Article: Barrie McAuliffe

Cardiff City travel to Scunthorpe on Saturday as the first team to visit Glanford Park since their relegation to League One was confirmed.

The version of the Iron side set to stand in our way is yet to be unveiled. On one hand we could face a squad still in low spirits and morale after their relegation fate was decided away in a 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace. On the other we could be presented with a team free of league pressures and a group of players looking to the shop window approach in a bid to remain at this level - and there's nothing like the prospect of beating FA Cup finalists to get your name in the national newspapers on a Monday morning in April.

The answer of course will be made clear from 3pm on Saturday, though an early indication into the mood of the North Lincolnshire outfit was made by Iron centre-back Andy Butler.

Butler is confident that Scunthorpe can record their first win in over a month this weekend, telling the club's official website, "Cardiff have one eye on the FA Cup final now, so if we can rough them up a little bit you never know. We could turn them over. We did really well at their place, and we will be looking to do the same on Saturday. You never know, they might not fancy a battle against Scunthorpe."

While only picking up three away wins all season Scunthorpe recorded one of their draws at Ninian Park in October while the Bluebirds were floundering in the league. Stephen McPhail had given 'City the lead after thirty seven minutes, latching on to Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink's cross. But the visitors levelled ten minutes after the interval when Cardiff failed to clear Kevan Hurst's cross and Jim Goodwin fired home from twelve yards.

Despite season long form preventing Scunthorpe's Championship status for 2008/09, their recent home form has been far better, picking up two wins, two draws and a defeat from the last five, ranking twelfth in the league for the same number of matches played on home soil. The Iron have also bagged the scalps of both Plymouth and Charlton at home, meaning the result on the weekend should never be considered a foregone conclusion.

Last at Glanford Park were struggling Sheffield Wednesday with the point apiece not the ideal outcome for both, though try telling that to Owls fans if Wednesday survive by a single point or goal difference.

Then came the fateful loss to Crystal Palace, after which Iron boss Nigel Adkins said, "We have to keep going. We've three games left and I want to win all of them. I don't want to finish bottom of the table. We still have a game plan in place and that involves us trying to win as many games as possible.

"I'm very proud of the way my players have competed in the Championship this season. I think there have only been two games when we didn't compete. Maybe as individuals some of my players are not good enough to play in the Championship. But nearly all of them are under contract and we'll look to improve."

Scunthorpe squad v Eagles: Murphy, Byrne, Iriekpen, Butler, Williams, Forte, McCann (Hayes 62), Goodwin, Morris, Paterson, Horsfield (Weston 71). Subs Not Used: Lillis, Hobbs, May

After the Cardiff visit, Scunthorpe face a daunting trip to Watford before playing fellow relegated Colchester on the final day.

Cardiff of course will be looking for three points with everything still to play for in the league play-off chase. On the radar after the match will be the results of Crystal Palace, Ipswich, Wolves, Charlton and Plymouth. Here's hoping that we can rush to the radio with high spirits ourselves.

Saturday's fixtures

Barnsley v Leicester

Blackpool v Sheff Wed

Colchester v Coventry

Norwich v West Brom

Plymouth v Preston

QPR v Charlton

Scunthorpe v Cardiff

Sheff Utd v Hull

Southampton v Burnley

Stoke v Bristol City

Watford v Crystal Palace

Wolverhampton v Ipswich