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Interview with a Scunthorpe fan
Friday, 7th Sep 2018 09:00 by Col

Scunthorpe away this weekend, so to get you in the mood, here's the lowdown on all things Scunthorpe United.

1. Who are you and how long have you supported Scunthorpe for?
I am Paul Crute and sports and Scunthorpe United reporter for the Scunthorpe Telegraph. I joined the paper in March 2014 as the side gained promotion from League Two and have followed them home and away over the last four seasons in League One.

2. What makes supporting Scunthorpe different to supporting any other team?

Scunthorpe are a unique team and there never seems to be a dull moment when they are involved. From 5-5 draws to two goalkeepers breaking their arms in the same match, something always seems to happen at the Iron.

They play at a proper old school ground of Glanford Park and have probably over achieved in the last 10 years, especially for a town and club of their size.

3. Having made the Play Offs last season, were Scunny fans hoping for something similar this season?

Over the past few seasons, the top six has always been the aim, with the ultimate goal of getting promotion.

Based on recent seasons, that again had to be the aim at the start of the season but with the departure of a number of high profile players and a slow pre-season, hopes were not as high.

With a stuttering start the top six look a long way off, especially with the way Peterborough, Portsmouth, Barnsley and Sunderland have started but there is more optimism under Stuart McCall.

He has to take it step by step but there is still a long way to go

4. Where did it go wrong for Nick Daws?

It was partly answered in the last question but the departure of a number of high profile players and not being able to replace them with the same quality. Scunthorpe paid the price for not getting promotion to the Championship.

A lot of the players that were signed came in the last week and a half of the transfer window so did not have time to gel during pre-season, which has shown in the matches so far.

After poor performances against Walsall and Doncaster, you would have expected a reaction but if anything they got worse with a 3-0 defeat at Sunderland and then the embarrassing 5-0 capitulation at home to Fleetwood — a team Scunthorpe should be competing with at the very least.

That result proved to be the final straw.

5. The Scunny of this season seems very different to last year’s. Is that right?
Yes. We have lost four key players in Murray Wallace who went to Millwall, Conor Townsend who joined West Brom, Hakeeb Adelakun who went to Bristol City and Duane Holmes who joined Derby.

The fact that all those players joined Championship clubs shows how important it was to get to the Championship last year.

Any team who loses four players of that quality are going to take time to adjust which is what has happened this year.

They also had Ivan Toney and Ryan Yates on loan last year who were a massive part of their run to the play-offs who have not returned to Glanford Park.

They have been a huge miss as well.

6. Stuart McCall has come in. His time at Bradford seemed to be somewhat mixed. Do Scunthorpe fans see him as being a good appointment?

I think they do as long as he plays two up top and plays an attacking brand of football that he is known for.

He was effectively sacked at Bradford for a bad six games as he was hardly ever out the top six during his time there.

He seems to have shorn up the defence and was refreshingly and brutally honest in his post-match assessment after Accrington.

7. Stephen Humphrys played for us last season, and many Dale fans would have liked us to have signed him again. How’s he done for you so far?

Very well considering the season Scunthorpe have had up to now.

He took his goal against Coventry on the opening day very well and scored a stunning goal against Doncaster in the League Cup.

He has been played out on the right, which is maybe not his natural position, and Scunthorpe fans would like to see him up top.

But has always looked bright and looks quick for someone who is quite a big unit as well

8. Any thoughts on Rochdale?

You seem to have a good mix of players with Callum Camps, Ian Henderson, Brad Inman and the recently signed Zach Clough.

I don’t think you will be in danger of relegation this season and if you pick up your home form you should be fine.

9. What tips can you give Dale fans making the trip to the Glanford Park this weekend?

Glanford Park is a very easy ground to get too as it is straight off the motorway.

There are plenty of places to eat round the ground with a Frankie and Benny’s, McDonalds, Pizza Hut and KFC all in short walking distance.

There is also the Old Farmhouse (a Hungry Horse pub) behind the ground the Berkeley Hotel is a short walk away, while there is also the Iron Bar at the ground.

10. Predictions for the game?

With Stuart McCall having another week to work with the players, we are hoping to see a better performance than we did at Accrington.

We have struggled at home so far this season, but will go for a 2-1 win to Scunthorpe.

Photo: Action Images



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