MATCH PREVIEW: Southend United (A)

The Iron are back in action for a trip down to Southend United as they look to get their first win of the 2026-27 season.

Last time out on opening day, Scunthorpe hosted Yeovil Town, and it was the visitors who took the lead; a goal from Mason Obeng broke the deadlock. After Andy Butler made multiple substitutes in an attempt to turn the game around, debutant who was, one of the five players brought on, Luke Brennan, netted in the 89th minute to get an equaliser, scoring a curled effort from the left side of the box. Southend United got three points on opening day, on an away trip to Altrincham. Altrincham took the lead in the eighth minute, but the Shrimpers fought back to win 3-1 with goals from Leon Chambers-Pavillion, Oliver Coker, and Harry Cardwell.

Last season the Seasiders didn’t have a bad season, finishing in the play-offs in sixth place on 81 points, just one point behind 5th placed Iron. In both sides' meetings, it was Andy Butler’s side who came out on top, the teams met twice in the league, once in a play-off quarter-final, and the Iron won all three matches. The first meeting was late September, in Southend, and two goals from Alfie Beestin and Tyrell Sellars-Fleming in the space of five minutes were the only goals of the game in a 2-0 victory. In the reverse fixture and in the play-off quarter-final at the Attis Arena, both games had an identical scoreline as the Iron won 1-0, thanks to a first-half Cal Roberts goal in each game.

This season the Shrimpers have a new head coach, ex-Premier League footballer Kieron Dyer, taking his first senior lead managerial role. An important player for our opposition is one of the players who scored on opening day, Oliver Coker. The midfielder netted five goals and assisted seven last season and is already off the mark for this season, and will be looking to stay in form and build on his good start.

The Shrimpers have also added to their forward ranks with the addition, 29-year-old Ryan Colclough. Many Iron fans will remember his spell between 2018-2021 where he made 48 appearances for Scunthorpe.

With both sides looking to get the three points, this is a huge match, especially for the Iron as we look to get our first victory of the season.