ALAN Knill’s first home game in charge produced a memorable result as Scunthorpe United staged a magnificent fight-back to topple league leaders QPR 4-1.

It was a victory which seemed unlikely when Rob Hulse broke the deadlock with just seven minutes on the clock. But Joe Garner ensured the Iron went in at the break on level terms then completed his brace minutes into the second half, before Michael O’Connor and Mark Duffy put the icing on the cake.

Looking to bounce back from a 6-0 thumping at Norwich, Knill made four changes for his first outing in the Glanford Park dugout.

With Paul Reid serving a one-match suspension following his red card against the Canaries, David Mirfin returned to the centre of the Iron defence.

A thigh injury relegated Michael Raynes to the bench, while Eddie Nolan and Michael Collins were also among the substitutes as Sam Togwell, Mark Duffy and Chris Dagnall took their places in the starting line-up.

The latter contributed to a positive start from the hosts, making some early runs forward against a Rangers side shorn of Championship Player of the Year Adel Taarabt.

Both Andy Hughes and Ramon Nunez looked to shoot in the opening minutes, but it was the visitors who created the best chances.

Hogan Ephraim breezed past Hughes down the Iron’s right hand side before firing an angled effort just past the upright.

It was an early warning sign which United failed to heed as, seconds later, Hulse gained the edge on Mirfin to head home Wayne Routledge’s cross.

And it could have been more as QPR continued to put Scunthorpe under pressure in the first 45 minutes.

Alejandro Faurlin blasted over the bar after Joe Murphy had fumbled a free-kick, while Routledge drew the Iron stopper into action when he broke quickly from a United corner and tried to lift the ball into the net when one-on-one.

Given they had been under pressure, the goal, when it came, arrived out of nowhere for Knill’s side.

O’Connor’s whipped-in free-kick found Garner in space inside the box and he nodded the ball beyond the reach of Paddy Kenny with 28 minutes played.

It was just the inspiration Scunthorpe needed, sparking the players and crowd into life.

The hosts finished the half with the momentum in their favour and looking to attack as both Nunez and Gordon sent efforts wide.

And, picking up where they left off, United continued to press after the interval – with maximum results.

When Kenny struggled to clear a ball into the box, Garner was well placed to scramble the ball home from close range and give his side the lead in the 48th minute.

Barely 10 minutes later and Scunthorpe deservedly doubled their advantage.

QPR couldn’t get to grips with an O’Connor free-kick clipped into the box, and the midfielder was on hand to fire the ball in first time from 30 yards out, with a stunning effort to make it 3-1 in the Iron’s favour.

Now firmly in control, the home side began to put together some lovely passing moves as they made a mockery of the league table.

Star man O’Connor was at the heart of things once more when he set Nunez on his way following a QPR corner.

The Leeds United loanee ran half the length of the pitch as he homed in on goal, but instead of playing in one of his better placed team-mates, he went for goal himself and missed the target.

Duffy had no such trouble with 79 minutes gone, capitalising on some determined play by Dagnall, who laid the ball on for the midfielder to slot home from a few yards out.

It rounded off a fantastic display by United, moving them off the foot of the table and to within five points of safety.

SCUNTHORPE UNITED: Murphy, Gordon, Nelson, Mirfin, Hughes, Duffy, O'Connor (J Wright 84), Togwell (Raynes 90), Nunez, Garner (Miller 90), Dagnall. Unused subs: Lillis, Collins, Nolan, Godden.

QPR: Kenny, Orr, Hall, Shittu (Chimbonda 46), Hill, Routledge, Faurlin, Derry (Agyemang 62), Smith, Ephraim, Hulse (Miller 62). Unused subs: Cerny, Buzsaky, Gorkss, Vaagan Moen.

ATTENDANCE: 6,061 (1,845 away).