Scunthorpe 3-0 Colchester Scunthorpe blast away Colchester

Managerless Scunthorpe struck three times in eight minutes early in the second half to see off struggling Colchester 3-0 and record their first home win in six games.

The first came on the hour when striker Tom Hopper celebrated his return from nearly three months out through injury by steering home a low left-wing cross from full-back Conor Townsend.

Two minutes later, Neal Bishop pulled the ball back from the right for leading marksman Paddy Madden to pounce from close range with a shot that bounced down over the line off the underside of the crossbar.

And Madden struck again in the 68th minute with his 16th goal of the season, cracking an angled shot low into the far corner past goalkeeper Jake Kean.

It completed a total transformation for Scunthorpe, who had struggled through the opening 45 minutes after sacking boss Mark Robins just five days ago.

It was Colchester, now without a win in 14 games, who posed more threat as an attacking force in the first half.

Skipper Chris Porter sent a header just wide, while George Moncur rifled a shot just over from the edge of the box.

It was not until just before the interval that Scunthorpe offered a threat, with a goal-bound long-range effort from skipper Stephen Dawson headed clear by centre-back Alex Wynter.

Dawson went even closer at the start of the second half, firing a left-foot shot against the foot of a post before Scunthorpe began to work up a head of steam to ease to victory.