Full-time: Bristol Rovers 1 Scunthorpe United 2

Rickie Lambert's 16th goal of the season wasn't enough to save Bristol Rovers from their third defeat in a row as Scunthorpe United returned to the top of League One with victory at the Memorial Stadium.

The Iron had a huge slice of luck when they took the lead five minutes before the interval thanks to a free-kick from Grant McCann which took a huge deflection on its way into the net.

Lambert put Rovers back on level terms early in the second half when he rounded off a good build-up with a diving far-post header.

But Rovers were caught out at the back when Izzy Iriekpen netted the Iron's winner after 64 minutes, scoring from close range after Gary Hooper had provided a low cross.

Though the Pirates fought hard to get back on level terms, there was to be no way back as the visitors defended resiliently to seal their victory.

Rovers made one change to the side that had started the FA Cup defeat at Bournemouth with Steve Elliott, who passed a pre-match fitness test, replacing the suspended Byron Anthony in central defence.

The game got off to a high-tempo start with the home side breaking in the second minute as Craig Disley gathered a half-clearance and advanced towards goal, only to fire his 20-yard shot wide of the target.

But the visitors looked lively too over the early stages and Elliott was soon in action – he was standing just two yards from his own goal-line when he booted away David Mirfin's goal-bound shot after 11 minutes.

Moments later, the Pirates almost took the lead when good work by Chris Lines set up Jeff Hughes.

The winger produced a fine chip which cleared Iron keeper Joe Murphy. But even though Sam Togwell had slipped inside his six-yard box, the grounded Scunthorpe player still managed to get enough on the ball to prevent it finding the net.

Jo Kuffour had made a lively start and it looked like his pace was going to take him away from chasing Scunthorpe defenders after 16 minutes, only for Mirfin to produce a superbly-timed tackle to deny the Rovers striker.

But it took a fine save from Steve Phillips to prevent the Iron taking the lead on the half-hour mark. He went to his left to get fingertips on Martyn Woolford's low shot and made just enough contact to divert the ball against the base of his left-hand post. It rebounded out and Phillips was then able to hack clear.

Three minutes later though it was the visitors' turn to escape as a trademark Lambert free-kick – fired in right-footed from 25 yards – smashed against the crossbar and away to safety.

Rovers were out of luck five minutes before the break though as Scunthorpe took the lead. McCann's 25-yard free kick took a huge deflection off the Pirates' defensive wall to leave Phillips helpless as the ball flew past him and into the net.

The Pirates made a determined start to the second half with Scunthorpe keeper Murphy doing well to stop a Lambert piledriver from 25 yards.

But the Scouse marksman was not to be denied in the 56th minute when he rounded off a fine move.

Stuart Campbell started it, then found Aaron Lescott who in turn presented Disley with the chance to supply a cross which Lambert converted with a diving header at the far post.

It was no less than the home side deserved, although they were almost caught napping from the re-start.

Scunthorpe's leading scorer Hooper found himself in space eight yards out, but hit his shot on the turn so high it not only cleared the bar but flew out of the ground.

The Iron were celebrating again after 62 minutes though as Hooper made amends for his howler.

He was almost on the byline as Phillips came out to try to close him down. But the striker zipped a low ball across the face of goal for defender Iriekpen to prod home from point-blank range.

Iriekpen wasn't far away from netting his second with a glancing header from a free-kick shortly afterwards, then Rovers rang the changes with a double substitution.

Strikers Darryl Duffy and Ben Hunt came on for Lines and Kuffour as the home side pushed three up front to try to get back on level terms.

But the Iron survived a barrage of balls into their box and Murphy punched away a fierce cross-shot from Lescott to prevent an equaliser.

Bristol Rovers: Phillips, R Green, Hinton, Elliott, Lescott, Campbell, Disley, Lines (Duffy, 68), Hughes, Lambert, Kuffour (Hunt, 68). Subs (not used): M Green, Parrinello, Reece.

Scunthorpe: Murphy, Iriekpen, Byrne, Mirfin, Pearce, Woolford (Morris, 79), McCann, Togwell, Sparrow, Hayes (May, 90, Hooper (Thompson, 90). Subs (not used): Lea, Hurst.