Scunthorpe United 2-2 Watford
Report from Glanford Park

Click here for a minute-by-minute analysis from the game

There was late drama at Glanford Park as Scunthorpe drew 2-2 with Watford on Saturday.

After the Hornets had dominated the first half, the Iron went ahead as Gary Hooper struck three minutes before half-time.

However, the visitors levelled through Danny Graham in the 64th minute.

Tom Cleverley was sent off for the away side in the closing stages for a lunge on Michael O'Connor but United couldn't find that winning goal.

Indeed, it was Watford who thought they had got it as John Eustace headed home in the closing stages.

That wasn't the end of it though, as Byrne's shot was handled in the box by Jay DeMerit, and Hooper stepped up to fire home the equalising penalty.

The Iron entered the game making three changes from the side that beat Barnsley in midweek.

Cliff Byrne returned to the side in place of broken nose victim Rob Jones (picked up in midweek) after serving a two-match suspension following his sending off for the second time this season at West Bromwich Albion a week and a half ago.

There were two changes in central midfield too, as Grant McCann and O'Connor replaced Sam Togwell and Josh Wright.

Joe Murphy lined up in goal, with captain Byrne, David Mirfin (who had a painkilling injection in his foot ahead of kick-off), Michael Raynes and Marcus Williams in defence.

The midfielders were Matt Sparrow, O'Connor, McCann and Martyn Woolford, while Paul Hayes partnered Hooper up front.

Garry Thompson returned from a hamstring injury to line up on the bench alongside Kenny Milne, Sam Togwell, Josh Wright, Donal McDermott, Jonathan Forte and Josh Lillis.

On a cold afternoon at Glanford Park it was imperitive that Scunthorpe got off to as good a start as possible, but it was indeed the Hornets who dominated the first half.

Don Cowie was linking up well with Henri Lansbury and Tom Cleverley as the visiting midfield seemed to overrun the United one.

It was Cowie who had the first real chance, as he was set up by Danny Graham, but his volleyed effort bobbled over the crossbar.

The first half chance for Scunthorpe came in the ninth minute when Hayes tried to work a way through but his shot was blocked.

Soon after, Watford broke well and Murphy had to be on the ball to save Danny Graham's header.

Then, in the 16th minute, Martin Taylor's header, after pressure from the away side, cleared the crossbar.

The Iron came close five minutes after, as Hooper linked up well with Sparrow, but instead of head towards goal, the midfielder flicked the ball back for Woolford who just failed to get on the end of it.

United were presented with a free-kick from outside the area in the 26th minute, but O'Connor could only fire the ball into the wall.

Soon after, Williams was forced to clear off the line from Graham, while Heidar Helguson's header went inches over the bar.

The Hornets continued to edge the first half but unlike last week's game at Leicester, where the game was out of sight at this point, Nigel Adkins' team took the lead in the 42nd minute. 

Hooper took advantage of defensive indecision to pounce on to Hayes' throughball and send a shot into the top right-hand corner for his 12th goal of the season, and that proved the last chance of the first half as Scunthorpe went in a goal up.

The Iron so nearly made it two right at the start of the second half, as O'Connor fed Woolford, whose powerful drive was tipped on to the crossbar by Scott Loach.

United were so close, and Hayes soon volleyed a shot over the crossbar.

There was a five minute spell however which the Hornets dominated and they were rewarded with an equalising goal when Graham bundled home after the hosts failed to clear their lines from a corner.

Just two minutes later, McCann came so close to putting his side ahead again. The ball was sent into the box by O'Connor and it reached his fellow Northern Ireland international and Sparrow, but McCann could only backheel his effort into the arms of Loach when it might have been better for he or Sparrow to thump it.

As United tried to get back ahead, Loach was drawn into another good save - this time from Hooper after he raced through. One on one, the striker fired it well from inside the box, but straight at Loach who turned it behind for a corner.

Soon after, Cowie hooked a volley over the crossbar, while Togwell and Thompson came on for McCann and Woolford as the Iron continued their search.

There was a succession of fouls in the closing stages, as the game began to get out of control, and Cleverley was sent off for the away side after a crunching challenge on O'Connor.

With a numerical advantage now, it was United who had the better of the closing stages of the game. Forte came on for O'Connor to add a third man to the attack right at the end.

But the ten men of Watford through they had snatched the win just before the start of stoppage time, as Eustace headed home from a Jon Harley corner.

The Iron were rewarded a late penalty in the third minute of stoppage time though, as Byrne's ball into the box was handled by DeMerit.

Hooper stepped up to take it and buried the ball into the bottom left-hand corner of the net to salvage a point.

Nigel Adkins' side are next in action on Tuesday when they host Ipswich Town.

Sponsors' man of the match: Paul Hayes.

Iron Bar man of the match: Michael Raynes.

Attendance: 5,411 (587 away).