OTD: December 23

Remembering past matches played by the Iron on December 23...

Former Iron players born on this day: Robert Lee (1957).

Scunthorpe United came from behind to beat Southend and claim a first victory in three League One matches during 2017.

It was a convincing return to winning ways for the Iron, who dominated for long spells and could have won by a bigger margin.

Tom Hopper was denied by a great save from Mark Oxley and Kevin van Veen headed against the bar as Scunthorpe bossed the early play, but Jason Demetriou's deflected strike from 25 yards wrong-footed Matt Gilks to put the visitors in front in the 25th minute.

Although they did not regain their rhythm, the Iron did restore parity seven minutes later when Van Veen forced the ball home following a goalmouth scramble.

Forced to replace the injured Oxley at the break, stand-in stopper Nathan Bishop reacted well to beat away a shot from Duane Holmes after the Scunthorpe man had cut inside.

But he could do nothing as wing-back Conor Townsend swept the hosts in front just after the hour mark from a quickly-taken corner.

Bishop was beaten for a second time late on, when Shrimpers defender Michael Turner made a hash of a clearance to put past his own keeper.

Overall playing record for December 23: Played 9, Won 4, Drawn 4, Lost 1, Scored 12, Conceded 10.