Cats seek to get their claws into the Iron
SUNDERLAND will be looking to secure their second straight league win at the Stadium of Light when they entertain Scunthorpe United this afternoon.
The match is the first time that the two sides have faced each other since Sunderland ran out 1-0 winners over the Iron in a Division Two match at Roker Park in 1963.
Although the Black Cats have picked up four points from their first two league games they have not had things all their own way and had to rely on a last-gasp Lynden Gooch goal to prevail over Charlton Athletic in the season’s opener.
Jack Ross’ side could also have returned home from newly promoted Luton Town without a point last weekend had Dan Potts not headed wide late on for the Hatters.
Sunderland are expected to welcome back Glenn Loovens and Adam Matthews after the pair missed Thursday night’s EFL Cup defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, while Ethan Robinson and Dylan McGeouch are both pushing to make their first starts of the season for the home side.
However, Sunderland will once again be without Donald Love, Tom Flanagan, Jerome Sinclair and Charlie Wyke who all miss out through injury.
After suffering heartbreak in the League One play-off semi-finals last season, Scunthorpe showed little signs of being discouraged when they put in an impressive performance in a 2-1 victory at Coventry in the campaign’s opening game.
A draw at home to Walsall last weekend wasn’t as positive for the Iron, but at least kept them unbeaten.
Nick Daws’ visitors are sweating on the fitness of Cameron Borthwick-Jackson after the defender limped off in Tuesday’s cup defeat against Doncaster with a dead leg.
Scunthorpe will definitely be without goalkeeper Matt Gilks and defensive midfielder Funso Ojo for the trip to the Stadium of Light.