The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON
Second Round
Saturday 02 December 2006
£24,000 to each winning club



Scunthorpe United are banking on beating Wrexham at Glanford Park on Saturday and continuing an impressive FA Cup record.

So successful have the Lincolnshire club been in the competition over the last decade that they now budget for reaching the Third Round.

Scunthorpe have gone that far - and on two occasions to the fourth round - in eight of the last nine seasons, a feat unrivalled by any team currently in the lower two divisions.

The last two campaigns have been partcularly profitable, with ties against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and Manchester City at Eastlands.

In each game, Brian Laws's team took a surrprise lead before the Premiership side asserted their superiority to win 3-1.

Laws has now moved on to take charge of Sheffield Wednesday, but evergreen midfielder Ian Baraclough sees no reason why Scunthorpe cannot do well again.

The 35-year-old, who along with fellow senior professional Andy Crosby has been assisting caretaker manager Nigel Adkins, said: 'It's hard to put your finger on why we havedone so well in the competition. Some clubs just seem to have an FA Cup pedigree.

"Doing well is vital for the finances of a club like Scunthorpe, so it's our job to keep this run going.

"We can't take anything for granted just because we are at home against a team from a lower division.

"I've been on the end of a couple of shocks and I know we have to guard against Wrexham raising their game.

"But we are having a fantastic season. Once you are on a roll, winning becomes a habit."

Scunthorpe are riding high in League One and in Billy Sharp and Andrew Keogh have the most talked-about young strike pair in the division, with Wolves reported to be willing to pay £1.5m for the two 20-year-olds.

Baraclough, whose career spans eight clubs, said: "The two up front are certainly hitting the heights.

"But they would be the first to admit that they are being helped by a great blend of youth and experience throughout the team.

"For attitude and commitment this is the best club I have been with. Everyone enjoys working with each other. There are no bad eggs. It's a joy to go into work each day."