Scunthorpe United FC

The last five...

2017-18

The Iron were held to a 1-1 draw at Glanford Park on the opening day of the 2017-18 season.

Conor Townsend struck Scunthorpe's first goal of the campaign - which actually turned out to be the first strike of the EFL season - before Nadjim Abdou came off the bench in the second half to snatch a point for the Dons.

The left-back was played in by Josh Morris, who swept the ball wide following persistence by Paddy Madden to keep hold of the ball, with Townsend taking one touch to get the ball out of his feet before he struck the ball into the corner of the net from 20-yards.

2016-17

The Iron began the 2016-17 season with maximum points as they turned around a first half 1-0 deficit to win on home soil.

United fell behind to a Matty Taylor strike after half an hour of the new campaign, but responded spectacularly in the second 45 minutes with three goals while attacking towards the Britcon Stand.

Kevin van Veen lashed home the equaliser on the half volley after a corner was only partially cleared before the ball was headed across goal by Tom Hopper. The Dutchman's composed finish hit the roof of the net.

On his debut, Josh Morris then picked up the ball on the half way line, nine minutes from time, before driving towards goal and firing the ball into the net from 20 yards.

Kyle Wootton sealed the win in the final minute as he played a give-and-go with Hakeeb Adelakun, latching onto the ball over the top and beating Steve Mildenhall with a left-footed effort low into the corner from 20-yards.

2015-16

The Iron suffered defeat on the opening day of the 2015-16 season to the Brewers who were new to League One after promotion from League Two.

Burton would go onto finish second in the division and continue their momentum forward into the Championship and after a goalless first half, Stuart Beavon put the hosts ahead ten minutes after the interval. The lead was doubled soon after from the spot after Luke Daniels was dismissed for violent conduct - Lucas Akins dispatching the resultant penalty.

Charlie Goode halved the deficit in stoppage time with a debut goal after he replaced the injured Niall Canavan, with Scunthorpe also losing Luke Williams to injury.

2014-15

United's return to League One in 2014-15 was met with defeat as the Iron finished the game with ten men.

A return to League One for the Iron paired them with their last opponents in the division prior to relegation. The scoreline emulated that of the fixture from May 2013 at Glanford Park, only it was the Robins who emerged victorious on this occasion in a 3-1 scoreline.

David Syers suffered a season-ending injury just minutes into the game as Swindon stormed into a two-goal lead - Massimo Luongo netting after three minutes, while Michael Smith netted on twelve minutes.

Paddy Madden halved the deficit soon after but Smith completed his brace before the interval, with Marcus Williams dismissed in the second half for violent conduct.

2013-14

After relegation to League Two, the Iron faced league returnees Mansfield Town at Glanford Park and didn't disappoint.

Matt Sparrow volleyed home on his return to the club after good work from Terry Hawkridge, while Sam Winnall burst clear ten minutes later to double the advantage after another assist from Hawkridge.

Eddie Nolan would be dismissed for a second booking with minutes remaining, with the Stags skying the resultant penalty.

A memorable trio...

2010-11

After surviving in the Championship in 2009-10, United began a second successive season in the second division with a victory over former Premier League side Reading at the Madejski Stadium.

The season started in the best possible way, with Garry Thompson putting Scunthorpe ahead before Gylfi Sigurdsson restored parity. The six-foot, seven-inch mountain of Rob Jones towered above the Royals' defence to turn home the winner on the hour to seal three points for the Iron.

2007-08

A first campaign in the Championship for over four decades paired the Iron with Charlton Athletic, a side just relegated from the Premier League.

Not a victory, but Scunthorpe showed they weren't going to roll over in the second division and the defence held firm for just over an hour until Marcus Bent fired home the opener.

Izzy Iriekpen bulleted home a header just seven minutes later for United to send the travelling supporters into delirium. The Iron had their first point on the board. 

2004-05

The Iron had to come from behind to emerge victorious at Glanford Park in the 2004/05 season.

After nearly dropping out of the Football League on the final day of the previous season, three summer signings in Paul Musselwhite, Andy Crosby and Ian Baraclough bolstered the team and would set them on a run which would eventually see them promoted to League One.

Leo Bertos converted a penalty on the stroke of half time after one of the debutants, Crosby, was adjudged to have fouled.

Cleveland Taylor fired home the leveller before Paul Hayes put the hosts ahead after hooking home a corner. Matt Sparrow would fire in to seal the three points with moments remaining in the game. 

The first opening day...

1950-51

In the first ever league encounter for both sides, neither team could break the deadlock and thus attained their first ever league points.

Both sides were new admissions to the league in 1950 and were eager not to spoil their opening fixture with defeat, hence playing out a goalless affair at the Old Show Ground.

The first opening day victory...

1951-52

Scunthorpe won their first opening fixture at the second attempt after their goalless draw with Shrewsbury Town 12 months prior.

 Horace Cumner got the only goal of the game in front of just over ten-thousand supporters at the Old Show Ground, but just one more win would follow in their next ten fixtures in the campaign.

The opening day record...

The Iron have accumulated 72 points from their opening 68 league fixtures since their admission into the league in 1950.

The most common scoreline is a 1-1 draw, while Scunthorpe have won eighteen of their opening games, with a number of those while two points for a win was still in operation.