The Iron came back from behind to draw 1-1 at Championship favourites Charlton Athletic.

After doing the majority of the attacking for the first hour, the Addicks went ahead on 62 minutes through Marcus Bent, but the Iron were galvanised by the goal and soon levelled through Izzy Iriekpen's header.

Scunthorpe will take this result, as they get their Championship points tally ticking over on the first day.

The only real surprise in the away team's line-up was the inclusion of striker Jonathan Forte at the expense of Martin Paterson in attack. Elsewhere, Matt Sparrow - who had missed all of the pre-season games - made a welcome return to the substitutes' bench.

It promised to be a tough challenge for the Iron, against a team widely expected to win promotion at the first attempt following their relegation from the Premiership last season.

The Addicks had brought 14 players in during the summer, shipping the same figure out - while the Iron had made six signings, with the hope of more to come.

Kicking off in beautiful summer sunshine, with a heated atmosphere at the Valley, it promised to be a great start to the season.

It was the home team who had the first shot of the game on seven minutes when Andy Reid's curling effort went just wide of Joe Murphy's right-hand post. It was an early warning for United.

However, moments later United had a great chance through Forte's header from a Jim Goodwin cross into the box. The attacker connected well, but former Manchester City 'stopper Nicky Weaver tipped the ball out at his bottom right-hand side.

Just a minute after that opportunity, Charlton went even closer when they hit the woodwork through the highly-rated Reid. His free-kick from 25 yards left Murphy helpless as it crashed back off the crossbar.

Scunthorpe were giving as good as they got though early on and Hayes flicked just wide of goal with a header from Goodwin's free-kick, which was delivered from the right-hand side of the penalty area.

From that point onwards Alan Pardew's side enjoyed the greater share of first half possession, and had another good opportunity to go ahead on 18 minutes when Madjid Bougherra headed over the crossbar from 12 yards after a Darren Ambrose centre.

The Addicks came close again two minutes later when former Everton marksman Bent belted the ball over the crossbar from 12 yards after getting himself into a good position on the left-hand side of the penalty area.

The lively Lloyd Sam was proving a threat to the Iron and he had their next effort on target on 30 minutes when he weaved his way past a number of Iron players before firing a shot in that Murphy saved well down to his right.

Next to come close for Charlton was ex-Ipswich and Newcastle man Ambrose on 39 minutes, but his effort from 20 yards was tipped out by Murphy.

In first half stoppage time, Forte had a half-chance for United when he beat his man and fired a left-footed shot in that Weaver struggled to get a grip of. That was the last chance of the opening period as the Iron held on at the break.

The Addicks would have wanted to start the second half in the same vein they played most of the opening period, and they had their next chance on 46 minutes when Bent found space on the right-hand side of the penalty area and fired into Murphy's left side-netting.

Charlton were still doing all the attacking, as Scunthorpe sat back and soaked up the pressure, and they had a shout for a penalty turned down by referee Trevor Kettle on 56 minutes when Iriekpen strongly challenged Bent. The home supporters were becoming increasingly frustrated as the underdogs continued to shut them out.

However, on 62 minutes the Addicks finally took the lead. The Iron failed to clear their lines after Reid mounted an attack and the ball reached Bent, in plenty of space, who rifled the ball past Murphy and into the roof of the net from eight yards. The assistant referee Darren Sheldrake felt the striker was in an offside position, but after discussing with his assistant, Kettle confirmed the ball took an Iron touch beforehand, playing him onside.

Charlton continued to press in an attempt to build on their advantage and came close through Reid, who forced a great save low down from Murphy, and then Ambrose, who fired wide of goal.

Nevertheless, the Iron were still in the game, and had a Forte strike from the edge of the area disallowed before levelling the scores on 68 minutes.

Kevan Hurst's superb delivery with a corner from the right was powered home by the head of an unmarked Iriekpen from 12 yards, to the mass delight of the Scunthorpe supporters behind the goal.

Now, the Iron, who replaced Forte with Paterson, were having their best spell of pressure and could have taken the lead on 73 minutes when Hurst's whipped cross from the left was acrobatically volleyed wide of goal by Cleveland Taylor.

Sparrow came on for Hayes on 80 minutes, and Taylor came close again a minute later when he headed over the top of the crossbar from a Hurst delivery.

The enigmatic Reid almost put the home team back ahead on their next attack but, after weaving his way past several me, he fired wide of Murphy's left-hand post. He had done all the hard work and could have done much better with the shot.

The Iron had two corners late on but nothing came of them and, despite five minutes of stoppage time, there were no more chances and United held on for the draw.

Scunthorpe are next in action on Tuesday night when they host Hartlepool United in the Carling Cup first round at Glanford Park.

Match Information:
Charlton Athletic: Weaver, Moutaouakil, Thatcher, McCarthy, Reid, Bent (Iwelumo, 74), Todorov (McLeod, 66), Ambrose, Sam, Bougherra, Semedo.
Substitutes not used: Randolph, Sinclair, Fortune.

Bookings: Iwelumo (89).

Scunthorpe United: Murphy, Byrne, Crosby, Iriekpen, Williams, Taylor, Goodwin, Baraclough, Hurst, Forte (Paterson, 72), Hayes (Sparrow, 79).
Substitutes not used: Lillis, Mulligan, Butler.

Bookings: Hurst (63).

Referee: T. Kettle ¦ Assistant Referees: S. Creighton and D. Sheldrake ¦ Fourth Official: J. Magill.

Attendance: 23,151.