ADVER Sport's preview of Swindon Town's next opponent: Scunthorpe United.

The Chalkboard

MANAGER Mark Robins insists that – for better or worse – Scunthorpe strive to play attacking football that is easy on the eye.

To that end, the Iron deploy a three-pronged attack, with their main threats coming from the outer prongs of that trident.

From the right, top-scorer Paddy Madden drifts inside in search of goals, making full use of his handy knack of popping up in the right place at the right time, demonstrated by his two clever finishes against Southend United last weekend.

Then from the left, United are able to call on the nous of former Coventry City man Gary McSheffrey.

The 33-year-old may no longer be the archetypal flying winger but the quality of his crosses and set-pieces are a vital weapon in the Scunthorpe armoury.

Likely Line-up

Swindon Advertiser:

A Man In Form: Paddy Madden

Swindon Advertiser:

YOU don’t need to look far to pinpoint the main man at Glandford Park right now.

After firing Yeovil Town into the Championship in 2013 at the end of a season where he scored 24 goals in all competitions for two different clubs, the Irish forward was brought back down to earth the next campaign.

Madden was transfer-listed by the Glovers and in January 2014, Scunthorpe plumped for his services.
The 25-year-old found the net five times as the Iron were promoted from League Two, and then the goals began to flow once more.

Last term, Madden got back in the groove by plundering 17 strikes and, despite operating primarily from the wing, the former Yeovil man has 12 goals to his name already.
Swindon’s back line will need to be at their sharpest.

The Treatment Room

Swindon Advertiser:

IRON manager Mark Robins may well be required to shuffle his pack ahead of his team’s visit to the County Ground this weekend.

Left-back Scott Laird – a summer signing from Preston North End – will miss out on renewing acquaintances with the side he helped dispatch in last season’s League One play-off final as he serves a one-match ban, received after picking up a fifth caution of the season in last weekend’s FA Cup victory over Southend United.

Meanwhile, fellow defenders Scott Wiseman and Charlie Goode were both forced off against the Shrimpers – Wiseman suffered a slight groin injury although Goode’s afternoon was only curtailed by cramp.

Veteran striker Darius Henderson also picked up a knock.

However, the Iron could be bolstered by the potential return of on-loan Tommy Rowe, whilst defender Niall Canavan and midfielder Jamie Ness are both in contention to feature against Town.

Form Guide

Sat, Oct 17
Skybet League 1
2-1 Win V Shrewsbury (H)

Tue, Oct 20
Skybet League 1
2-1 Defeat V Gillingham (A)

Sat, Oct 24
Skybet League 1
3-0 Win V Chesterfield (A)

Sat, Oct 31 
Skybet League 1
2-0 Win V 
Barnsley (H)

Sat, Nov 7
FA CUP Round 1
2-1 Win V 
Southend (H)

Goalscorers

Paddy Madden: 12
Gary McSheffrey: 4
Scott Laird: 2

Discipline

Scott Laird: 5Y
Jordan Clarke: 4Y
Paddy Madden: 4Y

The Stat

Town have failed to keep a clean sheet in 12 matches and have long surpassed their previous record for consecutive matches conceded in, previously eight.