Lindsey United, but they did not join the Football League until 1950, 5 years before Peterborough United joined, when the league structure was expanded. Scunthorpe United became the first English football club in the modern era to move to a new, purpose built stadium, 9,000 capacity Glanford Park in 1988. Since then, the Lincolnshire based club has been playing in the lower leagues of English football. Despite losing in the third division play off final on penalty’s in 1992 to Blackpool, they finally won promotion to the second division following a 1-0 victory over Leyton Orient at Wembley in the play off final. The club were relegated the following season however to the basement division, where they would remain until the end of the 04/05 season where they won promotion to League 1. Two years later, under former club physio Nigel Adkins, they achieved promotion to the Championship, winning the league on a staggering 91 points, where they are trying to consolidate now. This followed with relegation in their first season back into the championship, before being promoted to the Championship again last year.

Form Book:

Scunthorpe: Despite securing a vital 2-1 victory at home to fellow strugglers Plymouth on Saturday, Scunthorpe find themselves in poor form with only Plymouth, Watford, Crystal Palace and Sheffield Wednesday doing worse than them in the form table. Adkins men have recorded just 2 wins in their last 8 games and, lying just two points off the relegation zone, ‘Scunny’ will be keen to pull away from trouble with victory at home to bottom side Peterborough.

Peterborough: Despite beating Watford a couple of weeks ago to record their first away win of the season, Peterborough have all but confirmed their relegation to league one following successive defeats to Doncaster at home and away at promotion chasing Nottingham.

Last Time Out

In the game after George Boyd celebrated breaking a club record for consecutive appearances, Posh enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 home win over ‘Scunny’ to record just their 2nd win of the season in last October. It was Boyd himself who opened the scoring in the 25th minute with a fine finish before setting up Mackail-Smith who slotted home a one-on-one, the second goal of the game, after being played through by George Boyd in first half injury time. George Boyd finished the rout on 78th minutes from the penalty spot after Charlie Lee had been brought down in the area by Michael O’Conner.

Key Players

Scunthorpe: Gary Hooper – If fit, the Laughton born striker will definitely be a threat having scored 41 goals in 83 appearances in all competitions for ‘The Iron’. ‘Hoops’ signed for Scunthorpe in 2008 after enjoying a prolific loan spell (from Southend) at Hereford in league 1 where he scored 11 goals in 19 matches. Hooper began his career with Grays Athletic, making his debut at the age of just 15 whilst helping them to win promotion to the Conference South, scoring 12 goals in 2004-05. He scored a further 8 times the following season before being signed by Steve Tilson at Southend in 2006. It was here that he made 32 appearances, although only 12 league starts, before being loaned out to Leyton Orient (scoring 2 in 4) and to Hereford, where he ultimately made a name for himself. He currently has 12 goals to his name this campaign.

Peterborough: Exodus Geohaghon – After being introduced into a new defensive midfield role, Exodus has reignited the form he produced at Conference side Kettering Town which persuaded former boss Mark Cooper to bring him to London Road. Standing at 6”7, he poses a great threat from set pieces and rarely loses it in the air whilst breaking up play effectively. Geohaghon is better known for his long throw ability than his footballing skills however. His throw is so huge it can reach the penalty area from the half way line, creating more chances that other teams can’t.

Team News

Scunthorpe: Josh Wright is set to miss out again because of a badly bruised toe whilst Gary Hooper faces a late fitness test

Peterborough: Peterborough will be without centre halves Ryan Bennett and Craig Morgan, both through ankle injuries. Lee Frecklington and strikers Izale McLeod and Aaron Mclean are all out with knee injuries.

Match Odds (William Hill)

Scunthorpe – 4/5 Draw – 3/10 Peterborough – 11/4