Scunthorpe 1-0 Coventry: Late goal leaves City blue

Scunthorpe's leading marksman Paddy Madden's 79th-minute finish earned them a richly-deserved 1-0 home win against high-flying Coventry.

He crashed a right-footed shot into the net from 12 yards out for his fifth goal of the season after the visitors had failed to cut out a low cross from full-back Jordan Clarke.

With summer signing Jamie Ness making his first home appearance after injury in midfield, Scunthorpe dominated the game for long spells.

They showed plenty of commitment and produced plenty of pressure to keep Coventry on the back foot. Kevin van Veen twice went close in the early stages but the only test for goalkeeper Lee Burge came when he beat away an inswinging free-kick from Gary McSheffrey.

Coventry reached the interval without managing to create even a sniff of a chance at the opposite end.

Scunthorpe so nearly broke the deadlock early in the second half following a cleverly-worked free-kick routine which saw striker Tom Hopper head just over from a cross by McSheffrey.

With Coventry still struggling to make an attacking impression, manager Tony Mowbray brought on young Liverpool loanee Ryan Kent for his debut in a forward midfield role.

He looked bright but it was Scunthorpe who continued to look the more dangerous and they were finally rewarded in the 79th minute with Madden's strike for only their second victory of the season.