Scunthorpe United: The Tale of the Underdogs

Scunthorpe United are heading to Wembley for the second time this season, in their League One playoff final against Millwall with the winner joining Leicester City and Peterborough United in the Championship.

Scunthorpe's first trip to Wembley earlier in the season ended in a cruel 3-2 defeat (pictured) to Luton Town in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy with Claude Gnakpa scoring an extra time winner for the League Two side.

However, Nigel Adkin's side are going into Sunday's final as underdogs this time, despite beating Millwall both home and away this season with an aggregate score of 5-3.

Win or lose on Sunday, United have had a season to remember. They just about secured their place in the play-offs with a last minute equaliser with a header from captain Cliff Byrne against Tranmere Rovers. They then beat MK Dons in a dramatic penalty shoot-out in the semifinal.

Credit where it's due, Nigel Adkins has done a very good job on a shoestring budget. His best purchase is by and large Gary Hooper from Southend United for a mere £175,000. The 21-year old has scored 24 league goals this season and 30 in all competition and has been the focal point of Scunthorpe's lethal attack.

Henri Lansbury and Paul Hayes are Hoopers' attacking partners. The former is a talented Arsenal loanee whilst the latter is at his second spell at United.

Scoring has never been a problem for United. They have scored 82 goals this season which is phenomenal, but it is defensively where they have let themselves down. They have conceded 63 goals which is the worst defensive record in the top eight.

Sunday's opponents, Millwall, are no where near as prolific as Scunthorpe. Millwall have scored just 63 goals—19 less than United. But defensively they have been solid, and only Leicester City have a better defensive record.

So Sunday's final will be a clash of styles. Millwall showed great grit and determination to see off Leeds United in the semifinal and they have generally been tight at the back. They have battlers in the midfield in Jimmy Abdou and Ali Fuseini, and up front club legend Neil Harris is always ready to die for the cause.

Scunthorpe is a town with a population of just over 70,000. They play their home games at Glanford Park which has a capacity of 9,088.

Scunthorpe isn't a rich town at all. It's main source of income for the locals is the steelworks, which is pretty much dying at the moment. They have never been a massively supported club and they are more or less trying to compete in the second tier on a shoestring budget.

Whatever the outcome on Sunday, the town of Scunthorpe can be proud of their team, and rest assured Nigel Adkins will try his best to keep hold of their star man Gary Hooper, as well as the core of the team.

It's the Lions vs the Irons in Sunday's League One play-off final, and Scunthorpe are happy to be classed as the underdogs.