A James Vaughan brace saw the Iron suffer a 2-0 defeat at Tranmere Rovers in League Two on Saturday.
Jake Taylor came into the side for his Iron debut in place of Jordan Hallam in the only change from the side that won against Carlisle a week earlier.
The hosts came forward early on with an inviting ball across from the left side. Mason O’Malley cleared before Lewis Spence surged to the loose ball to block an incoming shot.
With five minutes gone, Lewis Spence was teed up on the edge of the area, with one touch before shaping to shoot. However, his effort deflected wide for a corner, but nothing came from the resulting set-play. United won a couple more corners soon after.
There was a chance with 14 minutes gone, as Alex Gilliead had a go from range, with the effort blocked. Handball shouts were waved away with Myles Hippolyte almost getting to the loose ball before the hosts cleared.
Spence received treatment for a cut midway through the half and had to change his shirt as a result. It was an opening period of very few opportunities as Scunthorpe patiently tried to work openings, and also limited chances for the hosts.
However, striker James Vaughan swept Tranmere into the lead on 41 minutes with their first real opening of the game, from close range following a low cross from the right side by substitute Paul Lewis.
The start of the second period saw Loft win the ball down the right side of the box and play the ball in low for Hippolyte, whose shot from close range was blocked away.
The two combined down the left again soon after but couldn't find that touch to unlock the home defence.
Not long after, Otis Khan cut inside for Tranmere, shot and saw his shot deflect for a corner, but nothing came from it and the Iron cleared.
With 53 minutes gone, Kenan Dünnwald-Turan replaced Frank Vincent and United won a free-kick on the edge of the area, but Hippolyte struck it over the crossbar.
Hippolyte then combined with Dünnwald-Turan on 58 minutes, getting to the German's lay=off before firing a fierce low shot which Scott Davies saved in the Tranmere goal.
Just after the hour mark, Hippolyte was replaced by Abo Eisa but the hosts doubled their advantage on 65 minutes as Vaughan slotted in from close range after a corner from the left flank was swung back in from the right.
Tyler Cordner soon cleared off the line after Vaughan threatened to make it a hat-trick from close range on 72 minutes, while Manny Monthe headed over the bar from the subsequent corner.
Three minutes later, Eisa attacked down the left for the Iron, receiving the ball from Gilliead, but he sent his effort wide of goal.
Tranmere came close again in the 76th minute, but Lewis sent his effort wide of the near post from the right side of the area.
With 84 minutes gone, the home side's Peter Clarke combined with an Ollie Banks free-kick but headed over the crossbar.
Two minutes later, Eisa drove into the area and forced Tranmere to only partly clear. Taylor took aim with the loose ball but the effort cleared the crossbar.
The last Iron chance came during stoppage time as Dünnwald-Turan fired over from the right side of the area after Taylor brought the ball forward.
Scunthorpe return to action next Saturday when Forest Green Rovers visit for a League Two encounter (3pm kick-off).
TRANMERE: Davies, Ridehalgh, Clarke, Monthe, O'Connor, Banks, Spearing, Khan (MacDonald, 82), Morris, Payne (Lewis, 27), Vaughan.
TRANMERE SUBS: Murphy, Nelson, Ellis, Walker-Rice, Burton.
IRON: Watson, Bedeau, Gilliead, Loft, Hippolyte (Eisa, 62), Spence, Vincent (Dünnwald-Turan, 53), Cordner, Hornshaw (Green, 79), Taylor, O'Malley.
IRON SUBS: Kelsey, Onariase, Jarvis, Beestin.