Report: Plymouth Argyle 0-4 Iron

The Iron won 4-0 away at Plymouth Argyle to record their second league win a row.

Paddy Madden’s two strikes and a goal each for Tom Hopper and Josh Morris won the game for United, taking all three points back to Glanford Park.

Madden’s two goals put him in the top ten scorers of all-time for the club. His first attempt came off the bottom of the crossbar, but the ball fell back to him, as he bundled home the rebound to open the scoring during the first 45 minutes.

And then after great work from Duane Holmes, Madden put away his second of the afternoon with a diving header.

The Iron had their third goal 14 minutes from the full-time whistle with Madden’s strike partner getting on the scoresheet. Hopper flicked home from a Morris cross.

In additional time, Morris completed the game with a fourth, slotting it low into the goal.

Graham Alexander made two changes from the Middlesbrough game during the week, with Hopper and Funso Ojo starting. Sam Mantom and Holmes moved to the bench.

It was the hosts who had the first shot of the game. Jake Jervis laid it off to David Fox, and from range the Argyle player lofted it harmlessly over Matt Gilks’ crossbar.

In the 13th minute, Argyle were on the attack again. A threaded pass found its way to Graham Carey on the left, who drilled a low cross in the six-yard box, but Rory McArdle got in a strong block to send it out for a corner and preventing a home goal.

Shortly after, Gilks pulled off a great close range save down low to his left, after a Gary Sawyer cross was met by the head of Nadir Ciftci.

Twenty-one minutes into the game and the Iron had their first attempt. Madden ran onto a long ball and half-volleyed from outside of the box, but it caused no trouble to Plymouth, with the ball going wide of the goal.

A Plymouth corner was then headed away by Hopper, falling to Sonny Bradley, yet his shot was quickly charged down by the Iron defence.

However, it was Scunthorpe who broke the deadlock, despite Plymouth’s pressure. Hakeeb Adelakun played Josh Morris through on the left, who charged down the wing to cross along the ground to Madden, whose first effort hit the crossbar, but the rebound fell straight back at the striker, bundling past Luke McCormick to make it 1-0 in the 28th minute.

Argyle looked for an equaliser in the 33rd minute. Levi Sutton failed to win a tackle allowing Sawyer in to cross for Ciftci, who flicked the ball goalwards, but Gilks was positioned well to make an easy save.

Conor Townsend then got forward for the Iron in acres of space. Morris played a simple pass wide, and the full-back pulled the trigger from outside of the box, sending his effort over the bar.

Plymouth were so close to getting their leveller in the 38th minute. Bradley knocked it down for Jamie Ness and from 18 yards, the former Iron sent a shot whiskers wide of the left post, with a slight deflection from Ojo helping it on the way.

Moments before the end of the half, McArdle was so close to getting an acrobatic touch on the ball, after a Morris corner was poorly dealt with by the host’s defenders. Instead, the ball went out for a goal kick. 

It was Argyle who had the last chance of the half, though. Gilks again got down well to hold onto a Jervis shot from inside of the box.

However, the last action before the break was the sending off of midfielder Antoni Sarcevic for an incident with Madden inside the Iron’s box as the home side waited to take a free kick. Sarcevic was handed a straight red card, while Madden was given a yellow card.

Madden was then involved in the first opportunity of the second half in a quick start for the visitors. He raced through on goal forcing a low save from McCormick.

On the 50th minute, McArdle was in the way of another shot, with a fantastic block to stop Jervis’ shot. Jervis found space inside the box, and the Iron defender flew in to stop the strike.

Adelakun then cut in on his right foot to strike at the goalkeeper, before the Iron showed more heroic defending with a series of blocks to deny Plymouth from getting their first of the game.

Hopper was next to put in an impressive block for Scunthorpe. Carey drilled a low free-kick at goal, but the striker put his foot in the way to stop Argyle from getting a goal.

The Iron were very close to getting a second goal through Ojo. He took a touch and readied himself to strike with his left foot, before unleashing a rocket inches over the bar, with McCormick rooted to the ground.

The Iron did make it 2-0 in the 68th minute, doubling their lead through the head of Madden once more. Substitute Holmes raced down the right wing and the Irishman sent the ball into the far corner with a diving header.

Morris then had a great chance in front of goal, but McCormick rushed out and closed the winger down, pulling off a brilliant stop to deny conceding another goal.

In the 76th minute, Morris turned provider with a teasing cross for Hopper to flick home the third for Scunthorpe.

The last chances went to the Iron and they were extremely close to making it 4-0. First Morris played a reverse pass, but Hopper could only hit the side netting from a tight angle. Holmes then had a close shot brilliantly stopped by the goalkeeper.

However in additional time, Scunthorpe did have their fourth courtesy of Morris’ low effort into the goal to complete a marvellous away win.

TEAM LINE-UPS:
Plymouth Argyle: McCormick (c), Miller, Sawyer, Edwards, Ness, Sarcevic, Ciftci (Lameiras, 89'), Carey, Jervis (Blissett, 68'), Bradley, Fox (Ainsworth, 76).  
Substitutes not used: Songo’o, Grant, Taylor-Sinclair, Cooper.

Scunthorpe United: Gilks, Townsend, Wallace, Ojo, Madden, Morris, Bishop (Mantom, 79'), Hopper (Redmond, 90+3'), Adelakun (Holmes, 63'), Sutton, McArdle (c).
Substitutes not used: Clarke, van Veen, Burgess, Watson.

Attendance: 9,605 (281 away).