A WAY THROUGH THIS
MIDDLESBROUGH v SCUNTHORPE UNITED
Jonathan Way, 26 Dec 2009
Must Win.
After the Christmas heartache of losing 2-0 to the Geordies, Boro are now presented with a must win fixture against 19th placed Scunthorpe. Without a home victory for two months, Gordon Strachan must start putting things right on Boxing Day if we are to have any chance of gaining promotion.
Since their last meeting with Middlesbrough back in August, things haven't got much better for the Iron. They have won just five of their 18 League games. However, Scunthorpe manager Nigel Adkins will be confident as they are bringing a four match unbeaten run to the Riverside.
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David Wheater v David Mirfin
Since the return of Pogatetz to the centre of defence, Wheater has certainly looked a more confident and better player. The Redcar Rock will have been gutted with the way Boro lost at St James' Park, but he will know how important the Scunthorpe game is for Strachan to get his first home win.
The 24-year-old didn't have the best of debuts for the Iron, getting sent off after just 10 minutes. Following a disappointing performance against Reading a fortnight ago, Mirfin will be looking to claim his third clean sheet of the season on Boxing Day.
Gary O'Neil v Grant McCann
Our midfield dynamo was definitely one of our better players last Sunday and was unlucky not to draw us level with his troubling free kick. All Middlesbrough fans will have been thrilled to hear of his two year contract extension this week as O'Neil remains one of our most important players.
The Northern Irish footballer will be hoping to end his goal drought on Teesside as his last goal came way back in October. Scunthorpe's penalty taker will no doubt pose a real threat to us in midfield, where it is clear we have lacked during this campaign.
Mark Yeates v Josh Wright
After being voted Boro's man of the match against Cardiff, Yeates surprisingly found himself on the bench ahead of the Tyne-Tees derby. Fans have been wondering this week what our number seven has to do to make the starting eleven but, especially with Johnson injured, he must start against the Iron.
The 20-year-old was one of Adkins's more impressive players at the Madejski Stadium as the young playmaker commanded the midfield for Scunthorpe in their 1-1 draw. Having started every game this season, the Iron certainly grabbed a bargain with Wright's free transfer in the summer.
Leroy Lita v Gary Hooper
Leroy looked like one of our only players who was ever going to get us back into the game against the Geordies. With Kitson soon going back to Stoke, Strachan will be relying on Lita to get the goals on Saturday as our manager looks for his team to score their first goal in four fixtures.
Scunthorpe's number ten had a very successful debut season at Glanford Park, scoring nine goals in his opening 11 appearances. Hooper rescued a crucial point for the Iron at Reading to make it two goals in his last three games and seven goals for the campaign so far.
With both sides coming into this clash having won just one of their previous eight, this should be a close and unpredictable game. Hopefully Strachan will have drilled some pride and passion into the dressing room and the players will come out raring to go for what is a must win game.
Despite the Scunthorpe players having a week off and being more match fit due to their postponed game at the weekend, I think the outcome of this match will be the same result when these sides met back in August; 2-0 Middlesbrough.
