After a 12 month stay in the Championship in 2007/08 Scunthorpe have returned for another crack at the first time of asking.

Last Season: 6th in League One, promoted via play offs, JP Trophy finalists Relegated from the Championship in 2007/08, Scunthorpe made an immediate return to the second tier after squeezing into the play off places with just four minutes of the season remaining. The Iron looked like they would take one of the automatic promotion spots at the turn of the year with their usual brand of attractive, passing football and lethal strike force Hayes and Hooper proving to be too much for most to cope with. Consecutive wins against Rotherham, Oldham, Orient and most impressively at Millwall in January suggested momentum was with them however they were poor through the spring, winning just one of their next eight league games at a time when teams all around them were making a move. That meant that come May even a play off place was in doubt and, in a battle very similar to the one we endured/enjoyed in 2002/03, it came down to them and Tranmere Rovers for the final spot in the six, with Tranmere at Glanford Park on the final day of the season. Cliff Byrne’s 86th minute equaliser sealed the spot for Scunny and they never looked back, beating favourites MK Dons in the semi final on penalties. The new Wembley has seen some dire games since its completion, but there was no talk of the wrong kind of grass at Scunthorpe’s two games there last season. The 3-2 JP trophy defeat by Luton in April was exhilarating and the 3-2 win against Millwall in the play off final was right up there with the great Wembley games. Scunthorpe’s fans may have been outnumbered five to one on the day, and Gary Alexander’s 35 yarder just before half time was probably the enduring image of the day, but when Alexander missed a late sitter it gave Scunthorpe the chance to seal a win their performance on the day, and throughout the season, thoroughly deserved.

Head to Head: QPR took four points from Scunthorpe when the pair met in the league in 2007/08. At Glanford Park Akos Buzsaky was a cut above anything else on the field as his two spectacular long range goals put QPR in the driving seat. However rank defending from the legendary Malcolm, Rehman, Stewart and Barker back four allowed Scunthorpe back into the game first through Martin Paterson and then, in bizarre circumstances, Jonathan Forte after half time. At Loftus Road relegation haunted Scunthorpe took a shock lead when Grant McCann curled in a free kick but a controversial penalty just before half time was converted by Rowlands and free flowing moves late in the second half brought further goals for Agyemang and Vine to seal a 3-1 win.
Scunthorpe 2 QPR 2
QPR 3 Scunthorpe 1

Odds: Scunthorpe are widely tipped for bottom spot by the bookies with title odds ranging from 100/1 with Ladbrokes, Skybet, tote and others, up to 200/1 with Boyle.

Manager: “Who needs Mourinho, we’ve got our physio” is the oft quoted Glanford Park chant about Nigel Adkins, but during the past three seasons the likeable Merseysider has shown himself to be so much more than a quick fix or cheap option he seemed at the time of his appointment. Adkins did have managerial experience when he took over from Brian Laws midway through the 2006/07 campaign - albeit in the League of Wales where he won two titles with Bangor. However it is true that he was indeed the magic sponge man at Glanford Park when he got the main job. Scunthorpe were pushing for promotion with a team that Laws had built when he upped sticks and went to Sheffield Wednesday with his assistant Russ Wilcox. That, and the January transfer window departure of Andy Keogh to Wolves, seemed to be the start of a typical Scunthorpe collapse - Glanford Park is the only ground where I have seen a home side twice throw away a three goal lead, against Cambridge United and Carlisle, I saw Rotherham come from four down to four three there once as well, Scunthorpe just seem to enjoy the drama. For once though they held firm, in fact they actually improved. Adkins picked up a young Jermaine Beckford from Leeds in the loan market to replace Keogh and sealed the title with three games to spare, six points ahead of Bristol City. When Scunthorpe were promoted from Division Three to Division Two early in Laws’ reign the first thing they did was immediately lose John Eyre and Jamie Forrester, the strikers that got them there. After promotion to the Championship Billy Sharp followed Andy Keogh out of the exit door and despite the transfer fees received Scunthorpe would not meet Leeds’, at the time meagre, asking price for Beckford. The club’s knack of picking up quality front men continued with the signing of Martin paterson, who will play in the Premiership next season for Burnley, but it was not enough to prevent an immediate return to League One. Back they came though. Student of psychology and eternally optimistic Adkins led them through last season with a smile on his face and yet another 25+ goal hitman in his arsenal - so far this summer they have managed to hold onto Gary Hooper and Adkins will be hoping that is enough to make a better fist of things this time. Even if it isn’t, he’s unlikely to be sacked by a notoriously patient and realistic board led by Steve Wharton who, as if to deliberately reinforce northern stereotypes, appeared on the field for the after match celebrations at MK Dons last May wearing a flat cap.
Survival Chances - 7/10

