By Connor Humm
Scunthorpe host Northampton in a FA Cup first round replay on Tuesday following a goalless draw at Sixfields stadium, with the victor facing a second round trip to Doncaster Rovers Keepmoat stadium.
In the only all-League One tie of the round, the two sides are expected to line up almost identically as the corresponding fixture.
Scunthorpe’s Josh Morris is due to be assessed after suffering a hamstring injury against Bristol Rovers at the weekend and Welshman Andrew Crofts is away on international duty. One positive could be captain Rory McArdle returning to the starting XI after being away with Northern Ireland.
It’s matchday! We travel to Glanford Park this evening for our Emirates FA Cup replay against Scunthorpe United pic.twitter.com/fcJNNDYfUg
— Northampton Town (@ntfc) November 14, 2017
The Cobblers have no fresh injury concerns but will be without suspended Matt Grimes after picking up a fifth booking against Oxford on Saturday. On-loan Manchester United youngster Regan Poole is away with Wales Under-21s so he is also unavailable for the replay.
Northampton manager Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink said: “We are going to try and put a really strong team together and we want to progress.
“We still have things we can improve on but if we keep on performing like we did on Saturday we will win matches.”
The Irons boss is looking at making the second round at the expense of his ex-Preston North End colleague in the opposite dugout.
Alexander said: “It is another game for us to go and win in another competition and we want to continue our run of form especially from the league.
“It is a tough encounter to go to any opponent, especially in the same division and I’m sure Northampton won’t disappoint us in that aspect.”
⚽️ Robert Lewis to referee this evening's FA Cup first round replay game against Northampton Town – https://t.co/KZtIO2Okm4 pic.twitter.com/OZoavbsfwP
— Scunthorpe United FC (@SUFCOfficial) November 14, 2017
Quickfire stats:
Officials: The referee is Robert Lewis with Nigel Smith and Stephen Wade as the assistant referees, while Daniel Middleton will be the fourth official. Both teams have only failed to score on one occasion in the past seven meetings between the sides. There has been less than 2.5 goals in four out of the last five match ups. Both sides have only made it to the second round once in the past three seasons.