Scunthorpe 2 Crawley Town 1: Reds lose to relegation rivals

The Iron led 2-0 through a goal in each half, through an unlucky own goal by Ryan Dickson and a goal by Paddy Madden.

Izale McLeod scored his 20th goal of the season to give Reds a 76th minute lifeline at 2-1 but in the end Scunthorpe attacked in force to clinch a deserved three points.

Crawley made just one change to the side which beat Oldham 2-0 on Monday with recent signing Kelly Youga making his debut against his former club.

He played in central defence in place of Richard Wood who had been recalled from his loan by Rotherham.

Scunthorpe posed an early threat when Paddy Madden set-up Jordan Clarke to volley a shot which looked to have Brian Jensen beaten, only for Lee Fowler to make a timely clearance off the line.

At the other end Reds’ first chance fell for Izale McLeod who luanched a shot from just outside the area which was tipped over the bar by Luke Daniels.

Scunthorpe then took the lead in the 19th minute when Clarke had a shot deflected wildly off Dickson, with Jensen sent the wrong way as the ball flew into the net for an own goal.

Lee Fowler struck a disappointing free-kick over the crossbar from wide to the left of the area in the only meaningful Reds attack towards the end of the first half.

Scunthorpe pressed forward just before the break and Kevin Van Veen went close with a header from Gary McSheffrey’s free-kick.

Scunthorpe came out of the blocks first at the start of the second half with a curling shot by Van Veen which was well saved by Jensen but the effort was ruled offside.

Jensen was brought into more action to keep out a brilliant 25-yard strike by Isaiah Osbourne, making a superb save.

But the home’s side’s pressure eventually bore fruit as a corner kick was only partly cleared and was put back into the area for Madden to bundle in make it 2-0.

McSheffrey forced Jensen to make another save when he palmed a shot wide.

Dean Saunders made two substitutions, bringing on Gwion Edwards for an injured Ryan Dickson and Mathias Pogba for Marvin Elliott.

Crawley pulled a goal back against the run of play when Lewis Young teed up Mcleod to side-foot into the corner of the net to make it 2-1 with 14 minutes to go.

Saunders brought on Matt Harrold for Lewis Young as Reds ended the game with four upfront.

In an exciting final few minutes Jensen made two more great saves to deny substitute Hakeeb Adelakun and Van Veen.

However despite their intent, it was Scunthorpe who posed the biggest threat at the end as four added minutes were played and the result ended in Crawley’s defeat.

REDS: Jensen, Oyebanjo, Dickson (Edwards 69), Bradley, McLeod, Morgan, Young (Harrold 87), Fowler, Tomlin, Youga, Elliott (Pogba 73).

Unused subs: Price, Smith, Harrold, Bawling, Cofie

SCUNTHORPE: Daniels, Canavan, Madden, Van Veen, Bishop, Robinson (Adelakun 70), McSheffrey (Lundstram 83), Williams, Clarke, Osbourne, Davey (Boyce 46).

Unused subs: Anyon, Syers, Evans, Townsend

REFEREE: Kevin Johnson

ATTENDANCE: 3,009 (102 away)