Scunthorpe United 3-0 Bristol City
Report from Glanford Park

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The Iron defeated Bristol City 3-0 on Saturday to give their bid for Championship survival a massive and welcome boost.

Gary Hooper scored a well-taken hat-trick - the second of his United career - to move his team five points clear of third from bottom Sheffield Wednesday, who aren't in action until Sunday when they entertain Sheffield United in the Steel City derby.

The former Southend frontman put Scunthorpe ahead in the first half and then added a second soon after the break to put the hosts well in control.

Hooper then added a third in the 70th minute to secure a valuable win for the hosts, who now move on to the 50-point mark and up a place, above Watford who lost at Leicester City.

The Iron entered the game making two changes from the side beaten 3-2 at Preston North End - their third straight loss - a week earlier.

Michael Raynes missed out through an ankle injury so Kenny Milne came in to partner David Mirfin at the heart of the defence.

Meanwhile, Marcus Williams came in for Jim McNulty, who was also injured, at left-back after being rested last week.

Raynes had a scan this week which revealed he's damaged the inside ligament of the ankle, while McNulty has a similar problem but on the outside. Both will be 'touch and go' for the remaining games, according to boss Nigel Adkins.

Joe Murphy started the game in goal, with Cliff Byrne, Mirfin, Milne and Williams forming the defence.

The midfield consisted of Garry Thompson, Matt Sparrow, Grant McCann and Martyn Woolford , while Paul Hayes partnered Hooper up front.

Sam Togwell returned to the substitutes' bench after missing the last fortnight with a groin injury, joining Josh Lillis, Andrew Wright, Michael O'Connor, Josh Wright, Donal McDermott and Niall Canavan.

The game got off to a lively start and Hooper had a shot from the left-hand side of the area blocked out by Louis Carey for a corner in the third minute as Scunthorpe tried to get into the ascendency early on.

The Robins were a big threat going forward, however, and former Ipswich man Danny Haynes drew a save from Murphy two minutes later, driving an effort goalwards which the Irish shotstopper tipped out.

12 minutes in, McCann forced Stephen Henderson into his first stop of the afternoon, as his free-kick from 25 yards forced the Robins custodian into action to catch it.

The hosts came even closer two minutes later as Woolford forced his way through and saw his effort blocked out by Henderson.

Haynes was next to have a stab at goal, flicking a header which nearly caught Murphy out at his right-hand post but he tipped it wide.

On 18 minutes United went ahead as Thompson's audacious cross into the box found Hooper who, at the second attempt, struck past Henderson from close range.

Gary Hooper gives the Iron an early lead.

The livewire Haynes flashed a drive over the crossbar after quickly latching on to a throughball by Fontaine.

Not long after, the Iron had a goal ruled out for offside as Hooper turned and fired past Henderson only for the linesman's flag to rule the effort out.

Then, in the 26th minute, Marvin Elliott curled wide after the ball had been allowed to run through the middle.

The crossbar was smashed by Woolford two minutes later when Hayes and Thompson linked up well with Hooper, who laid it back to the ex-York wideman, who had his head in his hands after missing what he felt was a golden opportunity to extend the lead.

Just before half-time, after a quiet lull in the game, Sparrow burst through and struck a shot wide of goal.

It had been a tight first half but the Iron created more clearcut chances and edged it.

Hooper, who looked very lively, had a couple of narrow offside shouts at the start of the half but the linesman opted to hand the decision Bristol City's way.

But things did go his way in the 55th minute. Hayes' ball into the box was headed towards goal and the striker managed to retrieve it on the left angle of the area, turn his man and fire across Henderson and into the back of the net.

Gary Hooper slides the ball into the back of the net for his second of the day.

Hayes, in pursuit of a goal of his own, broke into the box and forced a point-blank save from Henderson just five minutes later as Scunthorpe, looking comfortable, seeked to extend their advantage.

Again, he came close, three minutes later as he latched on to a throughball and had his volley tipped over the crossbar.

Bristol were gone as an attacking threat and Sparrow was next to launch an effort at goal, curling over the crossbar from the edge of the 18-yard box.

And Hooper added his hat-trick goal in the 70th minute, this time beating the offside trap and latching on to Hayes' clever flick on to advance on Henderson, round the shotstopper and fire the ball into the back of an empty net for his 17th strike of the season.

Gary Hooper celebrates his hat-trick goal.

Four minutes later, Togwell came on for Hooper, who received a standing ovation after his outstanding three-goal display.

The final 15 minutes were relatively quiet as the Iron cruised to a comfortable success over the Robins, who were unbeaten in six games coming to North Lincolnshire.

McCann drew another stop from Henderson, keeping the score down, with a free-kick from 25 yards right at the death and it proved to be the last chance of an important afternoon for Scunthorpe.

United are next in action on Tuesday night when they host Reading in their game in hand (7.45pm kick-off).

Gary Hooper poses for the man of the match photos after the game.

Iron Bar and sponsors' man of the match: Gary Hooper.

Attendance: 5,430 (390 away).