Source: FOOTYMAD
Scunthorpe United Preview
Scunthorpe are sweating on the fitness of several players ahead of Friday's home game with Blackpool who themselves expect to welcome back three players from injury. Scunthorpe's David Mirfin and Grant McCann both suffered injuries in Sunday's win at Sheffield United, while Matt Sparrow missed out with a hamstring strain. Blackpool expect to welcome back from injury on-loan forward DJ Campbell and winger Hameur Bouazza are both fit again, while David Vaughan has made a swift recovery from a foot problem. Scunthorpe have hit form at just the right time as they battle to stay in the Championship, winning three consecutive matches to leave themselves within sight of safety. They are five points clear of the relegation zone and another win would take their points total to 50 - the tally usually enough to escape the drop. Blackpool's target is very different. Ian Holloway's side, who are seventh, have had a great season and are only four points away from the play-off spots after two successive wins. It leaves the Tangerines breathing down the necks of Holloway's former club Leicester, who are sixth, and still in with a chance of a place in the top flight for the first time since 1967. The Seasiders enhanced their hopes of a top-six finish by defeating Plymouth 2-0 at Home Park on Saturday. They are four points behind Leicester with six games remaining but Adam is remaining guarded about where his side will finish. The Scotland international, who scored his 16th goal of the season at Home Park, said: "We have got another tough game on Friday at Scunthorpe. "It's the old cliche about taking each game as it comes - but that's the case at the moment. "We did great at Plymouth but now we must continue to battle for points."MATCH FACTSHead-to-head• Blackpool are unbeaten in their last five matches against Scunthorpe. • Scunthorpe have gained one point against Blackpool since their last home win against them, which was a 1-0 triumph in April 2006. Scunthorpe• Scunthorpe are unbeaten in five home matches and have not lost at Glanford Park since Crystal Palace won there on 6 February. • The Iron have failed to score in only one of the last 16 home games. • West Brom and Middesbrough are the only clubs to have done the double over Scunthorpe so far this season. • Marcus Williams could make his 150th league start for the club. Blackpool• Blackpool won an away game for the first time in eight attempts at Plymouth last weekend. • The Seasiders have hit the woodwork 22 times in league matches this term. • Charlie Adam needs three more goals to reach 50 in his club career. He has had 117 attempts on goal this season, of which 55 have been on target. MOST RECENT MEETINGBlackpool 4-1 Scunthorpe (7 November 2009)Blackpool scorers: Evatt 59, Adam 64, Burgess 70, Baptiste 89. Scunthorpe scorer: Hayes 51.Oldham Athletic's on-loan striker Daniel Nardiello has returned to parent club Blackpool after sustaining a serious hamstring injury.The 27-year-old was stretchered off during his home debut against Leyton Orient and is almost certainly out for the rest of the season. Nardiello has spent much of his Blackpool tenure out on loan, including spells at Hartlepool and Bury. The striker netted four goals from six starts during his time at Gigg Lane. Source: BBC Sport, Team Talk.
