Scunthorpe United 2-1 Plymouth Argyle
Report from Glanford Park

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The Iron came from behind to register a vital win over relegation rivals Plymouth Argyle at Glanford Park on Saturday.

Jamie Mackie had put the visiting team ahead midway through the first half, but Garry Thompson levelled matters moments later.

The winning goal came halfway through the second period as Martyn Woolford's shot from the edge of the area was deflected into the back of the net.

Because fellow strugglers Sheffield Wednesday drew at home to Derby County, United have climbed out of the relegation zone.

The Iron entered the game making four changes from the side beaten at Newcastle United in midweek.

David Mirfin recovered from a groin problem to replace Rob Jones, while Matt Sparrow, stand-in captain Sam Togwell and Woolford came in for Jonathan Forte, Michael O'Connor and the injured Josh Wright.

Scunthorpe were dealt a further blow when Gary Hooper, who has struggled with a groin problem, declared himself unfit on the morning of the game.

Joe Murphy started in goal, with Andrew Wright, Mirfin, Michael Raynes and Marcus Williams, who also shook off a groin injury, forming the defence.

The midfield consisted of Sparrow, Togwell, Grant McCann and Woolford, while Thompson partnered Paul Hayes up front.

The substitutes were Josh Lillis, Kenny Milne, Rob Jones, Donal McDermott, Jonathan Forte, Michael O'Connor and Matt Godden, who has returned from a loan at Ilkeston Town and scored a hat-trick for the reserves against Huddersfield Town in midweek.

Plymouth's bench included former Iron loanee Bondz N'Gala.

Ahead of the game, United boss Nigel Adkins had billed the match as his side's biggest of the season so far.

Playing in the North Lincolnshire spring rain, Scunthorpe kicked off facing the Doncaster Road terrace but it was the away side who had the first chance of the match two minutes in as Mackie latched on to a long throw by Kari Arnason and saw his shot well stopped by Murphy.

Visiting goalkeeper David Stockdale  was drawn into a magnificent save from Woolford seven minutes in. Hayes had tried to cleverly play Thompson, his strike partner for the day, in. However, the ball was played into the path of the former York man, whose shot was superbly kept out by Stockdale's right-hand low down to his right.

Soon after, Sparrow volleyed over the crossbar as the hosts looked for an early lead.

It had been a feisty start at Glanford Park, with both sides battling for possession in the centre of the park.

In the 25th minute, McCann's drive from the edge of the area drew another quick reactionary stop from Stockdale, who tipped the ball wide of his bottom left-hand post.

Thompson, who was lively up front, came close two minutes later - cutting inside before driving towards goal a low effort from 22 yards.

Just a minute later, in the 28th to be precise, Argyle went ahead when Mackie, pressurising Raynes, converted into the goal from eight yards after Yannick Bolasie's low cross from the left had found its way across goal.

United equalised just four minutes later though as Thompson struck home from close range after Hayes' low cross from the right. It was his fourth goal of the season and first at Glanford Park this term.

Other than the two goals neither team had really got in the box during the opening half, with it being mostly a midfield slog.

McCann worked a bit of magic on 40 minutes as he tried to play Woolford through with a fine clipped ball into the box but Stockdale was quick to stop the winger.

Thompson had a chance two minutes later as he was flicked through but his attempted prod past Stockdale was superbly stopped by the shotstopper, on loan from Fulham.

As the second period started, it was Scunthorpe who looked most like getting the second goal, with the front two of Hayes and Thompson proving industrious.

The latter of those could have put his side ahead ten minutes into the second half, as Hayes clipped him through, but he cut inside and took too long to get in a shot as the visitors cleared to safety.

Pilgrims winger Bolasie was a danger throughout and he shot wide after turning Wright inside out.

Then, Bradley Wright-Phillips crashed a powerful strike over the crossbar from the edge of the area.

Murphy was drawn into a decent stop from Chris Clark shortly after, as his low volley after Damian Johnson's corner almost threatened to creep in.

The Iron went back ahead on 65 minutes though as Woolford superbly controlled McCann's ball through on the right flank and cut inside before firing in an effort from the edge of the area which took a deflection and flew across goal, beating Stockdale at his right post. The midfielder has a tendency to strike vitally important goals for Scunthorpe and that was his fifth of the season.

Soon after, he came close again, cutting inside from the left of the penalty area and arrowing in a shot which Stockdale saved well.

Not long after, McCann played an exquisite ball through to Hayes who was clear through but saw his effort blocked by the Plymouth goalkeeper.

With the game opening up as Plymouth tried to find an equaliser, it meant more space for Scunthorpe to attack, and they had a couple of close shaves - with last-ditch clearances being made by Argyle.

Forte replaced Hayes with six minutes left as United injected some fresh energy up front, and he had a chance to add a third two minutes after coming on as he received the ball and raced into the box before seeing his attempt blocked.

There were six minutes of time added on, and Bolasie very nearly made the scores level, receiving the ball inside the area and taking time to twist and shoot but stand-in skipper Togwell magnificently led by example and blocked the incoming shot before clearing.

Forte had a fantastic chance to make it three in the fifth minute of stoppage time but, after bursting clear, Stockdale got down well to stop.

Thompson then came close with the last shot of the game, but Stockdale saved again as it went straight through the middle.

There was a massive round of applause as referee Anthony Taylor blew the whistle for full-time and Scunthorpe celebrated three hugely important points.

Scunthorpe are next in action on Tuesday night when they entertain Peterborough United in another vital game at the bottom of the Championship.

Iron Bar man of the match: Garry Thompson.

Sponsors' man of the match: David Mirfin.

Attendance: 5,153 (426 away).