Scunthorpe United recorded their first away points of the season today in emphatic fashion with a 4-0 victory at Selhurst Park.
With less than five minutes played an innocuous ball over the top caught out the Palace back-line when Jose Fonte's sliced header rolled back towards Matt Lawrence. The defender looked set to clear the loose ball but Jonathan Forte capitalised and proceeded to round the outrunning Julian Speroni and convert from eight yards.
Darren Ambrose nearly provided an equaliser with 15 minutes left of the first half when his cross to the back post found Alassanne N'Diaye and Fonte,however both of them failed to get any decent connection on the ball.
Scunthorpe could have grabbed a second when former Palace player Sam Togwell caught the defence napping. Speroni again raced from his line but Togwell went to his right. With an open goal at his mercy it seemed to be heading in, but Fonte managed to race back and stopped the midfielder's strike from crossing the line.
Following Fonte's interception the ball was sent upfield as the Eagles mounted a counter attack. Neil Danns collected possession on the right wing and quickly laid the ball back to Danny Butterfield, his cross into the box eluded everyone except Alan Lee, but his header went agonisingly over the bar.
On the brink of half-time Shaun Derry collected the ball 25 yards from goal but his shot narrowly missed the bottom right after taking a deflection off an Iron's player.
Palace started the second half with the manager replacing Alan Lee with Sean Scannell at the start of the half.
Scunthorpe scored their second on the 58th minute, after a short free kick allowed the North Lincolnshire outfit to get a cross to the edge of the box. Unopposed Iron's captain Rob Jones headed the ball back into the danger area and Paul Hayes converted into the bottom right.
Warnock made a double substitution six minutes later as he tried to shake up a struggling Eagles side with Freddie Sears and Ryan Smith taking to the pitch in place of Darren Ambrose and Victor Moses.
One minute after the substitution the visitors increased their lead through Sam Togwell who curled the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box. In fairness Speroni's view was obscured with both two defenders in front of him failed to shut the midfielder down quick enough.
Speroni was again picking the ball out of the back of the net when Michael O'Connor got away from his man and increase the score-line to 4-0 shooting past the 'keeper into the corner of the net.
Half time substitute Scannell could have given his side a lifeline on the 79th minute when the Irish U21 international cut inside and took the ball into the box. Scannell feinted to go down the byeline but elected to cut inside again before unleashing a left foot strike which was sent out for a corner after coming off an Iron's defender.
Palace were awarded a spot kick 60 seconds later when Neil Danns hit a shot which came off an Iron's player hand and the referee did not hesitate in pointing to the spot.
Sears stepped up to take the dead ball situation and summed up the Eagles day with Murphy saving at his bottom right and end any chance of the Eagles taking anything away from this encounter.
Teams:
Crystal Palace Speroni, Butterfield, Fonte, Lawrence, Hill,Danns, Derry, Ambrose (Sears 64), Moses (Ryan Smith 64),Lee (Scannell 46), N'Diaye.
Subs Not Used: Flahavan, Clyne, Ertl, Carle.
Scunthorpe Murphy, Spence, Jones, Mirfin, Williams,Josh Wright, Togwell, O'Connor (Sparrow 82), Hayes,Woolford (Thompson 76), Forte (Hooper 86).
Subs Not Used: Slocombe, Byrne, Canavan, McCann.
Att: 12,912 Referee : Grant Hegley (Hertfordshire).
