A NEW-look Scunthorpe United suffered the same old problems as they crashed to a

2-0 defeat at Middlesbrough.

Kris Boyd gave the hosts the lead inside the opening 10 minutes at the Riverside Stadium, lobbing Josh Lillis while the Iron appealed in vain for offside.

United, who knew nothing less than a victory against a fellow struggling side would lift them out of the bottom three, tried to claw their way back into game.

But after struggling to find an attacking spark, Tony McMahon's 69th-minute effort condemned them to defeat.

To compound matters, United had on-loan Manchester City midfielder Abdisalam Ibrahim sent off shortly after the second goal for a second bookable offence.

It left a side already struggling for numbers at a further disadvantage on the pitch.

Hit by illness and injuries, Iron boss Ian Baraclough was able to field only five substitutes for the Championship clash.

January signing Andy Hughes took the left-back spot, while Eddie Nolan partnered Paul Reid in the centre of defence, with Michael Raynes ruled out through a virus.

Up front, shorn of the services of Jonathan Forte, there was a debut for deadline day loan signing Joe Garner, from Nottingham Forest, taking his place alongside Chris Dagnall, while Bobby Grant occupied the left midfield spot following the departure of Martyn Woolford.

It was just the start United did not want however.

With keeper Lillis well off his line, Boyd found himself in plenty of space, which he used to good effect to lob the Scunthorpe shot-stopper and find the net with eight minutes gone.

The home side continued to look dangerous on the attack for the rest of the first half, with Marvin Emnes and Julio Arca looking dominant in midfield, while Leroy Lita provided a threat.

Boyd did his best to increase his side’s advantage with a shot which flew over the bar.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the pitch, United’s best chance of the opening 45 minutes fell to Grant.

A cross from new signing Mark Duffy on the right, found the Iron front man at the far post in the box, but he could only head wide of the upright.

Quick on the counter-attack, Boro were able to put the visiting defence under pressure.

Both Emnes and Lita sent efforts wide, while Arca’s snap-shot flew straight at Lillis, who was able to hang on to the ball.

Boro thought they had a chance to make it 2-0 with just over an hour played when the referee pointed to the spot following Paul Reid’s challenge on Lita.

But after a consultation with his assistant, the decision was changed in United’s favour, much to the home fans' disgust.

It didn’t take long however, for that second goal to come.

A free-kick taken wide on the right was whipped in to the United penalty area, with McMahon on hand to find the net in the 69th minute.

If there seemed no way back then, the Iron's fate was confirmed when Ibrahim was giving his marching orders following his second yellow card of the game, with 15 minutes left to play.

Although his team-mates did their best to make inroads on the home defence in the final period, a lack of any real creativity saw them unable to trouble keeper Jason Steele.

Boro themselves, tried to add further gloss to the scoreline, but neither Emnes or Arca could find the target with their efforts.

MIDDLESBROUGH: Steele, Bates, McMahon, Bennett, Hines, Taylor, Emnes, Arca, Bailey, Lita (Park 87), Boyd (McDonald 70). Subs: Ripley, Haas, Grounds, Franks, Smallwood.

SCUNTHORPE: Lillis, A Wright, Reid, Hughes, Nolan, Duffy, Togwell, Ibrahim, Grant (Collins 70), Dagnall (J Wright 77), Garner. Subs: Slocombe, Williams, Cowan-Hall.

ATTENDANCE: 14,364 (265 away).