Yeovil Town have now gone eight games without a victory after they fell foul of a rampant Scunthorpe side at Glanford Park.

The Glovers weathered the early pressure but could only survive until the 29th minute when Scunthorpe took the lead. The hosts then doubled their advantage in the second half to record their seventh-successive victory.

The Iron could have gone top of League One if other results had gone their way, and they showed why with a dynamic attacking display which blew away the Glovers’ strategy of stifling them with a five-man midfield.

Nathan Jones started ahead of Nathan Smith, who was missing with a groin injury, in an otherwise unchanged side from the team that drew with Bristol Rovers. Marc Bircham’s return took him only as far as the bench.

Glovers’ goalkeeper Asmir Begovic was forced to make two outstanding saves from close range in the first five minutes to deny the Iron’s front pairing of Gary Hooper and Paul Hayes, with the latter also hitting the woodwork as Yeovil rode their luck.

Irons’ captain Izzy Iriekpen finally made the breakthrough for Scunthorpe just before the half-hour mark with a back-post header from Grant McCann’s left-footed, out-swinging corner.

Paul Warne had a couple of chances late in the half which gave Yeovil hope in a very one-sided encounter.

The visitors lacked the strength to compete and summer target Sam Togwell dictated play for Scunthorpe in the centre of the park despite persistent sniping at his heels by Darren Way and Gary Roberts.

A half-time shift in formation by manager Russell Slade, moving to a more conventional 4-4-2 and replacing Aidan Downes with Andre McCollin, appeared to work in Town’s favour.

But their luck ran out once more with Terrell Forbes unwittingly turning Martyn Woolford’s cross into his own net after it came off the crossbar. 

Scunthorpe’s second spurred further changes. Gavin Tomlin coming on for the ineffective Andy Welsh and, for the hosts, Hayes made way for Ben May.

The home side retained the initiative though and Yeovil were fortunate not to lose by a bigger margin.