IronFist provides the latest of his blogs as the Humber derby build-up continues:

The Humber derby evokes loads of happy memories, and some unhappy ones too (which I will not dwell on).

I have only followed the club since 1988 so apologise if I have missed out some classics from earlier years, but the Iron and Hull City have played out some great games in recent times.

Who can forget that Mark Jackson free-kick in March 2002? I was in an alcohol-fuelled stupor - which was allowed seeing as it was my 21st - and like many others was wondering why on the Lord's earth was Jacko taking the free-kick. He duly answered with his most memorable moment in a Scunthorpe shirt. One of the most memorable images of the last decade is that one of Jackson laying on the floor with his arms stretched out to the air in front of Brian Laws and Russ Wilcox in the dugout with his arms outstretched.

That, for me, defines the Humber derby.

Of course, there was the fantastic win against the Tigers in 1999 when Jamie Forrester, John Eyre and - no, I'm not kidding you - Darryn Stamp destroyed the Tigers in their own backyard. Scunthorpe were on their way to a first promotion in 17 years, and it was the day my first son was born. One of the greatest days of my life.

There was the match in 1996 when Paul Baker and Alex Calvo-Garcia, signed by Mick Buxton the day before, made their debuts up front in front of less than 3,000 supporters (how have both clubs come in 12 years?) with Baker and Clarkson notching two invaluable late goals to seal a classic Iron smash 'n' grab (how often are those four words uttered in one straight passage?).

There have been greats at Glanford Park too, such as the 2-1 victory in 2001. Who can forget that Hull fan invading the Glanford Park pitch and getting lamped?! And then, just seconds after kick-off, Lee Hodges scoring after a Grimsby-esque defensive cock-up, and a Steve Torpey diving header at the beginning of the second half. Of course, a low was Richard Kell's broken leg.

There was also a 3-1 win two years later, with Paul Hayes scoring one of his two best goals in a United shirt - possibly a career-defining strike as it set him on the right path in his first spell at Glanford Park.

1997, Scunthorpe comfortably leading 2-0 and goalkeeper Tim Clarke gets stretchered off with Chris Hope replacing him between the sticks. There were only three substitutes in those days.

Those are just a few recent Humber derby highlights, of course there are more memories from these matches - Steve MacLean's dive celebration to taunt Hull boss Peter Taylor, Dean Windass playing like a man possessed to score a double at Glanford Park earlier this season, the 3-1 LDV Vans Trophy win on Scunthorpe's first-ever visit to the KC, the late two-goal blast from Hull to seal the last derby at Boothferry Park, I could go on.

There is a memorable moment in every Humber derby, tomorrow's is set-up to be no different. Hull need to win for their promotion bid, the Iron need a victory to keep their survival hopes strong. With just eleven games left a draw is no good to either side. Winning is all that matters.

The KC Stadium will be packed and almost all of United's tickets have gone as I write this. The sun is out again, the atmosphere will be electric, the stage is set for a classic. This is what it is all about.

Have a fantastic and fruitful weekend.

IronFist