SCUNTHORPE United boss Ian Baraclough picked out Nottingham Forest's long-term plan when discussing their merits ahead of the pair's clash at Glanford Park tonight.

The Iron manager believes the City Ground outfit have been planning two years for their current Premier League promotion push.

That, juxtaposed with the Iron's raft of new signings during the January transfer window, is in stark contrast to a new-look United team still trying to find their feet as a group.

"I think they believe they have enough in the squad after two years of planning, two years building towards the push for the promised land," said Baraclough.

"They have had two years building together which is massively important.

"You look at our plight and I have had to bring nine people in over the last two months so there is the difference really.

"They can add one or two. We have got a squad we can possibly build for the future, whatever happens at the end of this season.

"The right people have been brought into the club to add some sort of stability in the long run."

Forest have been rampant in recent weeks.

"They will come here in good heart, they have won six out of their last seven and drew against the league leaders on Sunday – that is a massive test in anyone's book," added the Scunthorpe manager.

"There would be a lot of clubs envious of what they have got.

"But they have worked at it, they are up there for a reason.

"They have not just bought their way to the position they are at the moment."