The Iron recorded their first home victory in almost five months by defeating Charlton Athletic 1-0 at Glanford Park.

A goal from substitute Martin Paterson on 63 minutes sealed the success for Nigel Adkins' side as they collected an invaluable three Championship points.

Shortly after the goal, Scunthorpe were reduced to ten men after Andy Butler was sent off for a second bookable offence, but they dug deep and held on.

It was a notable scalp for the hosts, as they moved within a point of safety after defeating the promotion-chasing Addicks.

United started with deadline day signing Geoff Horsfield up front. The Sheffield United loan frontman partnered the recalled Paul Hayes in attack.

Elsewhere, Andy Crosby and Cliff Byrne returned to the defence, while Keavn Hurst and Jim Goodwin started in midfield.

In total there were six changes from the team that lost 2-0 at Burnley last week, with Shelton Martis (who had returned to West Brom following a loan spell), Jack Hobbs, Ian Morris, Matt Sparrow, Paterson and Ben May all dropping out.

Joe Murphy started the game in goal, with Byrne, Crosby, Butler and Marcus Williams completing the back four.

The midfield comprised of Jack Cork, Goodwin, Grant McCann (making his first home start) and Hurst.

Meanwhile, Hayes and Horsfield led the line - with the former playing just behind the latter.

The substitutes' bench consisted of Josh Lillis, Hobbs, Paterson, Morris and May.

Former Scunthorpe left-back Kelly Youga started for the Addicks.

There was a slight chill in the air at Glanford Park, despite the sunshine which greeted the two teams as they made their way on to the pitch for the game.

United desperately needed a win, any kind of win. They had failed to be victorious at home for almost five months and were facing a Charlton side pushing for promotion.

The signing of Horsfield had galvanised the supporters and the team heading into the match though and the Iron went into the match optimistic of causing another upset, like they did at the Valley against the same opposition on the opening day of the season when an Izzy Iriekpen goal clinched a surprise 1-1 draw.

Before the game a minute's silence was held for midfielder Mick Atkin who passed away a fortnight ago. Atkin had served the club well for six seasons during the 1970's and still lived in the area.

The hosts began the game well and, attacking towards the Study United Stand, had their first shot on goal in the fourth minute when Charlton failed to clear, and the ball came out as far as Goodwin, whose volleyed effort cleared the crossbar.

Athletic had their first strike on goal on ten minutes when Darren Ambrose dribbled down the right wing and sent in a low shot across goal which Murphy easily gathered.

Scunthorpe registered their next chance on 13 minutes when McCann's free-kick from the left-wing was directed just wide of goal by Horsfield.

After Paddy McCarthy's foul on Horsfield on the edge of the 18-yard box, McCann curled in a free-kick which drifted just wide of Nicky Weaver's left-hand post.

Then, Horsfield knocked the ball down for Hurst, who let fly with a swerving shot which went wide of Weaver's top left-upright.

It was a scrappy opening, with the wind having an obvious effect as the two teams battled for supremacy in the middle of the park.

The next Scunthorpe chance came the way of McCann, with another free-kick, but he curled his effort from the right just over Weaver's right-hand post.

The visitors were often a threat with their measured passing, and Matt Holland drew a routine save from Murphy with a low drive from the edge of the 18-yard box.

In truth, it had been a quiet first-half with a couple of flair-ups between both sides proving to be the main highlights - with Horsfield and Madjid Bougherra enjoying a keen rivalry.

A moment of note during that period came when Butler was shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour following a foul on Zheng Zhi.

Referee Andy Penn blew his whistle for the half-time interval as the two teams went in locked at 0-0, an in truth neither looked like scoring.

The Addicks made one change at the interval with Jerome Thomas replacing Lloyd Sam on the wing, and he made an immediate impact, setting up Andy Gray to tap in with a low cross from the left a minute after coming on.

However, as Gray wheeled away to celebrate, he was flagged up for offside and United could breathe again.

Hurst whipped an effort wide after a decent pass from McCann. The winger's effort from 25 yards went just wide of the post from 25 yards as Scunthorpe tried to force their home advantage.

They continued to press, and Horsfield flashed a header wide from a Hurst cross from the left as then pressure continued.

The Iron made their first change of the game five minutes into the second half when Paterson replaced Hurst to add more pace to the frontline.

And it took him just over ten minutes to make an impact, as Cliff Byrne's deep cross was poorly cleared by Moutaouskil and reached Paterson on the edge of the penalty area, who buried home with a strike across goal from the left which Weaver had no chance of saving.

Shooting from distance, Holland drew a comfortable save from Murphy with a powerful drive. Substitute Chris Iwelumo, who replaced Luke Varney was next to come close, mis-hitting a right-footed effort which the Iron stopper saved easily on 73 minutes.

The visitors were handed a huge boost though just a minute later when Butler was shown his second yellow card of the afternoon and was sent off.

The centre-back had fouled Ambrose and had to go off. The Iron made a quick alteration, with Hobbs replacing Hayes. The Liverpool loanee would go on to partner captain Crosby at the heart of the defence.

At that point, the away team were boosted and United had to withstand some pressure from the Addicks, yet they never really created anything of substance.

The tired, yet still effective, Horsfield was replaced by Morris with ten minutes remaining as Scunthorpe tightened up in midfield.

The visitors pressed in search of an equaliser, and came ever so close to getting it in the first minute out of four in stoppage time when substitute Izale McLeod advanced on goal and drew a superb stop from Murphy.

They visitors continued to push forward for the remainder of the game, but the Iron dug deep and stayed strong - blocking everything that came their way, much to the adulation of a buoyant home crowd.

When the referee Penn blew his whistle for full-time the stadium erupted and the Glanford Park faithful celebrated a massive win.

Scunthorpe are next in action a week on Saturday when they visit Sheffield United. After that, their next three games are at 'Fortress Glanford Park' as they seek to secure Championship safety.

Iron Bar man of the match: Jack Cork

Sponsors' man of the match: Geoff Horsfield.