The Iron lost their first league match in seven as they fell to a 2-0 defeat to League One to Bristol City at Glanford Park on Saturday.
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Luke Freeman netted for the visitors, but the game was overshadowed by injuries to Scunthorpe ‘keepers Sam Slocombe and James Severn, who both suffered broken arms.Defender Andrew Boyce ended up playing in goal for the Iron and put in an excellent performance, playing well over 50 minutes in the Scunthorpe net.
The result leaves the Iron in 17th place, but they still have games in hand over a lot of the sides above them.
Elsewhere in League One, Swindon continued their surge at the top of the table, winning 3-1 at home to Chesterfield to stay above Bristol City.
Jack Stephens, John Swift and Andy Williams scored for the Robins and although Sam Clucas levelled midway through the first half, the Spireites would return home empty handed.
MK Dons won the battle between two League One promotion chasers, beating Sheffield United 1-0 thanks to Carl Baker’s goal.
That result saw them climb back above Preston into third, after Simon Grayson’s side drew 2-2 at home to Leyton Orient in Friday night’s game.
David Mooney gave the visitors the lead, but Jermaine Beckford and Paul Gallagher turned the game around, only for Chris Dagnall’s equaliser to earn the O’s a point.
Rochdale continued their climb up the League One table, moving into fifth following an emphatic 4-1 victory at home to Crawley, who remain in the bottom four.
Ian Henderson netted a brace, with Scott Tanser and Calvin Andrew also on target. Marvin Elliott scored for the visitors, but it would prove to be no more than a consolation.
Yeovil managed to close the gap between themselves and League One safety, winning 1-0 at home to play-off chasing Bradford thanks to Gozie Ugwu’s goal.
Crawley and Yeovil are joined in the bottom four by Colchester and Crewe, who both fell to defeats at the weekend.
Crewe fell to a 2-1 defeat to 10-man Notts County, with Billy Daniels netting late on, with Liam Noble dismissed in injury time. The result moved Shaun Derry’s side into 10th.
Meanwhile Colchester fell to a 2-0 home defeat to Walsall. Anthony Forde and Michael Cain scored for the visitors who are now in 14th place.
Doncaster won the South Yorkshire derby against Barnsley thanks to Harry Forrester’s late goal, with Mason Holgate sent off for the visitors in injury time.
There was another disappointing defeat for Peterborough who lost 2-1 at Port Vale, their seventh defeat in their last ten, which saw them slip to 15th.
Oldham also got a 2-0 win at Fleetwood, with Gillingham securing a 3-1 win over Coventry to move within a point of their opponents.
The Iron will hope to bounce back in their next league match where they host MK Dons at Glanford Park on January 27th.