Laws calls for Chelsea spirit

Last updated : 21 September 2005 By Chris Mumby

Baraclough
Baraclough and Beagrie
Defender Richard Hinds (knee), midfielder Ian Baraclough (toe) and winger Peter Beagrie (hamstring) will not be risked so Cliff Byrne, Matt Sparrow and Wayne Corden will come into the side.

Tommy Johnson is a late absentee as well due to illness.

Also missing for the Iron are Steve Torpey (hamstring), Andy Butler (ankle), Jim Goodwin (ligament), and Tom Evans (finger).

Iron Juniors Dean Twibey and Rob Smith have been called up into the squad and will both be on the bench.

A bumper crowd will turn out hoping to see United humble a team containing the likes of England stars Emile Heskey and Matt Upson.

If they do so, it would prove to be a memorable night in the Iron's history and something that boss Brian Laws is going all out to do.

"We showed last season against Chelsea that we aren't fearful of the big boys. We went there to Stamford Bridge and took the game to them when we could," Laws told the Scunthorpe Telegraph.

"Against Birmingham we have home advantage in front of a big crowd and a big atmosphere. A lot of their players won't even know where Scunthorpe is."

Blues boss Steve Bruce will definitely be missing on-loan midfielder Nicky Butt, who was sent off in Saturday's 1-1 draw at fellow strugglers Portsmouth.

The Newcastle man has landed himself a three-match ban which starts with the Scunthorpe game.

Also very doubtful is fellow loanee Jiri Jarosik. Chelsea's Czech midfielder twisted his ankle after scoring in the game with Pompey. Ex-Leicester man Muzzy Izzet is in line to replace him.

The Turkish international has been eased slowly back into action by Bruce after a long lay-off following knee surgery last season.

The ex-Leicester midfielder is set to make his first start of the season in place of the suspended Nicky Butt and is eager to make an impact, after impressing as a substitute in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Portsmouth.

The Turkish international had endured a nightmare season with the Blues last year, after being dogged by knee problems.

Izzet told PA Sport: "I really do just want to put last season behind me and show the Birmingham fans what I am capable of. Last season was an absolute nightmare for me.

"You always want to do well when you come to a new club and I made a decent enough start but then the problems with the knee started.

"It was the first time I had ever been out for any period of time and it ended up dragging on for many months."

Two years ago Birmingham suffered a shock result in the same competition when they were beaten by Blackpool at Bloomfield Road through a Scott Taylor goal, and they will be hoping history doesn't repeat itself against an Iron side who, prior to Saturday's game with Doncaster, were in superb form.

An urge to bounce back strongly as well as home advantage for a United team who are unbeaten in 16 games at Glanford Park could well cause Birmingham a few problems and boss Steve Bruce isn't taking the Iron lightly, fielding his strongest possible side as he aims to win a tournament that could see his team qualify for Europe.

Bruce said: "I want to try and bring a bit of success to the club. What success is to this club, I don’t know. We have to win a trophy. Can we get to another final?"

Trevor Kettle will referee a game which could go to extra time if scores are level after 90 minutes. If scores are still level after that 30-minute period the match will go to penalties.