In-form Derby County earned a record sixth successive victory at Pride Park.
Tomasz Cywka put the home side ahead, collecting Alberto Bueno's pass on the edge of the box and firing in.
Jonathan Forte showed great strength to level from 12 yards but Kris Commons restored the lead from the spot after Bueno was fouled by Michael O'Connor.
Luke Moore's 18-yard strike made it 3-1 and although Gareth Roberts saw red for a second caution and O'Connor's penalty made it 3-2, the Rams held on.
It was a slightly nervy final 15 minutes for Nigel Clough's men but they showed plenty of defensive quality to back up the free-flowing football.
Despite their man advantage, Scunthorpe barely threatened late on with substitutes Trent McClenahan and Garry Thompson both missing the target and Josh Wright shooting over from long range.
The margin of victory had looked like being greater until Roberts saw red for a second caution on 75 minutes.
Cywka's sweetly-struck opener when Bueno slid the ball inside from the right and the Pole drove a shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box put the Rams on their way.
And they almost doubled their lead after eight minutes but visiting keeper Joe Murphy tipped a long-range Commons shot around the post.
Scunthorpe almost equalised when Rob Jones' header from O'Connor's cross struck a post but Forte did make it 1-1 when he latched on to O'Connor's pass and beat Frank Fielding from 12 yards.
But the game's main talking point was the controversial penalty won by Bueno when the Spaniard did well to force his way into the area, and then appeared to go down very easily.
Scunthorpe complained, but to no avail, and Commons smashed home the spot-kick.
Luke Moore then seemed to have wrapped up all three points just before the hour mark, when he shot into the top corner after a fine pass from Cywka.
But when Roberts was sent off for bringing down Freddie Sears, O'Connor converted the penalty and the Rams were made to sweat for their win.
Live text and stats
Saturday, 20 November 2010
Npower Championship
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Derby
3-2
Scunthorpe
FT
(HT 2-1)
Cywka 3
Commons (pen) 37
Moore 59
Forte 27
O'Connor (pen) 75
Derby
34 Fielding
02 Brayford
03 Roberts two yellow cards, red card
06 Leacock
04 Green
08 Savage
11 Pearson
19 Cywka
10 Commons (Moxey 76)
27 Bueno (Pringle 63)
28 Moore (Kuqi 87)
Substitutes
01 Bywater,
14 Anderson,
21 Moxey,
18 Pringle,
09 Kuqi,
23 Doyle
Scunthorpe
01 Murphy
03 McNulty
05 Jones
06 Byrne yellow card
12 Raynes (McClenahan 45+3)
08 O'Connor
16 Wright yellow card
31 McDonald
10 Sears
14 Forte (Thompson 84)
20 N'Guessan (Woolford 55)
Substitutes
33 Warner,
28 McClenahan,
29 Palmer,
07 Woolford,
11 Thompson,
09 Dagnall,
24 Godden
Ref: LiningtonAtt: 25,189
DERBY
SCUNTHORPE
Possession
Derby58%
Scunthorpe42%
Attempts on target
Derby7
Scunthorpe2
Attempts off target
Derby4
Scunthorpe7
Corners
Derby8
Scunthorpe5
Fouls
Derby9
Scunthorpe19
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+5:50 The final whistle goes and the game is over.
90:00+3:21 Corner taken right-footed by Michael O'Connor, Effort from 20 yards by Garry Thompson. Save by Frank Fielding.
90:00+2:19 Josh Wright takes a long range shot clearing the bar.
88:04 Corner taken by Michael O'Connor from the right by-line to the near post, Header from deep inside the penalty area by Garry Thompson goes harmlessly over the crossbar.
86:07 Substitution Shefki Kuqi joins the action as a substitute, replacing Luke Moore.
83:30 Shot from just outside the box by Trent McClenahan goes over the crossbar.
83:30 Substitution Garry Thompson is brought on as a substitute for Jonathan Forte.
79:46 Ben Pringle takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Michael O'Connor.
76:31 Rob Jones concedes a free kick for a foul on Luke Moore. Free kick taken by Robbie Savage.
75:51 Substitution Kris Commons leaves the field to be replaced by Dean Moxey.
74:59 Gareth Roberts concedes a Penalty for a foul on Martyn Woolford.
74:59 GOAL - Michael O'Connor:Derby 3 - 2 Scunthorpe Michael O'Connor scores a penalty. Derby 3-2 Scunthorpe.
74:50 Sent off Gareth Roberts shown a red card for second bookable offence.
72:21 Foul by Gareth Roberts on Freddie Sears, free kick awarded. Joe Murphy takes the free kick.
72:21 Booking Gareth Roberts is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
71:07 Shot by Luke Moore. Save by Joe Murphy.
65:07 Free kick awarded for a foul by Robbie Savage on Kevin McDonald. Josh Wright crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from left channel, clearance by Ben Pringle.
63:22 Ben Pringle gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Trent McClenahan. Free kick crossed by Michael O'Connor, save by Frank Fielding.
62:19 Substitution Ben Pringle on for Alberto Bueno.
61:43 Jonathan Forte concedes a free kick for a foul on John Brayford. Robbie Savage takes the direct free kick.
