ANDY Whing thinks Scunthorpe United’s mammoth unbeaten run deserves respect, but will not intimidate Oxford United this afternoon.

The U’s are attempting to become the first team since Grimsby Town in November to beat the Iron.

Since manager Russ Wilcox replaced Brian Laws in the wake of the FA Cup exit, they have gone 27 games without tasting defeat.

It is a record for a manager’s first games in charge of a professional club in Europe.

Whing compared it to Jose Mourinho’s 77-game unbeaten Premier League run at Stamford Bridge, which was ended by Sunderland on Saturday.

The U’s midfielder knows Glanford Park will be a tough place to win, but equally believes today’s hosts are not invincible.

He said: “Obviously Sunderland did it with Chelsea on Saturday.

“It’s not like (Scunthorpe) are Chelsea though, they are a decent team in this league, but it’s nothing to be scared of.

“They’ve been on a long run, but there have been a lot of draws in there.

“It’s a big incentive for us to go there and win.”

With head coach Gary Waddock considering freshening up the side, Whing could be drafted into the starting line-up to give the visitors more protection defensively.

The midfielder was an unused substitute on Good Friday, when a 1-0 defeat at home to York City dealt a significant blow to United’s play-off hopes.

With only three games remaining they are now in the difficult position of having to win games and hope either York or sixth-placed Southend United slip up.

Whing is well aware United need to be close to their best to get a positive result, like in the 2-0 win at Plymouth Argyle in the previous away game, but it would send a message to the two sides just ahead.

He said: “It would be a great signal to other teams.

“We have meant business all season, but it would show we are not out of this at all.

“We’ve got to be on form, because they have consistently been the best team in the division.

“It will be a tough game for us, but we know we have a Plymouth-type performance in our locker.

“Even on Friday there was nothing in the game and a big decision turned it, so we are just looking forward to getting back on the pitch and putting what might have been on Friday right.”