JOE Garner admitted he would happily sacrifice personal glory if it meant Scunthorpe United survived in the Championship this season.

The Nottingham Forest loanee netted his first goal for the Iron during Saturday's 5-1 demolition at the hands of local rivals Hull City.

That goal-scoring feeling has become something of a rarity for the 22-year-old, who had failed to score in 21 previous appearances this term while on loan at Huddersfield Town.

Indeed, his 55th minute header, which cut the Tigers' lead to 2-1, was the only time he has found the net since the final game of last term, when he notched for Forest in a 2-2 draw at Glanford Park.

It was a moment which should have been heralded as a momentous occasion, but was instead nothing more than a consolation to the former Blackburn Rovers star.

"That is what I came here to do, to score goals," Garner told the Telegraph.

"I am here to do a job and hopefully I can contribute.

"But I'd prefer the three points and to push Scunthorpe up the league over myself.

"If you had watched the game I don't think it was a 5-1 hammering.

"They did not have many clear-cut chances, they were just ruthless in front of goal."

Garner's header was United's first league goal in a month, providing further evidence of their well-documented striking troubles.

It did not though come close to ending a barren run of form in front of their own fans which stretches back to August 28 and their last victory at home, against Crystal Palace.

Not only is that form undermining their season, it threatens to seal their fate at an early stage.

And Garner admitted after Saturday's game the triumphant Tigers deserved the points.

"At 1-0 down at half-time we were still in the game," added the striker, who holds a league goal ratio of roughly one in four.

"We got back into it again at 2-1 and I think we were playing okay.

"Obviously they got a few breaks, a few bounces of the ball went their way and they put their chances away – they were ruthless.

"The fans will be very disappointed, but Hull played very well and deserved the points.

"I would not say the cause is lost because we have got three or four games coming up at home. But we have got to work and be a tight unit.

"We have got to make Glanford Park into the fortress it once was.

"I am still confident that we can put a few wins together, especially at home, and get out of the position we are in.

"I didn't come here to get relegated."