Scunthorpe vs Swindon preview
Thursday 2 April 2020 11:39, UK
Andy Butler is set to make his second debut for Scunthorpe in their League Two season opener against Swindon.
The veteran defender has rejoined his first club 11 years after leaving and is poised to go straight into the side.
Manager Paul Hurst has a decision to make in goal having rotated Rory Watson and Jake Eastwood during pre-season. Of his new signings, Kgosi Ntlhe, Yann Songo'o, Alex Gilliead, Regan Slater and John McAtee appear the most likely to start, while Ryan Colclough is working his way back to full fitness.
Swindon will be without Cameron McGilp and Danny Rose. McGilp was sidelined for much of last season with an ankle injury while Rose is expected to miss the first couple of matches of the campaign after having an operation to remove a metal screw.
Boss Richie Wellens will consider Keshi Anderson, who was told he will be sold if the right offer is made after being excluded from the pre-season trip to La Manga for disciplinary reasons. Wellens has nine new signings at his disposal while he may give youngster Scott Twine a place in the matchday squad following his return from a loan spell in Ireland.
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Scunthorpe United have won each of the last three league clashes with Swindon, with this their first meeting since the Iron won 2-1 in April 2017.
Swindon will travel to Scunthorpe for a fourth-tier clash for the first time since November 1985, when the Robins ran out 2-0 winners.
Scunthorpe ended the 2018-19 season with just one win from their last 14 League One games (D3 L10), whilst they are currently winless in their last nine league matches - they last went 10 games without a victory in the EFL between February and April 2018.
Swindon have won each of their last five opening day fixtures in the EFL - the only side enjoying a longer winning run on the opening day across the top four tiers of English Football is Manchester City (8).
Michael Doughty netted a hat-trick on the opening day last season, including two penalties in added time (96th and 98th minute) to earn Swindon a 3-2 victory against Macclesfield.
