Iron test for City slickers

English football’s haves and have-nots collide here on Sunday when Manchester City’s millionaires take on Scunthorpe in an FA Cup fourth round tie in the unglamorous setting of Glanford Park.

Having already beaten the Irons 5-1 in the League Cup earlier in the season, City will be confident of booking a place in the last 16 of the FA Cup at the expense of their cash-strapped Championship hosts.

But they have been warned to expect a much sterner test than Scunthorpe provided at Eastlands in October.

“It’ll be a different game to the one at their place,” said defender David Mirfin. “We’re in quite good form at the moment and while we respect them, we don’t fear them. At home it’s up to us to play how we want to.”

Mirfin added: “The best way to get at City is to carry on playing like we have been. As a front four we can always score goals and I think as a back six we’ve become more solid.

“If we play at our pace and don’t let Man City dictate the pace, I think we can get at them.

“But it’s up to us to start as well just as we have done in the last couple of games. The longer you’re at 0-0, or 1-0 up, the more likelihood there is of there being a shock.

“If you go 1-0 down, you’ve got a mountain to climb. Teams at that level are good enough to defend a 1-0 lead and even go on and score more.

Manager Nigel Adkins has an interesting selection dilemma over whether to recall first-choice goalkeeper Joe Murphy or stick with Josh Lillis, a lifelong City fan who has excelled while standing in recently.

City boss Roberto Mancini has indicated that he will rest Carlos Tevez with one eye on Wednesday’s League Cup semi-final second leg against Manchester United at Old Trafford, which could mean 30-million-pound signing Robinho partnering Craig Bellamy in attack against a side put together for a fraction of the fee paid for the Brazilian.

Stephen Ireland was on the bench for the first leg against United but is expected to return to the starting line-up here.

Manchester United and Liverpool have both fallen victim to lower league opposition in the Cup and Mancini has warned his players they could easily suffer similar embarrassment.

“I know City beat Scunthorpe iin the League Cup but we need to have the right mentality,” the Italian said. “It will be difficult on a small pitch and they will be strong. I have seen Scunthorpe on video.

“The FA Cup is important to us and we want to progress. We must remember what happened to Liverpool against Reading and Manchester United against Leeds.”