Ian Morris' deflected goal handed Scunthorpe a lifeline in their bid to avoid immediate relegation back to League One.

Morris played a neat one-two with on-loan striker Geoff Horsfield and the midfielder's strike hit a Plymouth defender before flying past a helpless Lee McCormick 10 minutes after half-time.

It was the sort of goal that launches unlikely relegation escapes and with an improving home record Nigel Adkins' men can be hopeful their fate is not yet sealed.

Things went from bad to worse for goalkeeper McCormick as he was given his marching orders for handling outside his area with 20 minutes left.

The Iron, who have now taken 10 points from five matches at Glanford Park, were clearly intent on bouncing back from their defeat by Hull in Saturday's Humber derby.

But the Pilgrims arrived as one of the form teams in the Championship, with five wins from their last seven, and had the ball in the net inside the first quarter of an hour, only to be denied by an offside flag.

McCormick was given an early sighter when Jim Goodwin let fly inside 30 seconds, and the Pilgrims goalkeeper did well to turn his shot around the post.

The Iron were dealt an early blow when Andy Crosby was forced off and replaced by on-loan Liverpool defender Jack Hobbs.

Then Jamie Mackie was twice thwarted in quick succession by a determined Scunthorpe defence.

The Scottish midfielder, who cost Plymouth an initial fee of only £145,000 from Exeter in the transfer window, should have scored his 15th goal of the season and third for Argyle after 10 minutes when he was picked out by Lee Hodges.

Mackie again came close to breaking the deadlock on the half-hour mark but Joe Murphy did well to push the ball behind.

From a Grant McCann corner, Hobbs' shot was well parried by McCormick, and Ian Baraclough should have done better when the hosts were allowed a second bite of the cherry.

Hodges was again instrumental for Argyle with an incisive run after 40 minutes but Steven MacLean could not apply the finish.

Plymouth re-emerged more dynamic and Mackie was given another glimpse of goal but his tame shot was easily dealt with by Murphy.

Peter Halmosi was also a whisker away with a sharp left-footed strike.

Then Morris and Horsfield combined for the goal, which knocked the stuffing out of Plymouth.

Horsfield was withdrawn soon afterwards, but his one moment of inspiration turned the game.

Scunthorpe could have sewn up the points after an hour when top scorer Martin Paterson broke free but his strike was wayward.

Plymouth's hopes took a further blow 10 minutes later when McCormick was given a straight red card.

With no reserve goalkeeper on the Plymouth bench Hodges donned the gloves and was almost immediately called upon to deny Goodwin.

Scunthorpe adopted a shoot-on-sight policy but Hodges showed good natural awareness to deny McCann with three minutes left.

Plymouth's final chances passed when substitutes Paul Wotton and Rory Fallon both flashed shots wide of Murphy's upright.

Scunthorpe Murphy, Butler, Crosby (Hobbs 26), Iriekpen,Baraclough, Cork, Goodwin, McCann, Morris, Horsfield (May 84),Paterson (Weston 88).

Subs Not Used: Lillis, Hayes.

Goals: Morris 55.

Plymouth McCormick, Connolly, Seip, Anderson, Hodges,Clark (Teale 59), Nalis (Wotton 67), Abdou, Halmosi, MacLean,Mackie (Fallon 75).

Subs Not Used: Easter, Sawyer.

Sent Off: McCormick (71).

Booked: Anderson.

Att: 4,920

Ref: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).