Madden makes it sweet 60 for Iron

GRAHAM Alexander hailed Paddy Madden after his double secured him a place in Scunthorpe’s top 10 goalscorers of all time and preserved the Iron’s unbeaten record.

Madden’s strikes either side of the interval took his Iron tally to 60 goals as Plymouth were made to pay for Antoni Sarcevic’s red card on the stroke of half-time.

Further goals from Tom Hopper and Josh Morris poured more salt into Argyle wounds.

“We had to commit to scoring more goals because Plymouth carried a threat and we didn’t want to be on the receiving end of a hard-luck story,” said Iron manager Alexander

“I am delighted with the ruthlessness of the players, especially in the last half-an-hour.

“Paddy was more pleased with us winning today and getting the three points. Personal accolades like that are left to the end of your career.

“His work ethic never wavers and he scored two typical Paddy Madden goals today.

“I was delighted with our attacking play and really pleased to keep a clean sheet.”

Madden’s blushes were spared when he bundled home a 28thminute header having rattled the crossbar from close range when it looked easier to score.

Plymouth were reduced to 10 men on the stroke of half-time when Sarcevic received his marching orders for allegedly headbutting Madden.

The visitors doubled their lead when Hakeeb Adelakun tricked his way past Sonny Bradley before crossing for Madden to send a diving header past Luke McCormick.

The third arrived on 77 minutes, Hopper latching on to Morris’s cross before side-footing into the bottom corner. And Morris inflicted more misery on the Pilgrims in stoppage time, drilling the ball past Luke McCormick via the inside of the post.

Pilgrims boss Derek Adams slammed Sarcevic for the red card, saying: “He has let himself and his team-mates down.

“My player has done that and the opposition player has taken it upon himself to fall to the ground and the referee had no choice but to send him off.

“It put us on the back foot and it became a difficult afternoon. In a game I thought we were just getting into it and controlling we were down to 10 men.

“The goals we that conceded were shocking. We had a lot of possession and Scunthorpe scored with their first run down the side.”