F.A Cup fever is hitting the nation this weekend as teams from every division battle it out for this historic piece of silverware; and none more so than Everton and Scunthorpe.Both teams have not had a very good league campaign and a good run in the cup could see their spirits lifted.
Scunthorpe have home advantage, with the match taking place at Glandford Park but, after a bad first half to the season, Championship survival is now key for them. They sit one place off the bottom of the Championship, and with new manager Ian Baraclough taking over in September; a good cup run is vital and could get Scunthorpe up and running.
Meanwhile, after a hard-fought victory against Tottenham on Wednesday night, Everton will be in a more positive frame of mind after a mixed season. They lie eleventh in the Premier League table and know just how valuable a run in the cup can be, with them reaching the final in 2009. Scunthorpe will be the underdogs, but in the F.A Cup anything can happen, as Everton are much aware of. With losses to Shrewsbury Town and Bury in the past, the Toffee’s won’t be taking anything for granted.
Everton have a strong squad available for the visit to Scunthorpe. However, they will still be without Phil Jagielka, whose injured hamstring is still causing problems, while Aussie Tim Cahill is on International duty with the Soccoroo’s at the Asia Cup until at least the end of January.
Scunthorpe’s captain Cliff Byrne is a doubt after having trouble with nerves in his back, but defender Rob Jones is set to return following trouble with sciatic trouble in his back. Yet Winger Gary Thompson could miss out because of a groin injury, as the struggling Championship side look to cause an upset against David Moyes’ toffees.
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