Out-of-form Scunthorpe United host relegation-threatened Southend United

Embed from Getty Images

Scunthorpe United plays host to a Southend United side who are desperate for the points as they look to escape the bottom two.

The Iron look to have all but sealed their place in League Two next season as they sit comfortably in mid-table, manager Neil Cox will be looking to use these final 12 games to get his team into a good run of form heading into next season.

The Shrimpers on the other hand find themselves in a spot of bother, they currently sit in 23rd place and are five points adrift of safety despite playing two games more than Barrow. Southend have the worst goal-scoring record in the league but this will have to change if they want to survive come the end of the season.

Team news

Scunthorpe midfielder Jem Karacan had to come off in midweek so he may well be a doubt for the game on Saturday.

Defender Emmanuel Onariase has missed the last few games through injury but could be in contention to return to the squad.

For Southend, goalkeeper Mark Oxley will be back in contention after completing his rehabilitation although it might be a game too soon.

Terrell Egbri has also been back in and getting game time for the U23’s so he may be in the squad but manager Mark Molesley confirmed that striker Nile Ranger wouldn’t return until pre-season after undergoing groin surgery.

Scunthorpe United manager Neil Cox is focusing on what his side can do and isn’t concerned about how Southend United will set up:

“I was disappointed with the result down there earlier in the season, when we were beaten 1-0 and there was nothing in the game – one mistake cost us,” Cox told the Scunthorpe United website.

They might set up in a couple of different ways but it’s all about what we do, and creating lot of chances while also defending well and having our midfield players picking up loads of second balls.”

Southend United manager Mark Molesley is confident of his team putting together a good run of form:

“We’re in a results business and we need to win football games,” Molesley told the Southend United website.

“I can’t keep saying the performances are positive because we haven’t picked up the points that we should have done.

“But the more positive the performances, the more chance you have of winning.

“We’re very close of hopefully going on a very good run, I’m convinced we’re going to do that and starting on Saturday.”

Head-to-head

These two sides have met ten times in the last six years with both sides winning five games each. Throughout these last ten meetings, the hosts has been victorious in all ten.

The last meeting between the two sides ended in a 1-0 victory for the Shrimpers at Roots Hall with on-loan Arsenal midfielder James Olayinka scoring the winner with 10 minutes to go.

Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt