A look to Friday night’s clash at Scunthorpe United…
By Matty Paddock - 29/08/2024
Posted 2 years ago
HARRIERS travel to Scunthorpe for a tasty looking Friday night encounter in National League North.
Both the sides have begun the season well, but none more so than the Iron who are presently undefeated in their league action across five games.
Four wins against Brackley, Marine, Needham Market and South Shields have seen them assume the early leaders’ position at the top of the table.
They drew their other match, at home to Chorley, a day on which they conceded their only goal thus far in the campaign.
It sets up Phil Brown’s men for a sizable task on Friday night, though they do sit just behind United in second place.
Phil Brown said of the hosts: “Scunthorpe are a force to be reckoned with, they always have been.
“It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve been to Scunthorpe, it’s always been League football, whether it be EFL or even higher.
“It is always a tough challenge and it is never an easy place to go – they’re called the Iron for a reason, they’re solid characters and they have solid teams, and well organised teams, and nothing will change.”
Harriers were beaten 2-1 at Warrington last weekend but bounced back in superb style on Monday with a 4-0 thumping of Oxford City at Aggborough.
That will have no doubt provided a real confidence boost for the Reds, and Brown added: “We are going to go there with a brand of football that will hopefully cause them problems, and confidence always causes problems.
“When you’ve got confidence oozing out of your pores in your own changing room, you’ve got to make sure you keep a hold of that confidence and point it in the right direction.
“The right direction is trying to win the game on Friday night.”
Brown did confirm that Harriers will have to make the trip to Scunthorpe without the services of loan striker Ben Beresford.
The Birmingham City loanee suffered a hamstring injury and will be out of action for a number of weeks.
Amari Morgan-Smith will also miss Friday’s clash as he continues to go through the relevant concussion protocols following his injury earlier this month, but the boss did add that the Harriers No. 9 is edging closer to a return.
Friday marks the eleventh meeting between these two teams, but the first in non league.
Ten previous match-ups in what is now League 2 were played out between 2000 and 2005, with the Iron winning on five occasions.
A Gary Birch goal in 2005 wasn’t enough to stop a 2-1 defeat for Harriers in the last clash between the clubs, while Kelvin Langmead’s dramatic late winner at Aggborough four months prior helped Jan Molby’s outfit to a 3-2 victory.
Kick-off on Friday is at 7:45pm, and those not able to make the journey can watch the game at The Harriers Arms.
Match tickets for this game can be purchased online, in advance, from scunthorpe-united.co.uk, or on the night of the game but be mindful that, as with many grounds, it is cheaper to buy online. Scunthorpe have asked us to reenforce that message to avoid queues and delays on the night. Please be aware that there are no cash turnstiles at the ground.
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