Scunthorpe United 2-0 Port Vale
Report from Glanford Park

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United needed extra time to see off Port Vale and make history as they reached the fourth round of the Carling Cup for the first time in their history.

Paul Hayes deflected in Michael O'Connor's effort in the second of the extra 30 minutes, and then Grant McCann added another goal four minutes later to secure Scunthorpe's passage.

The Iron entered the clash making three changes from the side that drew 1-1 at Bristol City on Saturday.

Niall Canavan came in for Rob Jones, who was suffering from a bug, in defence, while there were two changes in midfield as Matt Sparrow and McCann started in place of Sam Togwell and Martyn Woolford.

Joe Murphy, who was captain, started in goal, with the defence consisitng of Jordan Spence, David Mirfin, Canavan and Marcus Williams.

The midfield consisted of Sparrow, O'Connor, Josh Wright and McCann, while Hayes partnered Jonathan Forte up front, in the absence of hamstring injury victim Gary Hooper.

The substitutes were Sam Slocombe, Cliff Byrne, Andrew Wright, Ian Morris, Togwell, Woolford and Adam Boyes.

The Valiants had a goal disallowed in the second minute as Richards converted in at the back post after a low ball across goal from on-loan forward Lewis Haldane.

The Iron's first opportunity of the night arrived just moments later as McCann, who had scored twice in his last two games ahead of this clash, looped in a volley which Chris Martin saved well.

Forte had a chance for the hosts on the 10-minute mark as he muscled his way into the area and sent in a shot which was blocked away by Martin.

Hayes then came even closer when his effort from close range went out of play after clipping the post.

In the 14th minute, Haldane almost brought a goal from the visitors. He turned and struck in a shot which was deflected by Mirfin and almost crept into the goal but for the quick reactions of Murphy, who stopped it.

The Iron came even closer on 20 minutes when O'Connor's low rasping shot from 25 yards hit the inside of the post and cannoned back into play after he had beaten Martin down to his left.

Then, from the resulting corner which brought a scramble, McCann struck over the crossbar as the hosts continued their pressure.

There was an Iron substitution 25 minutes in as the injured Murphy was replaced by Slocombe for his first ever competitive appearance in a Scunthorpe shirt. Murphy had been involved in a collision with Haldane and appeared to land on his shoulder.

It was an open game and there were a number of half-chances for both sides as the game ebbed towards half-time, with Williams striking a shot wide of goal from 25 yards shortly after the substitution.

O'Connor drew a stop from Martin with a free-kick as half-time drew close. Then, former Brighton man Doug Loft struck well over the bar with a sliding effort. When the whistle was blown for the break the deadlock had still not being broken.

The first Iron chance of the second half came the way of O'Connor five minutes into the second period when Martin stopped well.

The away shotstopper was called into action again two minutes later when Forte tried to latch on to a rebound but his header went wide.

Shortly after, a fizzing free-kick from Josh Wright curled just wide of Martin's bottom right-hand post. McCann then headed wide of goal, under pressure from Tommy Fraser, from Williams' cross.

Martin made the save of the game on 63 minutes as he tipped over a powerful Sparrow effort from close range after he had been set up by Hayes.

It was mostly home pressure and McCann's curled free kick cleared the crossbar 10 minutes later. However, they didn't look like scoring.

As the game drew closer towards extra time, Kris Taylor drew an excellent low stop from Slocombe, who acquitted himself admirably.

There were three minutes of stoppage time and Spence was next to have a go at goal for United, flashing an effort just over. The full-back came close again soon after when his shot from an O'Connor corner was stopped by Martin.

The game went to extra time but Scunthorpe took the lead in the second minute of it, as Hayes got a touch to deflect in O'Connor's shot, and subsequently wrong-footed Martin to put the Iron ahead.

There was a classy second for United four minutes later as McCann, playing a one-two with Hayes, weaved his way into the area and classilly fired past Martin for his third goal in three games.

Forte could have struck home a third but Martin stretched well to stop his low effort.

Substitute Robert Taylor struck a shot in for the visitors, but Martin tipped the ball over the crossbar.

There was the second Scunthorpe change at the start of the second half as Hayes was replaced by Woolford.

Forte was hungry for a goal, and came close with another attempt which drew a stop from Martin.

The Valiants stuck with it and kept pressing but it just wasn't their night, as Slocombe and his defence repelled what was thrown at them, with Howland coming close late on.

O'Connor was replaced by Togwell in the closing stages to a standing ovation from the home support, who celebrated seeing their team reach the fourth round of the league cup.

United are next in action when they play Doncaster in the league at Glanford Park on Saturday (12noon kick-off), and the draw for the next round of the cup takes place on Saturday lunchtime.

Attendance: 3,383 (579 away).

Sponsors' man of the match: Josh Wright.