Pompey told: Scunthorpe better than 17th place suggests Friday, 23rd Nov 2018 18:44 by pompey-fans.com staff Pompey head to Scunthorpe aiming to avoid their usual fate there - but manager Kenny Jackett is expecting a stiff test. He does not want his players to be fooled by the Iron's position in the bottom half of the League One table - saying there are a number of teams below halfway who are good sides and who can be expected to have an upturn in form soon. The Blues will arrive at Glanford Park two points clear at the top of the table, while Scunthorpe are 17th, having won only five of their 18 games so far. Jackett told The News: 'Scunthorpe are a side you usually associate with competing at the top end of the division. Over a recent period they have been doing that and they'll be looking at getting back to that. ‘They have an experienced manager in Stuart McCall and a good squad of players. I'm not surprised (by Scunthorpe's league position). If you look at Oxford, they were a team that were well fancied and they have only just really pulled out of the relegation places. ‘Bristol Rovers and Plymouth, there are some big clubs down there. It's a competitive division. It's a division I know very well and I do know that you have to be at your very best all of the time. ‘Consistency, attitude and approach are everything to keep you in there and hunting with the big boys at the top of the league.’ Jackett will be without Dion Donohue and Joe Mason but has Brett Pitman fit again after a minor knee problem. The boss says his troops are ready for a hectic period of games after a blank weekend last week. He told the Pompey website: 'It was most unusual to have a Saturday with no game, but the players had a few days off and the staff have done some scouting. 'It was somewhat frustrating because we wanted to keep the momentum going, although we’ve tried to use the break positively and want to pick up where we left off. Now we’ve had the squad back for a really good week of training as we work towards the Scunthorpe match. 'It’s an exciting month ahead and with the number of fixtures we’ve got, it’s going to be a big challenge. But the group are ready for that and that’s why you get involved in football — to be part of these big games.”
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