Scunthorpe United 0-1 Norwich City
Report from Glanford Park

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A last-gasp goal by Grant Holt saw the Iron defeated 1-0 by Norwich City in their first home league match of the season against the Canaries at Glanford Park.

In a game of few chances, Scunthorpe were perhaps at their best at the end of the first half when Chris Dagnall and Jonathan Forte came close.

The away team were well on top in the second period though and United very nearly held on for a point, but Holt headed home in the first minute out of three in stoppage time to send all three points to Norfolk.

The Iron entered the game making three changes from the side which defeated Oldham Athletic 2-1 at Glanford Park last Tuesday night.

Starting in goal was stand-in captain Joe Murphy (back from international duty with the Republic of Ireland) while Eddie Nolan (also returning from duty with the Irish U21 side), David Mirfin (back from a shoulder injury), Rob Jones and Jim McNulty formed the defence.

Joe Murphy, Cliff Byrne and Michael Raynes sat out the side.

The midfield consisted of Josh Wright, Martyn Woolford and Michael O'Connor, while Dagnall supported Forte and Garry Thompson in attack.

The substitutes were Sam Slocombe, Andrew Wright, Cliff Byrne, Niall Canavan, Michael Raynes, Michael Collins and Bobby Grant.

With the Iron shooting towards a swarm of yellow shirts in the away stand, the game got off to a frantic start, although chances were limited to begin with.

Woolford's goalbound effort was blocked by a City defender on 13 minutes as Scunthorpe tried to force an opening.

The Canaries had their moments too, but United held firm in an evenly-matched opening, and Nolan was impressing at right-back as he charged forward and tried to provide an outlet on the right flank.

The first real chance of the game came Norwich's way ten minutes later as Chris Martin headed just wide of goal at the near post after Surman's left wing cross.

Forte then drew John Ruddy into a superb tip over the crossbar with a bullet header at the back post after Josh Wright had time to send in a well-flighted delivery from the edge of the area.

As the game opened up, Martin drew Murphy into a save low to his left as he tipped out the frontman's shot from the edge of the area.

On 34 minutes, Woolford's stinging low drive from the edge of the area drew a good stop from Ruddy.

Just moments later, Dagnall very nearly out his side ahead with the best opportunity of the match so far but, after scrambling his way through, his left-footed drive went just wide of Ruddy's left-hand post.

Five minutes before the break, Forte hooked a volleyed effort just over the crossbar after he received Nolan's cross from the right.

It was Scunthorpe who ended the opening period stronger, and Forte drew another stop from Ruddy when he charged forward down the left and sent in a cross-cum-shot that the ex-Cambridge man had to handle.

Just after the restart, Martin and Holt combined to almost create a goal for City. The former dragged the ball across goal and the latter just failed to get a toe on the end of it as the ball dragged wide.

United continued to try and force their home advantage too, and Jones headed over the crossbar after O'Connor's free-kick delivery into the box.

Clearcut chances continued to be limited as the second half wore on, but Norwich were having the better of it midway through the second half, with Hoolahan curling an effort just wide of goal.

There were two changes for a jaded-looking Scunthorpe, as Andrew Wright came on for Josh Wright and Collins replaced O'Connor.

On 68 minutes the visiting team had a goal disallowed when Surman's free-kick was headed into the back of the net by Holt, but it was ruled out for offside.

The hosts changed from a diamond formation to a straight 4-4-2 in a bid to stop City being as dominant in the centre of midfield.

Soon after though, Norwich came close again as Michael Nelson's header from Surman's corner drew a save out of Murphy from just ten yards out.

Towards the end, Forte very nearly found the winning goal but a heroic tackle by Nelson, just as the former Sheffield United man was set to shoot towards goal from inside the area, stopped the striker in his tracks.

Then, from the next attack, came the suckerpunch as Holt headed home Simon Lappin's left-wing cross from inside the area to cap victory for Paul Lambert's side.

It proved the final, and decisive, chance of the game, and Scunthorpe will be bidding to bounce back next week when they visit Queens Park Rangers.

Iron Bar man of the match: Chris Dagnall.

Sponsors' man of the match: Rob Jones.

Attendance: 6,042 (1,193 away).