The Sky Blues traveled to Lincolnshire in search of their fourth straight Sky Bet League One win, and their second away win in succession, as they faced a Scunthorpe United side who are unbeaten in two league games.
The home side were the first team to threaten the opposition goal following the opening exchanges of the match, despite their effort flying comfortably wide of Lee Burge’s left post.
The ball was whipped in from the right from Tony McMahon and Lee Novak’s diving header flew yards wide of the Sky Blue goal.
The Iron came into this game with a new-found confidence following two wins on the bounce that ended their dismal run of seven consecutive Sky Bet League One defeats and were threatening the Sky Blue goal once again.
This time the effort came from James Perch, who, from 25-yards out, curled a shot goalward which bounced just wide of the far post.
For all of their dominance in the opening 15 minutes, the Iron could only muster up shots from outside the area - none of which were any trouble to Lee Burge, and the Sky Blue defence were standing resolute as they looked to weather the early storm from the home side.
Minutes later, the Sky Blues spurned a wonderful chance to take the lead, and it was Jordy Hiwula who could not capitalise.
Shipley found Hiwula with a low pass into the Iron’s box. Hiwula took a touch, earned himself a yard of space and smashed the ball wide from 16-yards.
Down the other end, Luke Thomas who is normally known for his attacking ability was fulfilling his defensive duties as Cameron Borthwick-Jackson was gaining yards into the Sky Blue half.
Borthwick-Jackson made it to the Sky Blue byline and looked to chop inside, but, Thomas read the defenders thoughts and superbly won the ball back, and then earned a freekick to relieve the pressure.
The Sky Blues spent the majority of the first period defending; however, every so often they found themselves in the opposition half and putting the Iron defence under real pressure.
A few chances came and went, with Luke Thomas looking to feed Chaplin in the box, Dujon Sterling’s weaving run into the box not amounting to anything, and the most promising; Thomas’ effort from the edge of the of the box flying just over Jak Alnwick’s crossbar.
With 10 minutes left on the clock, Burge superbly denied George Thomas’ 16-yard effort to keep the scores level.
Thomas cut in from the right and unleashed a curling effort low to Burge’s right, and the Sky Blue goalkeeper got down well and palmed the ball away from danger.
The half was coming to a close, but the Iron still had a chance to try and test Burge from distance.
Kyle Wootton won the long ball and brought it down well, turned Michael Doyle and let a left-footed shot fly. However, the striker watched his shot fly high and wide of the Sky Blue goal.
HALF-TIME: Scunthorpe United 0 – 0 Sky Blues
The Iron came out in the second half and re-assumed control of the game, and immediately carved a chance out.
A well-worked move saw the ball fed to Levi Sutton on the edge of the Sky Blue box. Sutton leant back and blasted his shot over Burge’s crossbar.
The Sky Blues had fought their way back into the game and were pressuring the Iron defence.
Most of the attacking play was coming down the right wing through Luke Thomas and Dujon Sterling with the Sky Blues earning a succession of corners, which did not amount to anything.
Minutes later, the best chance of the second half so far fell the way of the Sky Blues and it was Luke Thomas who nearly broke the deadlock.
Following a corner from the left, the ball made it’s way to Thomas who cut inside his marker and unleashed a vicious shot from the edge of the box which must have kissed the post on its way out for a goal kick.
On the hour mark, the Sky Blues came mightily close to taking the lead but for heroics from Jak Alnwick.
Doyle delivered a deep corner kick to the back post, which was met by the head of Jonson Clarke-Harris.
Clarke-Harris headed towards goal and Alnwick pulled of a great save to deny the striker. A goal-line scramble then ensued, and somehow the ball was hacked away from danger rather than nestling in the back of the Scunthorpe United net.
With 25 minutes left on the clock, the Iron threatened the Sky Blue goal once again, and they were getting closer.
Great play on the left wing following a throw-in for the home side set Borthwick-Jackson away who delivered a ball into the Sky Blue box.
Lee Novak met the cross with his head and his effort brushed the side netting the wrong side of the post.
Only moments later the deadlock was broken, and the home side found themselves in the lead.
The ball fell to James Perch on the edge of the Sky Blue box and released an effort on goal. The shot seemed simple enough for Burge to gather, but for a deflection.
The deflection wrong-footed Burge and bobbled into the back of the net.
The Sky Blues responded well to going a goal down as a thunderous strike from Jonson Clarke-Harris flew inches over the bar, and Conor Chaplin saw his effort from 12-yards fly well wide of the goal.
However, only seven minutes after their first goal, the home side’s lead was doubled as Levi Sutton found himself in yards of space inside the Sky Blue box. After taking a touch, Sutton curled an effort from the right side of the box, away from Lee Burge and watched it nestle into the side netting.
However, the game was not over as the Sky Blues struck almost instantaneously.
Conor Chaplin got the goal after Tom Bayliss’ deflected effort was tipped onto the bar from Alnwick, but Chaplin was on hand to nod the loose ball into the back of the net.
The Sky Blues then pushed the home side back in search of an equaliser but could not manage to breach the Iron defence once again.
FULL-TIME: Scunthorpe United 2 – 1 Sky Blues
Sky Blues XI: Lee Burge (GK), Dujon Sterling, Jordan Willis, Dom Hyam, Brandon Mason (Sam McCallum ‘76), Michael Doyle (C) (Reise Allassani ’76), Tom Bayliss, Jordan Shipley, Luke Thomas, Jordy Hiwula (Jonson Clarke-Harris ’46), Conor Chaplin
Unused Subs: Corey Addai (GK), Jack Grimmer, Tom Davies, Zain Westbrooke
Scunthorpe United XI: Jak Alnwick (GK), Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, Tony McMahon, Funso Ojo, James Perch, Lee Novak (Clayton Lewis ’78), George Thomas, Cameron Burgess, Levi Sutton, Rory McArdle (C), Kyle Wootton
Unused Subs: Jonathan Flatt (GK), Byron Webster, Kevin van Veen, Andy Dales, Harrison McGahey, Adam Hammill
Yellow Cards: Levi Sutton ’81, Tom Bayliss ‘82
Goals: James Perch ’67, Levi Sutton ’74, Conor Chaplin ‘78
Attendance: 4,692, Sky Blues Not Announced