IF PRE-SEASON is supposed to be the time to prove you're worthy of a place in the starting line-up, expect Jimmy Ryan and Bobby Grant to be two of the first names on the team sheet when Scunthorpe United head to Wycombe Wanderers a week on Saturday.

The former Accrington Stanley duo were the standout performers as the Iron returned to winning ways with one of their most polished friendly displays of the summer at the Don Valley Stadium last night.

Ryan's 20-yard opener oozed class, while Grant was determined and tricky throughout as well as scoring the first-half penalty which wrapped up a 2-0 victory.

As well as a chance to see a reaction to Sunday's Lincolnshire Cup exit at Lincoln City, United's trip to South Yorkshire was also an opportunity to gain a first-hand look at the ability of Rotherham striker Adam Le Fondre.

Linked with the Iron for the majority of the summer, Scunthorpe had a bid for the player rejected last week, with the Millers insistent they would not listen to anything under £500,000.

On last night's evidence, they may be waiting a while.

Albeit starved of service, Le Fondre showed little of the predatory instinct that has seen him bag more than 50 goals in the past two seasons.

And while he is still on the hunt for another front man, Knill's decision to drop his interest in the Millers marksman – something he revealed was the case hours ahead of kick-off – looks justified.

The same though, is unlikely to have been said about trialists Kieran Djilali and Gavin Gunning, who deserve another chance to impress.

Despite being strangers at the start of the week, the pair quickly developed a neat understanding down the left flank, where former Crystal Palace wide man Djilali's desire to run at the home defence proved a useful weapon in a much livelier looking Iron armoury.

Strong in the air, Gunning was much quieter, but rarely had to get into second gear against an often sloppy Millers team.

The opening stages had a strong whiff of pre-season, with both sides often careless in possession and failing to make much impression inside the penalty area.

Ryan's opener though, helped to get the Iron in their groove.

Good work by Djilali out wide saw him step inside and slot a neat ball across the edge of the penalty box, from where the former Accrington man curled an exquisite effort around the despairing dive of home keeper Conrad Logan.

It was a precision finish – and one that would have graced any game. The same could also be applied to Ryan's overall display.

Predominantly positioned out on the right flank, the 22-year-old used his licence to drift inside to perfect effect.

The goal settled Scunthorpe, who upped the tempo.

And when Grant was clumsily felled by Ryan Cresswell as he strode along the byline and into the area in the 19th minute, they had a chance to double their lead.

Grant stepped up to take the resulting penalty, though only just squeezed his shot under Logan.

Djilali almost made it three 10 minutes before half-time, but whipped a pacy shot just wide of the far post.

With the result in the bag, Scunthorpe couldn't produce the same fluency after the interval.

Jordan Robertson did whistle a free-kick wide, but in truth the majority of the action was in the middle of the park.

The only real worry about United's game was their failure to confidently deal with set pieces.

Time after time, balls lofted into the visiting penalty area caused confusion, with Josh Lillis having to be alert to push a bullet Cresswell header wide on the hour mark.

Much sterner challenges await the Iron when the League One season gets underway a week on Saturday.

But at least, on last night's evidence, they look more ready for it.

ROTHERHAM: Logan, Tonge, Cresswell, Brown, Newey, Harrison, Schofield (Evans 79), Pringle, Grabban, Le Fondre, Holroyd.

SCUNTHORPE: Lillis, Nolan (Wright 81), Nelson, Reid (Raynes 67), Gunning, Ryan (Barcham 67), Togwell, Collins, Djilali (Green 60), Grant (Duffy 67), Robertson (Godden 81).

ATTENDANCE: 702 (59 away)

View pictures from the match