Myles Hippolyte’s early penalty separated the two sides as Scunthorpe came away with a 1-0 victory against Tranmere Rovers at the Sands Venue Stadium, after the Iron put in a gutsy team performance to make it four games unbeaten.
Four minutes into the game, the Iron were awarded a penalty after Devarn Green’s chipped pass caught the arm of a Tranmere defender, following Lewis Thompson's left-wing ball into him. Myles Hippolyte took the subsequent penalty and put the Iron 1-0 up.
Moments from the restart, Hippolyte was booked for a foul on an opposing player.
Tom Pugh was the second Iron man booked shortly after following a challenge on Tranmere’s Callum McManaman.
Scunthorpe almost doubled their lead when Lewis Thompson whipped a low cross into the box which found Alfie Beestin free, who fired the ball towards the bottom corner but saw his effort tipped away by Tranmere’s Joe Murphy.
The hosts then came close again when Beestin’s lofted cross form the edge of the box found Green who challenged for the effort but couldn’t make any contact, however Murphy still had to tip the ball wide.
From the subsequent corner, United had another chance after Hippolyte’s cross was met by Harry Davis, who saw his headed shot on goal saved by Murphy.
Tranmere had a chance of their own 10 minutes before half time when a cross was headed over the bar by striker Ryan Watson.
Five minutes before the break, Scunthorpe’s Devarn Green had to receive medical treatment and a clash of heads, but was able to continue.
Three minutes into the second half, Tranmere had a chance on goal when Watson struck the ball on the half-volley from the edge of the box but it went wide of the post and out for a goal-kick.
Scunthorpe didn’t take long to respond with their own effort as Jai Rowe's brilliant run into the box resulted in him finding Thompson, whose shot went across goal and out of play.
Captain Harry Davis had another effort at goal when his header from a Hippolyte cross went over the bar.
Scunthorpe made their first substitution of the game as Dan Gallimore replaced goalscorer Myles Hippolyte for his league debut.
Scunthorpe made their second change with 20 minutes of the half left as Aaron Jarvis was replaced by Tyrone O’Neill.
Gallimore came close following a flick by Green, as his curling shot drifted just wide.
Tranmere substitute Keiron Morris fired an effort way above the bar after finding space on the edge of the box, while Green had a low effort saved by Murphy 10 minutes from the end.
Cameron Wilson was the final Iron substitute introduced six minutes from the end, as he replaced Devarn Green.
Tom Pugh’s free-kick into the box four minutes from time found its way to Davis, who smashed the ball at goal but his effort was cleared off the line by Peter Clarke.
There were six minutes of added time but United comfortably saw the game out and earned their first three points of the season.
IRON: Watson, Rowe, Davis, Jarvis (O’Neill, 70), Pugh, Taft, Onariase, Green (Wilson, 84), Beestin, Hippolyte (Gallimore, 64) Thompson.
IRON SUBS NOT USED: Collins, O’Malley, Jessop, Shrimpton.
TRANMERE: Murphy, Dacres-Cogley, MacDonald (Merrie, 55), Kinght-Percival, Spearing, Watson (Dieseruvwe, 72) Feeney, McManaman, Glatzel (Morris, 55), Nevitt, Clarke(C).
TRANMERE SUBS NOT USED: Doohan, Davis, Foley, Maguire.
ATTENDANCE: 2,737.