Scunthorpe United manager Andy Butler believes his side can go toe to toe with league leaders Rochdale when the two meet at Glanford Park on Wednesday.
Speaking to BBC Radio Humberside, Butler pointed to his team’s record against the division’s top sides this season as evidence that the Iron should not fear anyone as they look to cement a play off place in the National League.
The Iron have already beaten second placed York City and earned a draw at Rochdale earlier this season, with Butler suggesting those results prove the Iron belong in the conversation at the top end of the table.
“We can challenge anyone in this league,” Butler said. “We beat York and lost to York, so we’ve taken three points off them. We got a draw at Rochdale. It’s how we approach it.”
He said the away point at Rochdale had produced some of the highest running stats of the season and challenged his players to match that intensity on home soil.
“If you don’t get a performance on the pitch, there’s no point talking about it. A lot of our talking is done on the pitch, in terms of our shape, our ability, being resolute.”
Callum Roberts’ late penalty at Braintree extended the Iron’s cushion over Southend to twelve points and although the Shrimpers have games in hand, Butler suggested the pressure is on the visitors on Wednesday who are in a two horse race for the title with York City.
“This won’t define our season. It probably defines theirs, because it’s a tough run in for both,” Butler concluded.
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