Scunthorpe defeated Sheffield United 3-2 in an action-packed Glanford Park classic.

United went two up through goals either side of half-time from Andy Crosby and Martin Paterson before a Danny Webber double leveled proceedings late on.

It looked like the Iron had lost two invaluable league points but, after the double sending-off of Cliff Byrne and Blades' defender Derek Geary, Matt Sparrow struck at the back-post to seal a superb win for Nigel Adkins' side, who move up to fourth in the table.

They made two changes from the team that lost at Bristol City last week, with left-back Kelly Youga replacing Marcus Williams in the eleven, and Ian Baraclough coming into the team in place of Cleveland Taylor. Sparrow switched to the right wing to accommodate Baraclough in the centre of midfield.

Elsewhere, coming back onto the substitutes' bench was Daniel McBreen following a ten-month lay-off from first team action. Kevan Hurst lined up against his former club on the left wing while Jonathan Forte figured on the substitutes' bench.

Leading the line for the Blades, wearing a luminous yellow away strip, was former Scunthorpe hero Billy Sharp, who partnered £4 million fellow summer arrival James Beattie in attack.

Glanford Park was sold out for the visit of Bryan Robson's team, with an excellent atmosphere welcoming the players out onto the pitch, with Sharp receiving a terrific reception from a Scunthorpe support appreciative of his efforts over the past two seasons.

The first attempt of the afternoon came the Iron's way on two minutes when Hurst received the ball on the left-hand side of the penalty area, getting it under control before firing in an effort that Paddy Kenny saved at his bottom right-hand post.

Sharp had the away team's first shot on target on eight minutes when he connected with a Leigh Bromby cross from the right to volley in a low right-footed effort that Iron 'stopper Joe Murphy comfortably saved at his bottom left-hand post.

It was an even opening, with both midfields battling for supremacy. The Iron thought they had taken an early lead on 18 minutes when Paterson burst clear and, from the right-hand side of the penalty area, slid the ball across goal and past Kenny. However, Scunthorpe celebrations were shortlived as the referee and his assistants appeared to rule the former Stoke marksman as being in an offside position, even though the last touch appeared to be from a Sheffield player.

Two minutes later, United had their next chance when captain Crosby headed over the crossbar from the left-hand side of the penalty area following Hurst's delivery from a free kick on the left.

At this point the Iron were edging it in terms of possession, but with their striking power the visitors were always a danger.

The next chance came the way of Beattie on 29 minutes, as he chested the ball down and acrobatically volleyed an effort into the arms of Murphy from the edge of the 18-yard box.

The Blades' next chance also came Beattie's way on 36 minutes. Sparrow fouled Nick Montgomery 25 yards from goal, but Murphy easily saved Beattie's curled free-kick.

The away team were starting to enjoy a decent spell of pressure and a minute later Sharp came close again with a fizzing low volley from 12 yards, on the turn, which Murphy got low down to save well.

Nevertheless, moments later the home team were ahead through Crosby on 37 minutes. The skipper was at the back post to rifle home on the volley following Baraclough's free-kick delivery from the left. Butler flicked the ball on for the centre-back to smash the ball past Kenny. It was the skipper's first goal of the season.

The away team seemed to step it up a gear up to half-time after that, and Montgomery's stinging effort went narrowly over the crossbar as Bryan Robson's team pressed.

Scunthorpe had another chance on 43 minutes, and it was through Crosby again. The United skipper curled a cross-cum shot in from the right that Kenny saw go just over his crossbar as it curled across goal.

And that would prove the last chance of the first half as the Iron went in a goal up at the break.

Sheffield United came out looking hungry to level at the start of the second period, but struggled to muster much going forward and it seemed they would live to regret it as Scunthorpe took control.

The first real chance of the second half came the home team's way on 56 minutes when Sparrow surged forward and drove the ball just over the crossbar from 25 yards.

Scunthorpe continued to press and were unlucky that nobody got on the end of a great Hurst cross from the left two minutes later.

Then, on 60 minutes, Paterson was played through on the left by Hurst and he beat his man before firing a curling effort over the crossbar from the edge of the area.

Forte came on for Hayes a minute later took just seconds to make an impact as Scunthorpe doubled their advantage with his pass playing Paterson clear on the edge of the penalty area before advancing on Kenny and placing the ball into the back of the net with his right foot from 12 yards for his fourth goal of the season. The striker has now scored in every competitive start he's made for Nigel Adkins' side.

Despite now being two up, Scunthorpe continued to press and could have added to their lead when Forte headed wide from a Hurst cross on 69 minutes.

Sharp had another attempt on goal, with his header from a Michael Tonge cross comfortably saved by Murphy. The Iron had just changed formations, bringing on Taylor for Paterson and reverting to 4-5-1 as Forte led the line up front on his own.

He had another opportunity on 73 minutes as he won the ball from Matt Kilgallon before firing wide of Kenny's bottom right-hand post from the edge of the penalty area.

Then came, arguably, the turning point of the game. Jonathan Stead and Alan Quinn replaced Sharp and Chris Armstrong.The visiting side weren't finished and pulled a goal back on 78 minutes when fellow substitute Webber, who replaced Keith Gillespie on 63 minutes, reacted at the back post to nod past Murphy from six yards after Beattie's header across goal from the right. It set up a nervy finish for Scunthorpe.

And it was to get worse for Scunthorpe on 83 minutes when Webber netted his second inside five minutes. It was similar to the previous goal as Beattie headed across from the left this time and the former Watford man reacted at the back post to strike past Murphy. The scores were now level.

The drama was to continue as both sides had a man sent off on 88 minutes. The Blades' Derek Geary and United's Cliff Byrne were both dismissed after a flare-up on the right touch-line. Both had previously being booked and the two teams had to finish the game with ten men.

And then came the last act in a Glanford Park classic as the Iron went back ahead inside the first minute of stoppage time. Hurst's free kick from the right caused all manner of mayhem in the Sheffield United penalty area and, after the Blades backline failed to clear their lines, Sparrow pounced at Kenny's left-hand post to fire home the match-winner - his first goal of the season.

An extra three minutes of stoppage time followed but there wasn't enough time for the Blades to respond as United held on for a superb win over their rivals.

Nigel Adkins' team have a two-week international break to enjoy now before facing Barnsley at Oakwell in their next game on Saturday September 15.

Match Information:
Scunthorpe United: Murphy, Byrne, Crosby, Butler, Youga, Sparrow, Goodwin, Baraclough, Hurst, Paterson (Taylor, 66), Hayes (Forte, 61).
Substitutes not used: Lillis, McBreen, Cork.

Bookings: Byrne, Murphy, Forte, Sparrow.

Red Card: Byrne (second bookable).

Sheffield United: Kenny, Bromby, Morgan, Kilgallon, Geary, Gillespie (Webber, 63), Tonge, Montgomery, Armstrong (Stead, 77), Sharp (Quinn, 77), Beattie.
Substitutes not used: Bennett, Lucketti.

Bookings: Geary, Beattie, Bromby.

Red Card: Geary (straight red).

Referee: K. Stroud ¦ Assistant Referees: J. Devine and G. Brittain ¦ Fourth Official: C. Pawson.

Iron Bar man of the match: Youga.

Attendance: 8,801 (2,205 away).