CHRIS LAKEY Glenn Roeder saw enough of Scunthorpe and Colchester in one afternoon to know what to expect when City attempt to make history this afternoon.The Canaries have never won a league match at Scunthorpe - their only success coming at the Iron's former home, the Old Showground, in an FA Cup tie in 1961.

CHRIS LAKEY

Glenn Roeder saw enough of Scunthorpe and Colchester in one afternoon to know what to expect when City attempt to make history this afternoon.

The Canaries have never won a league match at Scunthorpe - their only success coming at the Iron's former home, the Old Showground, in an FA Cup tie in 1961. And Roeder is expecting a similar challenge to that presented by Colchester last week - an evening kick-off which meant a quick pre-game detour to Portman Road for Roeder and his assistant, Lee Clark

"They are highly motivated players who give their all," said Roeder. "I saw that at Ipswich last weekend when I called in on the way to Colchester. We took in the first half and they were very motivated, full of running and energy and gave themselves and their manager and their supporters everything they had and nearly nicked a point."

The Iron were beaten 3-2, after going in two goals apiece at half-time after a Martin Paterson brace, and Roeder will be keen to warn his players of the problems the Northern Irishman poses.

"He didn't half work hard," said Roeder. "I will make sure our players, especially our defenders, know how quickly he closes down. He works hard for the team, as hard as any striker I have seen in this division. He deserved his two goals."

Paterson has scored nine goals for Scunthorpe this season, but last season's League Two champions are finding the going tough after a good start. Since drawing 0-0 at Carrow Road at the beginning of October, Nigel Adkins' side have taken only nine points from a possible 39. City lost the next four after that meeting, all under Peter Grant, but Roeder has brought some stability, and much-needed points - 14 from a possible 27.

"It will be a tough game, a very tough game, there are no easy games," said Roeder. "They will know the significance of the game as we do, where we both are in the table, and the importance of us picking points on our travels now.

"We played a lot better at Stoke, and got beat in the last minute, than we did at Colchester, but a lot of games at Colchester are scruffy - they have to play that way. Colchester make it difficult to play against. The one thing that no one can accuse our players of on Saturday night is the amount of motivation and energy they put into the game, and that's what got us a deserved point."

Colchester's goal came from a corner, defender Mo Camara misjudging the delivery and Kevin McLeod turning it in.

"Mo was the most disappointed person because he was the one involved in getting caught in no man's land," said Roeder. "He wasn't in his right position defending the space at the near post. You would like to think he would never do that again."