58:03 Tomasz Cywka provided the assist for the goal.
58:03 GOAL - Luke Moore:Derby 3 - 1 Scunthorpe Luke Moore scores a goal from just inside the area to the top left corner of the goal. Derby 3-1 Scunthorpe.
56:56 Kevin McDonald gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Robbie Savage. Frank Fielding restarts play with the free kick.
55:44 Headed effort from inside the penalty area by Tomasz Cywka misses to the right of the target.
54:25 Alberto Bueno takes a corner.
54:25 Substitution Dany N'Guessan goes off and Martyn Woolford comes on.
52:27 The assistant referee flags for offside against Freddie Sears. Indirect free kick taken by Frank Fielding.
47:49 Stephen Pearson takes a shot. Blocked by Joe Murphy.
46:46 Unfair challenge on John Brayford by Dany N'Guessan results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Dean Leacock.
45:01 The second half has started.
Half Time
45:00+3:24 The ref blows to signal half-time.
45:00+2:51 Substitution Trent McClenahan on for Michael Raynes.
44:26 Free kick awarded for a foul by Freddie Sears on Robbie Savage. Robbie Savage restarts play with the free kick.
43:36 Unfair challenge on Alberto Bueno by Michael O'Connor results in a free kick. Robbie Savage takes the direct free kick.
40:13 Kris Commons decides to take the corner short. Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kris Commons by Rob Jones. The ball is sent over by Kris Commons, Dean Leacock has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the target.
39:14 Foul by Cliff Byrne on Kris Commons, free kick awarded. Robbie Savage delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, Michael Raynes manages to make a clearance.
39:14 Booking Cliff Byrne receives a yellow card.
37:58 Stephen Pearson challenges Rob Jones unfairly and gives away a free kick. Joe Murphy restarts play with the free kick.
37:21 Michael O'Connor challenges Robbie Savage unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Robbie Savage.
36:29 Michael O'Connor gives away a Penalty for an unfair challenge on Alberto Bueno.
34:57 Alberto Bueno takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, Cliff Byrne makes a clearance.
33:08 Unfair challenge on Kris Commons by Cliff Byrne results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by John Brayford.
31:54 Free kick awarded for a foul by Dany N'Guessan on Kris Commons. Free kick taken by Robbie Savage.
31:05 Stephen Pearson concedes a free kick for a foul on Michael O'Connor. Joe Murphy takes the free kick.
29:00 Foul by Josh Wright on Tomasz Cywka, free kick awarded. Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Kris Commons.
29:00 Booking Booking for Josh Wright for unsporting behaviour.
28:15 Shot from 18 yards by Tomasz Cywka. Joe Murphy makes a save.
27:47 Alberto Bueno takes a short corner.
26:24 Assist on the goal came from Michael O'Connor.
26:24 GOAL - Jonathan Forte:Derby 1 - 1 Scunthorpe Jonathan Forte grabs a goal from inside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Derby 1-1 Scunthorpe.
25:40 Corner taken by Kris Commons from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Rob Jones.
23:52 Robbie Savage challenges Freddie Sears unfairly and gives away a free kick. Michael O'Connor crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from left channel.
21:28 Free kick awarded for a foul by Michael O'Connor on Stephen Pearson. The free kick is swung in left-footed by Kris Commons.
20:54 Luke Moore concedes a free kick for a foul on Michael Raynes. Direct free kick taken by Cliff Byrne.
20:32 Jonathan Forte produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide left of the target.
19:43 Foul by Cliff Byrne on Kris Commons, free kick awarded. Robbie Savage restarts play with the free kick.
18:17 Corner from the right by-line taken by Michael O'Connor, clearance made by Luke Moore.
16:49 Michael O'Connor takes the outswinging corner, Header from inside the area by Rob Jones strikes the post.
15:59 Kris Commons takes a inswinging corner to the near post, clearance made by Michael O'Connor.
13:03 Kevin McDonald concedes a free kick for a foul on Alberto Bueno. Direct free kick taken by Robbie Savage.
12:11 Rob Jones concedes a free kick for a foul on John Brayford. Frank Fielding restarts play with the free kick.
11:15 Foul by John Brayford on Jonathan Forte, free kick awarded. Michael O'Connor delivers the ball, Rob Jones produces a headed effort from deep inside the six-yard box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
7:30 Kris Commons fouled by Michael O'Connor, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Robbie Savage. Kris Commons has an effort at goal. Save made by Joe Murphy. Kris Commons decides to take the corner short, Kris Commons takes a shot from just outside the penalty area clears the crossbar.
6:14 Corner taken by Michael O'Connor.
4:45 Jonathan Forte concedes a free kick for a foul on Frank Fielding. Direct free kick taken by Dean Leacock.
3:05 Shot by Dany N'Guessan from outside the area goes high over the crossbar.
2:18 The assist for the goal came from Alberto Bueno.
2:18 GOAL - Tomasz Cywka:Derby 1 - 0 Scunthorpe Tomasz Cywka finds the net with a goal from just outside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Derby 1-0 Scunthorpe.
0:27 Tomasz Cywka has an effort at goal. Save by Joe Murphy.
0:00 The referee gets the game started.
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