Ipswich boss Jim Magilton admitted his play-off chasing side had made hard work of their Championship win at relegation-threatened Scunthorpe.Pablo Counago's first-half opener and a wonderful individual effort from Sito Castro were enough to secure all three points for the Tractor Boys, with substitute Ben May netting a late consolation for the hosts.

Magilton praised the Iron for a "valiant" display at Glanford Park, but felt the Tractor Boys could have put the Championship strugglers away in the first half.

The Town boss said: "It was a great result for us. I thought we were good value for 1-0 at half-time. Had we taken more care of the ball, and with a little bit more quality, we probably could have gone in two or three up."

The double sending off of Counago and Scunthorpe's Jack Cork early in the second half appeared to unsettle Ipswich and spark the Iron into life but, as their league position suggests, they wasted a number of chances to haul themselves level before Sito provided the killer goal.

Magilton continued: "Scunthorpe adjusted to the sending off better than we did, that was their best period. They put us under an awful lot of pressure and we didn't cope with it very well."

United have accused Counago of spitting on Iron defender Andy Butler, which sparked the incident, and Magilton has vowed to come down on the Spanish striker if video evidence proves he is guilty of the offence.

"The sending off was a very unsavoury incident but it will be dealt with internally," he said.

"If I see that Pablo Counago has spat on a fellow pro it will be dealt with very harshly."

Scunthorpe boss Nigel Adkins was furious with Counago's actions, claiming: "Counago spat in Andy Butler's face. There is no place for that in English football, it's a disgrace.

"From what I'm led to believe he then slaps Jack Cork in the face," he added.

"Jack puts his hands up and the referee sends them both off. Poor Jack is crying his eyes out. We feel for the lad."

The defeat ended Scunthorpe's two-match winning run at home and leaves them six points off safety, but Adkins remains defiant that his side can haul themselves out of the relegation zone despite the "massive setback".

"We are where we are but I have looked at the league table and we're still in it," he continued.

"We are only six points off Sheffield Wednesday and Leicester and we've got them both to play in the next few games. We are right up against it but have still got to keep believing."

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