Scunthorpe United 1 Leeds United 4: Grayson happy at Whites response

That spirit was underlined by skipper Jonny Howson, who helped himself to a second-half hat-trick to condemn Scunthorpe to a fourth defeat in seven home games.

Howson struck on 60, 74 and 75 minutes after an early goal from Max Gradel had been cancelled out for Scunthorpe by an equalising header from skipper Cliff Byrne.

Grayson said: "I'm delighted with the way we responded to our defeat against Cardiff last Monday night.

"We had to show some good qualities to achieve that and that shows the spirit we have got in this club.

"I was a little disappointed in the first half because I did not think we put their back four under enough pressure. But we got at them much better in the second half and caused them problems.

"It was a great hat-trick from Jonny but it was a good all-round team performance. Andy O'Brien came in for us for his debut and looked solid.

"We know the qualities he has and I'm sure he will do even better for us once he gets fitter because he has not had much first team football.

"It was a good result for us but we're not going to get carried away. We still know we have a lot of work to do in certain areas.

"Scunthorpe can be a difficult place to come and on the back of two good away results for them we knew it would be tough.

"We did have an anxious moment in the opening minute when we almost gifted them a goal but we got over that and managed to take control of the game."

One of just three starting survivors from Leeds last visit to Glanford Park in August 2008, United's 22-year-old homegrown midfielder scored with his right foot, his left foot and his head.

Leeds took the lead after eight minutes through Gradel's first of the season.

The Ivorian, back in the side at the expense of Davide Somma, drove home low across Tony Warner's goal after a neat ball into him from Howson.

Good work from loanee Freddie Sears earned Iron a corner, and from Michael O'Connor's ball in, Byrne got up at the back post to bury a header beyond Kasper Schmeichel, although Leeds felt O'Brien had been impeded in the process.

Leeds were back in front when Paul Connolly's cross went to the back post, where Howson was waiting to crash home a third of the season.

Leeds were in command and Howson underlined that with his second, a back-post header after a Gradel cross, before Luciano Becchio played the midfielder through on goal to complete a maiden career treble.

Scunthorpe: Warner, Byrne, Mirfin (Canavan 46), Raynes, Nolan, O'Connor, Wright (Forte 76), Togwell, Woolford, Dagnall (Thompson 68), Sears. Unused substitutes: Slocombe, Grant, Collins, McClenahan.

Leeds United: Schmeichel, Connolly, Bruce, O'Brien, McCartney, Snodgrass (Nunez 83), Kilkenny, Faye (Johnson 55), Howson, Gradel, Becchio (Paynter 81). Unused substitutes: Brown, Collins, Hughes, Somma.

Referee: R Booth (Nottinghamshire).

Man of the match: Jonny Howson.

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