Byrne loss will be a 'massive blow'
SCUNTHORPE United could be without captain Cliff Byrne for almost half of their remaining games this season.
The defender is likely to be hit with a five-match ban by the Football Association after being sent off for the third time this term in Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Ipswich Town.
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Cliff Byrne
Byrne saw red in the 69th minute at Portman Road following an altercation with Tractor Boys winger Jack Colback just inside the Iron half.
It was a decision which looked harsh at the time and was one to which the Irishman pleaded his innocence to manager Nigel Adkins.
Ipswich defender Damien Delaney also saw red 11 minutes after the United man in what was an equally questionable decision.
Byrne, who previously saw red in the away defeats at Middlesbrough and West Brom, declined to comment after the game, but Adkins later revealed it was an incident against which his side would appeal.
With television replays though failing to provide conclusive evidence, it may prove in vain, meaning a 'massive blow' to United's survival hopes.
"Is it a sending off? Isn't it a sending off? We will appeal it," said a defiant Adkins, whose side were sunk by substitute Connor Wickham's injury-time goal.
"Cliff is adamant the player has just run into him from a shoulder charge point of view.
"I haven't spoken to the referee, so I don't know what he has sent him off for. But it was a straight red card, so one can only imagine it is for violent conduct.
"Losing him for five games at this stage of the season would be a massive blow for us."
A further concern to Scunthorpe's survival hopes surrounds top scorer Gary Hooper's fitness.
He sat out the defeat at Portman Road with a groin problem, despite having had two weeks to rest ahead of the game and is likely to miss Wednesday's visit to table-topping Newcastle.
But Adkins is hopeful Hooper will be available for the crunch home clashes with bottom two Plymouth and Peterborough.
"We'll have to wait and see about Gary, but I'd like to think he'll be fit for the home games, which is important," Adkins added.
17 Comments
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by Fred, Scunny
Monday, March 15 2010, 8:38PM
“Well Mark Division 1 is still 2 divisions higher than the conference where your beloved cod eds are going.
As for thinking Kez was a girls name, are you a Kerry Katona lover, just about sums cod eds up!”
by P.Doff, Expectsville
Monday, March 15 2010, 1:04PM
“Mike, I expect to beat at home the teams around us and then draw with the teams around us when away.
I expect to lose away against the higher teams and either lose or draw with them at home.
That, Mike, is a survival season.”
by Mark, scunthorpe
Monday, March 15 2010, 12:26PM
“Well Kez if your'e not a woman,i seriously sugest that you change your name ha lol!”
by Kez, Scunny
Monday, March 15 2010, 11:54AM
“Mark you are a dick and im not female you plank!
Get back to the Grimsby Telegraph website where you belong.”
by mark, scunthorpe
Monday, March 15 2010, 11:43AM
“Kez,scunny,you are talk utter crap,sufc were relegated from day 1,are you really that NAIVE?i don't know,i think you should stick to the ironing my dear!!”
by Kez, Scunny
Monday, March 15 2010, 11:20AM
“Which is exactly what I said Mike”
by Mike, Scunthorpe
Monday, March 15 2010, 11:02AM
“The comments today have reached a new depth. Why don't you all go and support Grimsby instead, you deserve them. I for one did not expect a point at Ipswich. We have 11 games to go of which 6 are at home.”
by ExPat Iron, Sunny Somerset
Monday, March 15 2010, 10:36AM
“We know our defence can't hold out for 90 mins .... so we have to make sure we get down the other end & just score more than we let in ... Attack ... simples!”
by jimmy krankie, crackerjack
Monday, March 15 2010, 10:05AM
“Cliff's always getting caught up in argy bargy...it's comical at times. The sendings off are no surprise at all. The team lacks discipline and the manager has totally failed to respond to the defensive failings which go back to last season. We played some great attacking football early on this season, but Adkins seems to think he's a tactical genius and we're now playing to our weaknesses. If we're going down, let's give it a lash and go down with a bang by attacking teams. We're rubbish at the back and sitting back will see us down with a whimper. Always used to like the pies at Rochdale though.....”
by Kez, Scunny
Monday, March 15 2010, 10:01AM
“How people can say we are down is beyond me!
We have 6 home games left most of which are against struggling sides or sides with nothing to play for in mid table.
By the time Forrest get here on the last day of the season they will be safely in the playoffs and resting players for them also.
The only reason we have slipped into the bottom 3 is because our away form is so bad and we have had 2 away games in a row and another to come on weds.
Lets not forget weds have played a extra game than us and are on the same points, 2 good home results against teams below us and the whole table will look much more rosey.
Keep believing!”