TWO second half goals were enough to condemn Scunthorpe United to a second successive defeat as they fell 2-0 at Portsmouth.

Dave Kitson found the bottom corner in the 63rd minute to reward a much improved home side for their efforts after a dour first half.

Then, in the 79th minute, substitute Aaron Mokoena fired in from distance to seal the three points for Pompey, and a fifth straight win.

For the Iron it completed a miserable four days in which they lost 2-0 at Bristol City on Saturday and then on the south coast by the same margin, without registering a goal.

United manager Ian Baraclough predictably made a host of changes for the visit to Fratton Park, as fatigue took its toll.

The Iron, off the back of a lacklustre showing during loss at Ashton Gate, made five changes.

David Mirfin was the most notable starter, back after a lengthy lay-off following a thigh injury.

He was joined in the starting line-up by Michael Raynes, who anchored the midfield, with Abdisalam Ibrahim also drafted in, along with Michael Collins and Eddie Nolan.

Andrew Wright, Sam Togwell, Andy Hughes and Joe Garner dropped to the bench, while Paul Reid was ruled out with a rib injury.

For the hosts, Kanu started in place of Joel Ward, who had been struggling in the build-up to the game with a tight calf.

After an even start to the contest, David Nugent was first to register a shot on target, his curling ninth minute drive forcing a superb full-stretch stop from Iron keeper Josh Lillis.

Scunthorpe had the ball in the back of the net first, but Lee Miller's 19th minute header was ruled out for the Scot's push at the near post, following Mark Duffy's ball in from the right.

It seemed a harsh call, and one that would prove decisive when all was said and done.

Nugent was looking lively on the left, cutting in and adopting a striker's role whenever possible.

And it was one of those runs which forced Lillis into a smart stop once again, denying the former Preston man from a tight angle at the near post in the 34th minute.

Seconds later and the away side threatened Pompey keeper Jamie Ashdown's goal, Collins' bobbled drive across goal going inches past the post, following Duffy's cut-back.

Looking to build on an encouraging first half, United were dangerous on the counter, Collins striking straight at Ashdown with a venomous effort which would have had the keeper struggling had it been either side of him.

But as the half wore on, the hosts turned the screw, with Kitson breaking the deadlock in the 63rd minute.

The Pompey captain drifted infield all too easily, before rifling home from the edge of the area with an acre to do so.

Worse was to come 16 minutes later when Mokoena's low deflected effort found the bottom corner.

The Iron will have no time to reflect on another disappointing evening, with Swansea City due at Glanford Park on Saturday.

TEAMS

PORTSMOUTH: Ashdown, De Laet, Halford, Rocha, Hreidarsson, Cotterill (Ciftci 90), Hogg, Mullins (Mokoena 22), Nugent (Dickinson 84), Kitson (c), Kanu; Flahavan, Lawrence, Kilbey.

SCUNTHORPE UNITED: Lillis, Nolan, Mirfin, Nelson (c), Gordon, Duffy, J Wright (Hughes 75), Raynes, Ibrahim (Garner 75), Collins, Miller; Slocombe, A Wright, Togwell, Grant, Godden.

ATT: 14,252 (100 away approx)