Scunthorpe United are set to embark upon a new era when Rovers travel on Saturday for the Emirates FA Cup first round tie.
Manager Neil Cox was sacked by the club earlier in the week. The club decided to part ways with Cox just 14 months after hiring the former Watford and Middlesbrough defensive standout. Taking over as caretaker manager is Tony McMahon, already a member of the coaching staff.
The Irons decided to make the move and sack Cox after taking just 11 points from the team’s first 15 matches in Sky Bet League Two, leaving the club bottom of the table and three points behind Stevenage in the relegation zone.
Before registering a 2-1 win at home to Crawley Town on 23 October, Scunthorpe had not won a match since collecting a 1-0 win over Tranmere Rovers at Sands Venue Stadium on 28 August.
In the Emirates FA Cup, Irons enjoyed a brief positive spell from 2016-18, but has failed to register a win in the last two years. The last win for the Irons in the annual event was a 2-1 win at home to Burton Albion on the first round, before ultimately suffering a 1-0 defeat to Shrewsbury in the second round.
With wins against Southend United (2-1) and Leyton Orient (3-0) in a replay following an earlier 0-0 draw at the Sands Venue Stadium, the Irons advanced to the third round against defending Premier League champions Chelsea. Chelsea would defeat Scunthorpe United, 2-0 at Stamford Bridge in the third round.
Since 2013, Scunthorpe United has amassed a record of five wins, eight losses and six draws – including advancing on penalties (14-13) in a second round replay against Worcester City.
The Irons have, in fact, faced Doncaster Rovers in the FA Cup, with Rovers taking a 3-0 win at The Keepmoat Stadium in a second round tie on 3 December 2017.
Scunthorpe United enter the weekend having won just two of their last 15 matches, adding nine losses and four draws in their current form across all competitions. The Irons have conceded the most goals (29) in the league, and are tied for the least amount of goals scored, joining Stevenage, Oldham Athletic and Carlisle United with just 11 goals scored in the campaign. In the month of October alone, Scunthorpe United was outscored 19-6 by their opponents. This includes matches in which the Irons were defeated 6-1 (away to Harrogate Town), 4-1 (away to Rotherham in the Papa John’s Trophy) and 3-0 (away to Newport County) in a span of seven days to kick-start the Halloween month.
Forwards Ryan Loft and Jake Scrimshaw join defender Harry Davis as the team’s top goal scorers with two this season.