SCUNTHORPE United lost in timid fashion at the hands of an average Ipswich Town.

Carlos Edwards opened the scoring, smashing a superb long-range strike into the back of the net in the 27th minute.

And Jimmy Bullard doubled the home side's advantage with a terrific 53rd minute free-kick that ensured an eighth away defeat on the bounce for United.

In his first match in charge, Scunthorpe caretaker boss Tony Daws made three changes.

David Mirfin came into the heart of the defence, in place of Paul Reid.

Ben Gordon was back from a hamstring injury to slot in at left-back, in place of Andy Hughes, who moved to midfield instead of Michael Raynes.

Michael O'Connor earned his first start since suffering a knee injury in training in January, replacing Michael Collins who had to make do with a spot on the bench.

The clash at Portman Road was a tale of two sides very much out of form.

Both teams had won just one of their last five matches, and both were on the receiving end of 3-0 defeats in midweek, the hosts losing to Watford while the Iron suffered a reverse against Preston North End, a match that ended Ian Baraclough's seven month tenure at the club.

It was Town who showed the greater desire to rectify their poor run of results in the opening stages, with captain David Norris firing straight at Iron stopper Josh Lillis when he had plenty of time to pick his spot from the edge of the area.

O'Connor threatened first for the visitors in the 18th minute, his curling 30-yard free-kick forcing Town keeper Arran Lee-Barrett to palm the ball to safety as the game slowed somewhat following a frenetic start.

United seemed content to calm proceedings down in the first half, a plan that worked as the hosts' previously encouraging first 30 minutes unravelled.

But, following a defensive error, Ipswich scored the opening goal of the game.

After Mirfin had gifted possession to Edwards with a wayward ball out of defence, the right-back strode forward before unleashing a fierce drive from distance into the far corner, giving Lillis no chance.

Although they started the second period with more purpose in attack, the Iron found themselves two down eight minutes in, courtesy of Bullard's effort.

The on-loan Hull City midfielder showed his class from set-pieces, curling a 25-yard free-kick into the bottom corner to give United a mountain to climb.

It was an obstacle they never looked like overcoming at any stage of the second half as the game meandered toward an inevitable conclusion in all too alarming fashion for the Iron.

TEAMS

SCUNTHORPE UNITED: Lillis, Hughes, Nelson (c), Mirfin, Nolan, Duffy (Collins 63), J Wright, O'Connor, Gordon (Grant 57), Miller (Dagnall 83), Garner; Slocombe, Togwell, Raynes, Reid.

IPSWICH TOWN: Lee-Barrett, Edwards, McAuley, Delaney, Kennedy, Martin, Norris (c), Leadbitter (Healy 87), Carson (Drury 71), Bullard, Wickham; Fulop, Peters, Scotland, Priskin, O'Dea.

ATT: 17,787 (165 away)