Scunthorpe United 1-2 Crystal Palace
Report from Glanford Park

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A last-gasp goal from Neil Danns sunk Scunthorpe as they were beaten 2-1 at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday.

After Scunthorpe had dominated for the first hour, Darren Ambrose put Palace ahead with a smart finish.

Marcus Williams was then sent off for what referee Paul Tierney judged to be a professional foul.

However, the Iron were far from out of it as David Mirfin flicked a header in to equalise with just six minutes left.

However, Danns struck in the final minute of added time to seal Palace's success.

The Iron entered the game making one change from the side which won 1-0 at Queens Park Rangers a week earlier.

Donal McDermott, who impressed as a substitute against the Hoops last week, replaced Martyn Woolford in the starting line-up.

Joe Murphy began the game in goal, with captain Cliff Byrne, David Mirfin, Rob Jones and Marcus Williams forming the defence.

The midfield consisted of Garry Thompson, Sam Togwell, Grant McCann and McDermott, while Paul Hayes partnered Gary Hooper up front.

The substitutes were Josh Lillis, Jonathan Forte, Martyn Woolford, Michael O'Connor, Josh Wright, Brendan Moloney and Michael Raynes.

On a cold, breezy afternoon at Glanford Park, it was Scunthorpe who got off to the better start as Hayes and Hooper linked up well in attack.

It was Hooper who sent a cross into the area for Donal McDermott in the second minute, but his strike went well wide of goal.

Soon after, McDermott again got a shot in but his effort was deflected wide.

Thompson burst through down the right ten minutes in but his low drive was well stopped by Julian Speroni in the Palace goal.

The best chance of the first half arrived three minutes later when Jones flicked on a corner, Hayes pulled the ball back but Byrne dragged wide of goal when it would have been easier to score.

Although Alan Lee was antagonising the home support, it was all one-way traffic during the first 30 minutes. McCann curled a free-kick over the crossbar as the hosts continued their bid for an opening goal.

McDermott, who was lively, dragged a shot narrowly wide in the 24th minute after receiving the ball on the left-hand side of the penalty area.

Danny Butterfield drew Murphy into a quick reaction when hesitation from the Scunthorpe defence almost forced a chance for the away team.

The Eagles had more possession in the Iron area towards the end of the half, but struggled to really test Murphy as the two sides went in scoreless at the break.

United had a great chance to go ahead in the 49th minute when Hooper burst through down the right and dragged the ball across goal, with it falling just behind Hayes, who had dashed towards the backpost.

The Iron were still in control soon after, and McDermott's fizzing strike from 25 yards drew a great stop from Speroni as Scunthorpe chased the opener.

The home fans were getting more and more frustrated and the suckerpunch arrived on 63 minutes as Ambrose received the ball on the left-hand side of the penalty area and curled past Murphy for the opener.

The hosts chased a way back into the game, and Hooper thrashed a shot into the sidenetting soon after, with a lot of the support seeing the net bulge and thinking their side had equalised.

Thompson was replaced by Forte shortly after, as United continued to try and get back in the game.

There was a further blow for the hosts straight after as Williams brought down Kieran Djilali outside the penalty area. The left-back was judged to be the last man and received a straight red card.

With 15 minutes left, Djilali linked up well with fellow substitute Calvin Andrew, but the former Grimsby man saw his shot saved by Murphy.

McCann tried to get the elusive equaliser with a free-kick but it went straight against the defensive wall.

Moloney came on for McDermott with 10 minutes left as manager Nigel Adkins tried to shore up the defence in Williams' absence.

It was continuing frustration for the home team as Byrne sent in a cross for McCann, who just failed to get on the end of it.

The final change was made in the last few 10 minutes as O'Connor came on for Togwell to give his side more thrust coming forward.

With six minutes to go, Mirfin, who had stayed back for a lot of the corners on the day, equalised for the Iron as he flicked home a header at the front post from O'Connor's corner. It was his first strike of the season and second goal for the club.

There were hopes of a match-winner for the hosts but Andrew proved Palace were still a danger because of their numerical advantage, as he dragged an effort just wide straight after the goal.

There were four minutes of added time given as Scunthorpe kept pushing for the three points, but it was Palace who netted the winner right at the end of the game.

Danns received the ball just inside the penalty area and struck it past Murphy as the Iron suffered a late setback.

United are next in action on Tuesday night when they visit high-flying West Bromwich Albion.

Iron Bar and sponsors' man of the match: Donal McDermott.

Attendance: 5,698 (588 away).