Check out everything you need to know ahead of kick-off tonight in our full and in-depth preview of the action.
Scunthorpe United v Barrow
Tuesday 15th December 2020, 7pm
Sands Venue Stadium
Sky Bet League Two
In Opposition
Iron boss Neil Cox has had a challenging start to life in the Scunthorpe United dugout and they find themselves sitting 17th in the League Two table ahead of tonight’s meeting with Barrow.
Cox came through the ranks at Scunthorpe so fans were excited by his appointment in the summer after he was poached from Notts County where he had been acting as Neal Ardley’s assistant.
However, just one win in their first eight league outings saw them drop in to the division’s bottom two, though form has begun to improve since the middle of November.
Back-to-back Victories at Oldham Athletic and Port Vale were very welcome and a surprise 5-2 triumph at Harrogate Town at the start of December further boosted confidence in the camp.
Defeat at home to Colchester United was followed up by a disappointing defeat at Southend United last time out, so The Iron will be hoping to get back on track when they return to home soil tonight.
One To Watch
Ryan Loft has four goals to his name in all competitions so far this season after joining Scunthorpe United during the summer following his departure from Leicester City.
The 23-year-old front man actually spent last term on a season-long loan at our Cumbrian rivals Carlisle United before opting for a move to Sands Venue Stadium for 2020/21.
Loft scored in each of his first two games for The Iron and got back among the goals with strikes in their wins over Harrogate Town and Leyton Orient at the start of the month, so he needs well marshalling this evening.
Head To Head
The two clubs have met 22 times in competitive action previously but this evening’s encounter will be the first since the 1971/72 campaign.
The Iron have enjoyed the better of it in game between the clubs, having won 12 of the previous 22, while The Bluebirds have triumphed on six occasions.
Scunthorpe did the double when the sides last shared a division nearly 50 years ago, while you have to go back to February 1968 for Barrow’s last victory in North Lincolonshire.
Referee
Will Finnie will take charge of his first Barrow game this evening when he is on the whistle for our League Two meeting with Scunthorpe United.
He’s now in to his second season on the EFL list of referees having stepped up from the National League at the start of the 2019/20 campaign.
Finnie has overseen 15 games so far this term, across Leagues One and Two, with his most recent appointment coming last Tuesday when he saw MK Dons thrash Norwich City Under-21s 6-0 in the Papa John’s Trophy.
Betting
The bookies are struggling to separate the two sides ahead of tonight’s game with both Scunthorpe United and Barrow rated 8/5 for three points, while a draw is priced up at odds of 9/4.
Click here now to take a look at Sky Bet’s range of odds on this evening’s action.
Live Streaming
Match Passes to watch this evening’s game live on iFollow Barrow are now available – fans are reminded that Season Ticket holders do not get free access to away games.
You can buy a Match Pass to watch the action now priced at £10, while oversea supporters pay £7.
Click here now to buy your Match Pass for tonight.
Live Commentary
We will also provide an audio commentary of tonight’s game when we link up with BBC Radio Cumbria duo Adam Johnson and Mark Boyd, who will describe all the action as it unfolds.
You can purchase an Audio Match Pass for £2.50, an Audio Monthly Pass for £4.49 or sign-up for Audio Season Pass which provides all live commentary and video news for just £45.