Full-time: Scunthorpe United 4 Wycombe Wanderers 1

Ten-man Scunthorpe United turned on the style to crush relegation rivals Wycombe Wanderers at Glanford Park.

The Iron made light of Michael O'Connor's sending off in first-half injury-time to romp to their biggest win of the campaign.

By the time the midfielder had seen red, the home side were already 2-0 up thanks to opportunism by Paul Reid and Andy Barcham.

It was the first time this season they have had the luxury of a two-goal lead at half-time, on the back of an opening 45 minutes they dominated.

Rather than struggle at being a man down after the break, Scunthorpe impressively turned on the style and wrapped the match up by scoring twice more within nine minutes of the start of the second half.

Barcham got the third goal, his ninth of the season, before Jon Parkin followed up to slam the ball home after a free-kick had been spilled by the visiting keeper.

United, who drafted in Damien Mozika for the suspended Sam Togwell, made the perfect start against the side directly below them in the table – forging ahead after just five minutes.

Normally at home in the United penalty area, defensive duo David Mirfin and Reid, who was handed the skipper's armband for the first time in his Iron career, made a nuisance of themselves in the opposition box.

The former had a close range shot blocked when a corner was not fully cleared and Reid followed up to flick the ball past stranded keeper Nikki Bull.

Mirfin was busier at the top end of the field than at the back as the Chairboys, whose attack was led by former Iron striker Paul Hayes, were restricted to hopeful efforts from the edge of the box.

He also came close to grabbing a goal in the 21st minute, prodding wide as he raced in to meet Mark Duffy's low centre.

It was no surprise, given his earlier influence, that the on-loan Watford centre-back did play a part when Scunthorpe finally managed to double their lead 11 minutes before the break.

Again he had an effort blocked, when Josh Walker's deep corner had found him at the back post, and this time Barcham reacted quickest to notch.

It was almost the perfect half for the hosts, yet for the second match in succession their efforts on the ball were spoiled by those off it.

Unhappy at a challenge from Wanderers' Craig Eastmond, O'Connor reacted angrily by kicking out at the visiting midfielder while the pair were on the ground.

It gave referee Andrew Madley no choice but to send off the  Northern Ireland international – just days after they saw a lead at Sheffield United wiped out by Togwell's dismissal.

In light of their numerical disadvantage, the Iron had to ensure they made every chance count in the second half.

Extending their lead within 120 seconds of the restart was the perfect start.

Barcham raced clear of the pedestrian Gary Docherty to latch on to Duffy's pinpoint pass and he slid his shot past the advancing Bull.

If the Wanderers keeper could do little about that effort, the same could not be said seven minutes later as he gift-wrapped Scunthorpe a fourth goal.

Walker's central free-kick from 25 yards was on target, but relatively routine, yet the Chairboys stopper fumbled it, allowing Jon Parkin to steam in and smash home the rebound.

Wycombe boss Gary Waddock responded by making his final two substitutions, introducing Matt Bloomfield and Ben Strevens and playing with three up front.

But while Wanderers went for it, they struggled to fashion much in the way of chances, though Sam Slocombe reacted well to deny Eastmond as he broke through one-on-one just before the hour mark.

United were still the most dangerous side going forward, with the Chairboys back four at sixes and sevens as they were caught out on the break time after time.

Full-back Jamie Reckord skewed wide after meeting a looping ball into the box and fellow defender Christian Ribeiro held on to possession too long after cutting in from the touchline.

Wycombe did get their reward for a good move down the right-hand side, which saw substitute Gareth Ainsworth cross for Matt McClure to head home at the back post.

But it was never going to prove anything other than a consolation, as Scunthorpe eased to only their fourth win of the season at Glanford Park.

SCUNTHORPE: Slocombe, Ribeiro, Mirfin, Reid, Reckord, Mozika, O'Connor, Walker, Duffy (Thompson 80), Parkin (Robertson 80), Barcham (Grant 80). Subs not used: Byrne, Ryan.

WYCOMBE: Bull, McCoy, Laing (Bloomfield 55), Doherty, Basey, Hackett (Ainsworth 49), Lewis (Strevens 55), Eastmond, McNamee, Hayes, McClure. Subs not used: Foster, Johnson.

ATTENDANCE: 3,811 (194 away).

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