United extended the gap to fourth place and the play-off places and kept parity with those immediately around them in League Two last weekend with a 2-0 victory at Plymouth.
Goals from Dave Syers and Hakeeb Adelakun put pay to the Pilgrims and striker Paul Hayes played a direct role in the first and his introduction sparked a strong showing in the final third of the match.Hayes spoke to The Iron Player after the game, glad to see the recent run of draws end at Home Park with an all-round well earned victory.
He said: "That's been our main problem, drawing too many games.
"It's great to be on the run that we're on but it would be nice to get a couple more points on the board.
"With how good Plymouth have been in the past few games and with the long journey, we knew it would be tough and we'd have to weather some of the storm but I felt that we played well in patches of the game and it was good to get the win.
"There were times when we felt a bit fortunate; they hit the post a couple of times but that's maybe the luck we've needed in the past few games.
"We've slipped up a little with late goals but today was different. We went one-nil up and slowed things down to our tempo and kept them frustrated.
"It was massive. We knew the teams around us would have good opportunities to get the three points for themselves so we didn't want to slip up."
Hayes has found his chances limited in recent weeks with the partnership of Sam Winnall and Paddy Madden coming to the fore.
Russ Wilcox saw need to try something different to unlock a Plymouth side that proved steadfast up until Hayes' inclusion, defending deep at times.
The decision to initiate a change of personnel paid off, doubly pleasing for Hayes, who had been keen to return to action.
He added: "Myself and Paddy play two different games. His strength is playing on the shoulder and getting goals, as much as it is for Sam (Winnall).
"When you're playing both, they're going to be running in behind.
"With me I'll play in between the lines and help out with the midfield. It was a change of personnel and it worked.
"I miss playing. To get the shout with half an hour to go, I was very happy to play my role.
"Personally, I thought that shot was going in but Dave (Syers) slid in to make sure it did get tucked away which was a great relief for us as we were just getting on top.
"Haks (Hakeeb Adelakun) did ever so well to get the ball and finish it off for us at the end."
Scunthorpe now enter a crucial point in the season with just nine games remaining.
The Dagenham-born striker is keen to use the run of 21 games unbeaten as a reference point as to what will be required to see the job of promotion home.
"Regardless of who we're going to be playing it's going to be tough every game we play," he continued.
"We have to keep this form and this run going on now.
"These last nine games, regardless of what anyone will say, are the most important games because they're our last nine games this season.
"To achieve anything these nine games are massive. We need to go into them knowing that it is in our hands.
"If we win, we're going to go up. If we slip up then we've only got ourselves to blame.
"It's going to be very important now that we all concentrate, we all stay fit and we keep that team spirit and positivity going into every game."
See much more from Paul Hayes, Sean McAllister, Dave Syers and Russ Wilcox on The Iron Player.