A fine hat-trick from Gary Hooper boosted Scunthorpe's hopes of staying in the Championship.
Play-off chasing visitors fail to weather Iron onslaught
A fine hat-trick from Gary Hooper dramatically boosted Scunthorpe's hopes of staying in the Championship after a 3-0 win over Bristol City.
The 22-year-old's inspired performance helped the Iron build a five-point cushion over the relegation zone and ended a run of three successive defeats.
Hooper's opener came in the 19th minute when he forced the ball over the line to see his goal tally rise to 14 for the season.
He was denied a second soon after by the offside flag, however the clinical forward made no mistake ten minutes into the second-half when he turned and sent a screamer into the back of the net.
Slotted home
The former Southend striker netted number three with 20 minutes to spare when he confidently rounded City goalkeeper Stephen Henderson and slotted home.
Scunthorpe headed into the game boosted by the first-team returns of Marcus Williams and Kenny Milne who replaced Jim McNulty and Michael Raynes.
Play-off chasing City had Christian Ribeiro drafted in for the injured Jamal Campbell-Ryce.
Neither side could get a foothold of the game in a scrappy start and several defensive lapses.
Under siege
United's Martyn Woolford was twice denied by 'keeper Henderson in the 14th minute just moments before Hooper converted from a Garry Thompson cross.
The City goal then became under siege and only the bar spared the away side's blushes as Woolford saw his effort cannon off the woodwork in the 29th minute.
The visitors managed to weather the storm for the first-half but a relentless Iron side piled on even more pressure after the interval.
Hooper's fine brace then secured a comfortable 3-0 win before the man of the match came off to a standing ovation from the Glanford Park faithful.
