Scunthorpe United 1 Hull City 5: Strikers are proving shrewd investment as Tigers eye play-offs

Matty Fryatt got his first hat-trick for the Tigers to make it six goals in six games since his £1.5m transfer from Leicester and Aaron Mclean notched his first goals for his new club following his £1m arrival from Peterborough in January.

Together they helped the Tigers maul a struggling Scunthorpe side without a home win since August.

“I am delighted for Aaron because he has been so unlucky not to get on the scoresheet before,” said Pearson.

“We all know the value he brings to our team in the dressing room and the fans, too, can see how hard he has been working.

“As for Matty, he’s been on fire again, that is why we wanted to bring him here from Leicester.

“But for our two strikers to get the number of opportunities they have had today takes an all-round team performance. On a difficult pitch we had to dig in and battle.

“We are working hard at this club to make progress forward both in the long-term and the short.”

Scunthorpe manager Ian Baraclough expressed his belief his side would still avoid relegation despite being worried by the heavy loss.

“We have got some strong characters in our dressing room now,” he insisted.

“There is enough there to make believe that we are still more than capable of getting out of trouble.

“Once again we have made it difficult for ourselves by giving away an early goal.

“After that, I thought we were dominant and we didn’t want half-time to come. But individual errors are costing us dearly. We have got to make sure the new faces settle in quickly but I think there were some promising signs.”

Scunthorpe United: Lillis, Andrew Wright, Reid, Nelson, Nolan, Duffy, Togwell, Hughes, Grant (Collins 73), Miller, Garner. Unused substitutes: Slocombe, Dagnall, Raynes, Josh Wright, Godden, Cowan Hall.

Hull City: Guzan, McShane, Chester, Gerrard, Dawson, Stewart (Solano 85), Evans, Cairney (Barmby 59), Koren (Belaid 82), Mclean, Fryatt. Unused substitutes: Duke, Devitt, Simpson, Bradley.

Referee: M Haywood (W Yorkshire).

Man of the match: Andy Dawson.