Preview: Scunthorpe United vs. Bristol Rovers - prediction, team news, lineups

Scunthorpe United, who are currently in the relegation zone, will play host to Bristol Rovers on Tuesday and the home side enter the contest in low spirits after losing their last four games.

The visitors will be aiming to extend their unbeaten league run after collecting seven points from their last three League Two games.

Match preview

© Reuters

The Irons currently occupy 23rd place and after losing their last four matches, they find themselves six points adrift of safety.

Scunthorpe fell to their latest defeat on Saturday at home to Newport County, with a Courtney Baker-Richardson strike proving enough to guide the Exiles to a 1-0 victory.

As well as suffering another defeat, it was also the fourth game in a row that the Irons have failed to find the net, while in that period they have conceded on eight occasions.

With goals hard to come by, Scunthorpe are now the joint-worst scorers in the league with Carlisle United after scoring just 19 times in the league this season.

Unfortunately for Keith Hill's side, matters are not any better at the other end of the pitch, as they currently possess the worst defence in League Two having conceded 45 league goals, leaving the Irons requiring an improvement in attack and defence if they are to survive this season.

© Reuters

As for the visitors, they will be aiming to avoid defeat for a fourth consecutive league game, and their recent run of positive form has seen the Gas climb up to 15th place in League Two.

Despite holding the advantage of at least two games in hand over most sides, an 11-point gap to the top seven means that a playoff push may be too much of an ask for Joey Barton's men.

At the very least, Bristol Rovers will now be eyeing a top-half finish after losing just twice from their last nine league matches.

In their latest league outing, they returned from their trip to Swindon Town with a point, courtesy of Sam Finley's equaliser after Tyreece Simpson had given the hosts the lead.

Ahead of the midweek away trip, Barton will be looking for another solid away performance, with the Gas losing just once in their last seven away league matches.

Team News

© Reuters

Scunthorpe are without the services of Hayden Hackney, who is currently suspended.

After arriving on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers, Luke Matheson has started the Irons last two matches and is expected to feature at right wing-back on Tuesday.

Myles Hippolyte is set to return to the starting lineup and the 22-year-old will be partnered up front by Sam Burns.

Meanwhile, the visitors are still missing the injured duo of Alex Rodman and Harvey Saunders, while Alfie Kilgour is a doubt for Tuesday's contest after missing the Swindon trip with a knee problem.

After five months out due to injury, Leon Clarke made his long-awaited return with a late substitute appearance on Saturday, and the veteran striker will be on the bench once again for the Scunthorpe encounter.

Barton switched to a back four on Saturday, but could revert to a back three for the midweek fixture, where the Gas are expected to dominate possession.

Scunthorpe United possible starting lineup:

Watson; Onariase, Taft, Davis; Matheson, Perry, Rowe, Pugh, O'Malley; Burns, Hippolyte

Bristol Rovers possible starting lineup:

Belshaw; Taylor, Connolly, Harries; Anderson, Coutts, Finley, Evans, Grant; Collins, Loft

We say: Scunthorpe United 1-3 Bristol Rovers

After picking up seven points from their last three league games, Bristol Rovers head to Glanford Park with an air of confidence, and we think that they could ease to victory against a struggling Scunthorpe side.