ARGYLE manager Ryan Lowe believes that Saturday’s opponents Scunthorpe United are in a false position in the emerging Sky Bet League Two table.
The Pilgrims are hosting Scunthorpe on Saturday afternoon at Home Park, with Paul Hurst’s side currently occupying 23rd place after only one win in eleven games. The visitors, though, will be looking for the victory to get their season back on track.
Many football followers, including Ryan Lowe, are surprised that the Iron are currently struggling at the foot of the table, notably with the quality of their squad and manager. After Argyle’s gruelling 1-0 away win at Mansfield last week, Lowe is keen to point out that he will not be underestimating Saturday’s opposition.
“No, not at all,” he said. “Paul Hurst is a fantastic manager, he’s been there, done it, seen it, he’s probably got one of the best squads in the league. There’s a lot of players in there that have been Championship level and certainly League One level, so we don’t take anything for granted.”
While Argyle are 11 places above Scunthorpe in the League Two table, the two sides’ form has been identical over the last five games, both winning once, drawing twice and losing twice.
“We know they are down the bottom; we said this a few weeks ago they are in a false position for me,” said Lowe. “I don’t know what’s going on there, but listen, they’re not turning up here just to make their numbers up, they’re turning up here to try and get a win.”
The last time the two sides met was on the final day of the 2018-19 Sky Bet League One campaign, with survival on the line for both clubs. The Pilgrims won 3-2, although it was not enough to keep them in the third tier.
The game was thrown into controversy through Scunthorpe’s equaliser; as Josh Morris lobbed injured Argyle ‘keeper Matt Macey, after the Arsenal loanee had attempted to throw the ball out of play to receive treatment.
As far as Lowe is concerned, though, the controversies of the past have no bearing on Saturday’s clash.
“I’m not too bothered to be honest, that was last season, it’s done,” said Lowe. “We haven’t even mentioned it.
“We don’t do that, we don’t bring the past up and that’s gone, it’s irrelevant, so it is what it is. Scunthorpe’s a whole different team under the new manager and regime, we’re also under a different regime and a whole new team.”
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