West Bromwich Albion travel to Scunthorpe United on Saturday knowing they will have a tough job on their hands to beat a side who haven't lost at home for nine months.

Scunthorpe were only promoted to the Championship this season but have already built themselves quite a reputation as being a force to be reckoned with - on home soil at least.

Manager Tony Mowbray is still looking for his side's first away win of the season and hopes to make a bit of history against a side who Albion have never met in league action.

Mowbray himself however can recall playing against them himself just once - some 20 years ago.

He was with high-flying Middlesbrough in 1988 when he was chosen to play in a Football League XI against Scunthorpe who in those days boasted such names as Kevin Keegan and Ray Clemence.

The match was organised to celebrate the move from the old Showground to Glanford Park and while Mowbray can recall the quaint single-tiered stands and the closeness of the fans to the pitch, he has more of a problem recalling the result.

He said: "I recall playing in the game that opened Glanford Park in a Football League side.

"I remember getting called up but I can't remember the result. They had Keegan, Clemence - players like that.

"At the time it was a very nice stadium and though it was a few years back, I remember it was intimidating and it probably will be on Saturday."

Mowbray continued: "Scunthorpe probably play every game now as though they are the underdogs and treat it as though the big boys are coming to town.

"The supporters will be right on top of them and will think every attack in the final third is a goal so we have to be on our game and be tough to go there and play with the composure that is required."

Mowbray is looking for more of the spirit his side showed on Tuesday in the 1-1 draw at Ashton Gate but hopes this time to go one better and not concede a late equaliser.

He said: "We go to Scunthorpe now ready for a very, very tough game on Saturday. I and the players will be very much aware that this is a game where we should not underestimate the opposition.

"It is a game where we know they are a side used to winning at home. They have players who know what they are doing.

"I am hoping we can go there and play a level of quality that they have very rarely played against and that might just be the difference on the day."

Albion may have the best defensive record in the Championship to date having conceded just four for goals so far this season but Mowbray is taking nothing for granted.

He said: "We can never rest on our laurels - yes we are good defensively but we could have lost goals at Ipswich and on Tuesday night Dean Kiely had to make some saves.

"We haven't got our defence sorted - we have got to keep working on it and keep good habits. There are certain areas of our defending that we need to work on but we have had a big turn around in the defensive department - we have a new right back and a new centre-back partnership.

"But more importantly I think it is the players in front of them and the way they apply themselves, you don't just defend with four players and a keeper.

"It is very important that our strikers set the tone, the midfield have a great work ethic and then all this helps restrict opportunities for our opponents on goal. That is what makes a decent team."

Mowbray added: "I did not come away after Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Championship lead-ers Bristol City thinking any of our players did not do well.

"The disappointment was not with the team but with the result and the manner of their late goal which came from an 88th minute set piece.

"I think the team applied themselves, the work ethic was there. We could have scored some more goals and won the match but hey, that's football!"