INTERVIEW: We go in good spirits

"We're going there in very good spirits with the run we've been on and it's one we can look forward to," he said.

"They have had a decent run of form as well and Brian [Laws] has got them working very hard. They've picked up a couple of very good results at home so they'll be on a high.

"We've played them recently, and we've had them watched, so we know their strengths. We'll have some tired legs out there because it'll be a heavy pitch following the recent weather. That's the same for both sides though so we'll have to deal with it and make sure we work hard."

"We want to carry on with the very good work we've been doing recently so we'll be looking to go there and do everything we can to get the win," he told us. "They are fighting their own troubles so it could be that we see a real slog. 

"It doesn't get any tougher than Scunthorpe away on a wintry Tuesday night. It's one of those where the attitude has to be right and, if it is, then we should be confident of getting something.

"The confidence is there throughout the squad and everybody wants to be involved again. Apart from the longer term injury with Chris Chantler we're just about up to a full complement again and that can only ever be a good thing. It means we have a number of options and we have some thinking to do ahead of naming the team."

"I do think we're coming out of the other side of what has been a tough period for us all," he added. "We've had to be patient, and the fans have been brilliant with us for that, and hopefully we'll continue to pick the results up as we go on. 

"This is another big week for us, but that never changes. Every game is important because we want to win as many as we can. Scunthorpe is our next one, and we want to get it right, so our focus is there right now. Once we have Tuesday night out of the way we'll start to think about the journey to Portsmouth but, until then, we have to be mentally ready for what will be a difficult game against a team who have found a bit of form."