The Iron went down to a 3-2 defeat against Stoke City.

United were ahead with three minutes remaining, as a Jim Goodwin blockbuster had seemingly given Scunthorpe a late win.

It turned around in dramatic fashion though as an unfortunate own goal from Paul Hayes, and a header in the final minute of stoppage time from Liam Lawrence secured all three points for the Potters when it looked like they would be coming home with none.

The visiting side had taken the lead through Richard Cresswell midway through the first half, but Hayes quickly levelled proceedings in a match which the Iron dominated.

That's how it stayed until the drama of the final few minutes.

Matt Sparrow missed the match with a dead leg as Scunthorpe made one change from the side that drew with Crystal Palace at the weekend.

Cliff Byrne, who was absent from the game with Palace at the weekend, started the match at right-back while Jack Cork, who filled in for him, started in the centre of midfield.

He replaced Sparrow, who was ruled out with a dead leg.

Elsewhere, Scunthorpe named an unchanged substitutes' bench from the weekend.

The stage was set for a battle against a strong, physical City side, who fired the first warning on two minutes when lightning fast forward Ricardo Fuller flashed an effort wide of goal after surging through on the right following a City clearance.

The Iron pressed well early on though, with Kevan Hurst getting some dangerous crosses into the box.

Stoke's next strike goalwards came from right-winger Rory Delap on 10 minutes, but his wayward cross high and wide of Joe Murphy's right-hand post.

Hurst, enjoying a fine season, had a shot blocked by the gangly legs of Leon Cort on 11 minutes as United continued to push forward.

Ryan Shawcross was next to come close for City, powering a header over the crossbar from Carl Dickinson's cross from the left-wing. The defender had come forward after Cliff Byrne's foul brought a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area, from which Danny Pugh fired against the defensive wall.

The Iron continued to get in to good positions and threaten going forward but it was the visitors who were to go ahead on 24 minutes, after a Stoke corner resulted in a goalmouth scramble. Pugh's corner caused all manner of mayhem in the United penalty area and Cresswell's goalbound shot was blocked. The ball came back into the danger zone and Cresswell touched home from close range to put Stoke a goal up. Scunthorpe and their support weren't too pleased though as they thought there was a handball from a Potters' player during the scramble.

The Iron weren't out of it though and Martin Paterson, facing his former club for the first time since signing for Scunthorpe from the Potters during the summer, flashed a right-footed drive over the crossbar.

An equaliser wasn't far away, and it came through Hayes for his third strike of the season on 29 minutes. HUrst's superb cross found Cleveland Taylor on the right, and his shot was blocked by Stoke defender Shawcross, but the ball came out to Hayes who sneaked in to thump the ball into the back of the net and level the scores.

Eight minutes later they could have gone ahead as they thumped the woodwork twice in a matter of seconds. First, Paterson curled against the crossbar with a superb effort from the edge of the area, easily beating Simonsen. The ball bounced back into play and Taylor received it, he crossed and the ball ricocheted off Shawcross and onto the crossbar again. The Iron's confidence in front of goal had increased.

It was a lively game, a far cry from the last two home matches, and the visiting side threatened again on 41 minutes when Cresswell's cross-cum-shot from the left-hand side of the penalty area was tipped out by Murphy. Fuller continued to threaten and had a shot blocked out for a corner. It would be the last chance of the opening period as the two teams went in level at the break.

Two minutes into the second half the Iron had what seemed a clear shout for a penalty denied when Cort handled in the area following a Hurst cross. Referee Lee Probert failed to point to the spot though, much to the annoyance of the United support.

Moments later Hurst had a shot blocked by Gabriel Zakuani from six yards as the hosts continued to press strongly. They won a succession of corners early in the second half and it was from the sixth that they created their next chance. Hurst played a short ball to Taylor, whose cross was headed towards goal by Hayes. However, Simonsen tipped it out and Tony Pulis' side lived to fight another day.

The visitors had a great chance on 57 minutes as Fuller raced through, but he lashed his effort, from the edge of the area, wide of goal under pressure from the United defence.

It was pulsating stuff at times and Hurst had the next chance of the night on 65 minutes when he received the ball on the left, advanced towards goal, and rocketed in an effort that went just over the Stoke crossbar.

Scunthorpe were forced into their first substitution of the night on 73 minutes when Byrne was replaced by Marcus Williams. He had to be stretchered off after sustaining a nasty-looking injury, making him a big doubt for Saturday's game at Blackpool. Kelly Youga switched to right-back as Williams slotted in on the left-hand side of defence.

They continued to have the better of the game and thought they had scored the match-winner on 85 minutes as Jim Goodwin thumped a glorious volley past Simonsen to seemingly seal all three points. The ball came out to the Irishman, who controlled it before firing into the Stoke 'stopper's top left-hand corner.

However, it wasn't to be for Nigel Adkins' men, as the away team hit back two minutes later to restore parity. Another scramble ensued after Lawrence's free kick, and the ball took a touch off Hayes and sneaked into the back of the United net.

It seemed like that would be the final score, but in the last minute of stoppage time City clinched a dramatic late winner through Lawrence. He connected on the right-hand side of the penalty area to head home a deep Pugh cross from the right to the mass delight of the Stoke fans behind the goal. The ball crept into the back of the net and Scunthorpe were beaten, despite putting in a great attacking display.

The Iron are next in action on Saturday when they visit Blackpool for the final game before another two-week international break.

Sponsors' man of the match: Jim Goodwin

Iron Bar man of the match: Kevan Hurst