THE pre-match rhetoric from the Scunthorpe United camp talked of a 'culture shock' in store for the Iron when travelling to Accrington Stanley.

Never have the two sides met before at the Crown Ground and, after a timid encounter, few will be keen to relive their first meeting.

Such has been the fluctuating fortunes of both sides over recent decades, there had not been an Accrington-Scunthorpe confrontation since 1993 when a certain Alan Knill marshalled the Iron defence.

Fast forward to the latest meeting, in the Carling Cup first round, and the former defender, and current Iron boss, was certainly, for periods of this game, left unimpressed by a display from his side that was no carbon copy of the previously encouraging 1-1 draw at Wycombe on Saturday.

But when journeying to take on lower league opposition, the main incentive in the cup is to ensure your name is in the draw for the next round.

And that is what Scunthorpe did, Chris Dagnall striking nine minutes from time with a cooly taken penalty before Andy Barcham unleashed a fierce drive in stoppage time to seal the win.

Fitness once again told as, like on Saturday, United finished stronger than their opponents, ending the contest well on top.

The Iron made two changes for the trip to the Crown Ground, giving Michael O'Connor the evening off, replaced by Michael Collins, while Garry Thompson made a rare start in place of Jordan Robertson, who had to make do with a spot on the bench.

It was a strong line-up for the clash with the League Two outfit, clearly demonstrating Knill's thoughts on the competition.

But it was a sluggish United who were nearly caught cold 30 seconds into the contest, Kurtis Guthrie sauntering through the heart of the defence before being denied by Josh Lillis.

The gangly Stanley striker was causing all sorts of problems, on one occasion firing inches past the far post as a static Iron back-line allowed him through down the right once more.

It was a second warning in as many minutes, and one United simply did not heed, the same player getting in behind a lethargic back four, yet again, but finding Lillis in fine form as he saved low to his right.

Although mis-matched in league ranking, it was difficult to establish just which side played third tier football four days previously, the hosts, perhaps, feeling somewhat aggrieved they had not taken the lead by the half hour mark.

It was at that point the visitors had their first significant sight of Sean Murdoch in the Stanley goal, Dagnall chipping over the keeper when through on goal, only for substitute Barcham - on for the injured Jimmy Ryan - to head over the top on the stretch.

Far from free-flowing, the Iron were struggling to contain Stanley when high, hanging balls were launched into the area.

It was an effective strategy, but, thankfully for Scunthorpe, was yet to yield a goal.

Clearly given the proverbial rocket by Knill at the interval, United were much more positive, and dominant, in the early exchanges of the second period.

Winger Mark Duffy, now operating higher up the pitch, flashed a 25-yard 52nd minute drive over the top as the Iron moved through the gears to good effect.

The home side were beginning to feel the pressure by the 55th minute, none more so than left back Kevin McIntyre, who headed Duffy's ball in from the left on to his own crossbar.

Although in the ascendancy, United were doing little to test Murdoch.

That was until the 67th minute, Thompson warming the palms of the Stanley stopper with a fierce drive at the near post.

Murdoch was scrambling again from the resulting corner, Paul Reid believing he had smuggled the ball across the line, but referee Oliver Langford was having none of it, giving the benefit of the doubt to the hosts.

And they were starting to need all the help they could get as the visitors turned the screw.

With delivery into the opposition area poor at best, United finally struck lucky when, with nine minutes to go, Barcham was pushed in the back by Kern Miller in the area.

Needing a cool head, Dagnall confidently strode forward and planted the ball into bottom right hand corner to send a patient Iron following into raptures behind the goal.

Barcham then added to the Scouser's effort late in the game, striding forward before sending a dipping shot into the back of the net from distance.

It confirmed a victory for Scunthorpe which, in truth, they deserved.

No matter how it was achieved, the Iron are into the Carling Cup second round draw.

TEAMS

ACCRINGTON STANLEY: Murdoch, Winnard, Miller, Long, McIntyre, Lindfield (Hessey 85), Joyce, Procter (c), Barnett (Murphy 85), Craney, Guthrie (Taylor 85); Dunbavin, Burton, Richardson.

SCUNTHORPE UNITED: Lillis, Wright, Nelson, Reid, Nolan, Duffy, Togwell (c), Collins, Ryan (Barcham 19), Dagnall (Robertson 86), Thompson (Grant 68); Slocombe, Wint, Palmer, Thewlis.

ATT: 1,356 (250 away approx)