Boss Brian Laws wants Scunthorpe United to capitalise on Notts County's poor home form

SCUNTHORPE United have had their own problems on home turf this season, but now they are looking to make the most of someone else’s.

The Iron travel to Notts County on Saturday to face a team who had top six ambitions this term but currently sit 11th, nine points shy of the play-offs having been hampered by their form at Meadow Lane.

The Magpies have lost seven games on their own ground, just two less than United have suffered at Glanford Park.

The latest was a 1-0 reverse to Preston North End in midweek, with Scunthorpe boss Brian Laws among the spectators after his team’s trip to Bury had been postponed.

“I think at this moment in time they’re short of confidence, particularly at home,” he said of County.

“I think that’s one of the things concerning them.

“Away from home they’ve got a fantastic record, probably one of the best in the league.

“This is an opportunity for us to seize.

“Everybody was looking at Scunthorpe United’s home form and saying, it’s a good place to go and play.

“Notts County are in the same vein. They’re not winning enough games at home and we’ve got to seize on that and utilize the atmosphere because it does change very quickly if they’re not winning or if the opposition score.

“It seems to affect the players, so we’ve got to use that to our advantage as much as we possibly can.

“I’d love an early goal. The first goal’s always going to be important, particularly in a game like this.

“They’ll be disappointed with Tuesday’s performance and result, so they’ll want to try to put that right.

“It will be a tougher game for us on the back of that result, we know that. But if we go in with a good, strong mentality I think the players are in a good frame of mind to go there and win the game.”

Notts started the campaign on fire, losing just one of their first nine league games.

A dip towards the end of the year though, ultimately cost Keith Curle the manager’s role and saw Chris Kiwomya take charge, with a record of played nine, won two, drawn five and lost two.

United themselves, have only won one of their last five, but Laws insists they go into the game in confident mood, looking to bounce back from last Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Coventry City.

“I wouldn’t actually get out of my car if I didn’t think they were confident. And that goes for the players as well,” he said.

“There’s no point setting out there if you don’t feel confident you can win a game.

“We go into every game believing we can win it. The mindset of the players at the moment is that they’re very determined to turn the form around.

“With our performances over the last few games we haven’t got our just rewards. I think it’s important we maintain the hard work we’ve been doing, but going into this game we’ve got to believe we can go there and win.

“Looking at them at the start of the season and the way they set about it, I think everyone was expecting them to push for promotion this year, so I would say they’ve underachieved.

“Hence why the manager lost his job. They should have been in a better position.

“But what’s affected them has been their home form. Their away record is fantastic, yet their home record has been a hindrance to them.

“That’s why they’re not in the top six. Their home form has definitely been their Achilles heel.

“We have to capitalise on that tomorrow.”