Blackburn Rovers vs Scunthorpe United. Sky Bet League One.
Ewood ParkAttendance12,784.
Friday 29 December 2017 11:47, UK
Blackburn are hopeful Dominic Samuel will be back in the squad to face Scunthorpe.
The striker has missed Rovers' previous two fixtures with illness having failed a fitness test for the Boxing Day win over Rochdale. Tony Mowbray's absentee list is clearing after he welcomed Charlie Mulgrew, Corry Evans and Elliott Bennett back into his ranks against Dale.
Defender Darragh Lenihan (foot) is expected to be back soon too, leaving just Harry Chapman (hamstring) on the sidelines.
Scunthorpe will again be without the suspended Neal Bishop. The midfielder serves the final game of a three-match suspension following his sending-off against MK Dons on December 16. Midfielder Funso Ojo, recently back from a slight hamstring injury, is pushing for a start after producing a fine performance from the bench during the second half of the Iron's first win at Blackpool for 17 years on Boxing Day.
Striker Lee Novak (ankle) returned to Scunthorpe's squad for the clash at Bloomfield Road, making a late nine-minute cameo, but may have to settle for a place on the bench again at Ewood Park.
This will be just the fourth meeting between these two sides in the Football League, all of which have taken place in the third tier; Blackburn are unbeaten against Scunthorpe (W2 D1) and will be looking complete a league double over the Iron having claimed a 1-0 victory at Glanford Park earlier this season.
Scunthorpe have scored just one goal in their three league matches against Blackburn, conceding five, four of which were conceded during the 1972/73 season.
Danny Graham has had a hand in four goals in his last four league starts against Scunthorpe (three goals, one assist).
No League One side has gained more points from losing positions this season than Scunthorpe, but opponents Blackburn have lost just two points from leading positions - only Portsmouth fair better having lost no points in games they have taken the lead.
