Preview: Leicester vs Scunthorpe

Managerless Leicester welcome Scunthorpe to the Walkers Stadium on Saturday, after Paulo Sousa was sacked on Friday.

The Foxes are currently hunting for their sixth manager of the Milan Mandaric era after Sousa's dismissal, with former-England coach Sven Goran-Eriksson hot favourite for the post.

Life on the pitch has been a struggle for last season's losing play-off semi-finalists, with just one win in their opening nine Championship fixtures.

Leicester currently sit at the foot of the table, and have lost their last three games on the bounce.

Scunthorpe meanwhile have enjoyed relative success so far this campaign after being touted as relegation favourites by the bookmakers.

Losing manager Nigel Adkins to Southampton will undoubtedly prove a bitter blow to the Iron, but new manager, Leicester-born Ian Baraclough, looks to be a popular appointment in North Lincolnshire.

Scunthorpe also lost star men Gary Hooper and Paul Hayes in the summer, but have coped well enough without their prized assets as they lie 16th in the Championship table.

Leicester are unbeaten against the Iron in six matches however, putting them to the sword in the same fixture last season when Paul Gallagher's hat-trick sent City on their way to a rousing 5-1 victory.

Scunthorpe manager Ian Baraclough: 'They're bottom of the league and smarting a bit, and their league position doesn't really paint the true picture of how they're playing.

'They are my hometown club, I live there, so I've seen plenty of action and read plenty of comments.

'I know quite a lot of people down there still and know they feel as though they shouldn't be bottom of the league.

'The Walkers Stadium is a tough place to go to. We've found it tough there in the past and I see no reason why we shouldn't do so again on Saturday.'

Leicester will be without Tuesday's two-goal man Matty Fryatt after his red card against Norwich midweek.

Miguel Vitor could return to defence after his suspension.

The winger has been one of the rare highlights of an otherwise wretched season to date.

Dyer relished his advanced position under Paulo Sousa, his pace and useful threat proving productive to City's struggling lineup.

Ian Baraclough has no fresh injury concerns, although midfielder Garry Thompson and defender Jim McNulty remain sidelined with groin and ankle injuries respectively.

The young midfielder hit the sensational opener in Scunthorpe's Carling Cup ties against Manchester United last week, and has started every game for the Iron so far this campaign.

Last meeting:

Leicester 5-1 Scunthorpe
Morrison (6), Gallagher (16,25,73), Waghorn (34) - Hayes (54)

- Games involving Leicester have featured 32 goals, more than any other Championship side.

- Scunthorpe have only one one of their last six matches.

- The Iron have also failed to score in five of their last nine games.

Grant Hegley

Despite everything I can finally see a turnaround on the horizon. With this squad things can't be this bad forever. Leicester 2-0 Scunthorpe.

Saturday 16th October:

Leicester: Hull (H)

Scunthorpe: Doncaster (H)

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