Players: Scunthorpe’s knack of picking up quality goalscorers is remarkable. During the last decade Jamie Forrester, John Eyre, Paul Hayes, Martin Carruthers, Billy Sharp, Martin Paterson and now Gary Hooper have all scored prolifically for the Iron - in that time QPR have had John Spencer and Andy Thomson. Scunthorpe’s problem, with a tiny average attendance and strict budget to keep the club alive, has been hanging onto the talent. Even when their goals have fired Scunthorpe up a division the likes of Forrester, Eyre, Hayes and Sharp have jumped ship rather than stay to fight at the new level. So far, despite interest and rumour, the Iron appear to have hung onto their latest goal scoring sensation Gary Hooper for the new season and he is probably their best hope of survival. When they were last promoted to this division Billy Sharp was the key man but he has since flopped at Sheff Utd and is now transfer listed - possibly that plays on the mind of clubs looking at Hooper, or maybe even Hooper himself. Martin paterson scored 14 times for Scunthorpe in their relegation season, Hooper must push beyond that if they are to survive this time. As ever with Scunthorpe strikers there had been little indication before his arrival of what was to come, Hooper was a bit part player at Southend in 2007/08. There’s just something in the Lincolnshire air it seems.

Hooper tailed off towards the end of last season and suffered with injuries during the play offs leaving the rest of the team to excel. Paul Hayes got 19 goals himself last season but has struggled to score in this league before with Barnsley and Scunthorpe. The stand out performer the last time Scunthorpe were at Loftus Road, and a proven talent in this league with both the Iron and Barnsley, is Northern Ireland international midfielder Grant McCann. A terrific set piece taker and goal scorer from midfield Scunthorpe can rely on him to provide some much needed quality. Wembley born youth team product Matt Sparrow scored twice at Wembley and former York City man Martin Woolford was man of the match but both may find the step up tough to make. Goalkeeper Joe Murphy is an outstanding talent and although he went back to League One with Scunthorpe last time, it’s unlikely Championship managers will let that happen again should Scunny drop straight back again.

The main additions this summer are Michael O’Connor, a combative midfielder and product of Crewe’s famous youth set up who is likely to partner McCann in midfield, and giant centre half Rob Jones from Hibs. With Krystian Pearce going back to Birmingham at the end of last season following a loan deal, and crusty old Andy Crosby returned to the side for the play offs, a centre half was a top priority for Scunthorpe this summer and they have smashed their transfer record to get him here - an undisclosed fee that is rumoured to rise as high as £600k depending on clauses. Jones, who measures 6ft 7ins, impressed in the English leagues for Grimsby and Stockport before three seasons with Hibs and has been linked with a move back ever since. Regular readers know my opinion of Scottish football of course and his previous outstanding performances in England came in leagues One and Two making this a risky purchase, but one Scunthorpe had to make.
Likely Star Player: Joe Murphy

Transfers:
In:
Michael O'Connor from Crewe Alexandra - £225,000
Rob Jones from Hibernian - Undisclosed
Adam Boyes from York City - Undisclosed
Josh Wright from Charlton Athletic - Free
Out:
Joe Wilcox - Released
Michael Lea - Released

Prediction: You would not expect a northern man in a flat cap to throw his money around, and Scunthorpe chairman Steve Wharton won’t disappoint you. Scunthorpe are a well run club that sticks to a budget and with average gates likely to be around the 6000 mark next season that presents Nigel Adkins with a massive problem. The Iron will work off the smallest budget in the league by some considerable distance and are surely set for a season of struggle. To survive they need Hooper to stay, and score, McCann to stay fit, Rob Jones to be a success and Joe Murphy to continue his flying form of the last couple of seasons. If that happens it gives them a strong spine to the side. They will surprise a few teams, and win friends with their style of football, but I would expect them to find it very tough away from home so any problems with the form at Glanford Park is likely to be fatal.
Verdict: A better chance than last time, but still bottom three material.

Photo: Action Images

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