Managerless Leyton Orient left Glanford Park empty-handed as promotion-chasing Scunthorpe United laboured to a 2-1 victory.

The hosts dominated much of the game but struggled to find a cutting edge in front of goal.

Leading marksman Gary Hooper was twice denied in the early stages by rookie goalkeeper Jamie Jones, but it was Orient who might have snatched an unlikely lead when Jason Demetriou fired a free-kick straight at keeper Joe Murphy.

Scunthorpe finally broke the deadlock in the 44th minute when a right-wing cross from Martyn Woolford found Paul Hayes lurking at the far post for his 14th goal of the season.

Orient stunned the home side with a 59th minute equaliser when Dean Morgan went racing through the middle to finish well past Murphy. But five minutes later Garry Thompson scored the winner for Scunthorpe, curling a good shot past Jones with the outside of his right foot.

Woolford came close to a third goal for Scunthorpe in the closing minutes with a shot that came back off the post.