Swansea City put themselves back into the promotion frame with a hard-earned odd-goal victory at Scunthorpe.

Steve Watkin was The Swans hero, as he snatched a brace of goals to end The Iron's three-match winning run and open up the promotion gates.

Justin Walker fired in his first league goal of the season from 25 yards to open the home side's account in the 11th minute.

Yet Swansea fought back, and after Russ Wilcox headed clear from Richard Appleby, the Welshmen drew level on 25 minutes when Watkin drilled home his 15th strike of the campaign.

The game was always tense and evenly balanced. Jamie Forrester saw a fine shot well saved by Roger Freestone and another effort was chested off the line by Jason Smith.

Kristian O'Leary tested Tom Evans with a cracking drive at the foot of the post and then came Watkin's winner with three minutes remaining. The striker rose well in a crowded box to head home a Jonathan Coates corner at Evans' left-hand post.

Scunthorpe were well served in defence by Richard Logan, while Paul Harsley worked tirelessly in midfield.

Swansea's Smith rarely put a foot wrong at the heart of the visitors defence, while Richard Appleby, returning after suspension, had a big say in the Welshmen's success.

Scunthorpe United: Evans, Wilcox, Dawson, Logan, Harsley, Hope, Walker, Forrester, Eyre, Gayle, Calvo-Garcia,

Swansea City: Freestone, O'Leary, Howard, Cusack, Smith, Bound, Price, Appleby, Alsop, Watkin, Coates,

Bird, Lacey, Roberts

Substitutions
Scunthorpe United: Bull, for Forrester (89), Stamp, for Eyre (32), Housham, for Gayle (80)
Swansea City: Roberts, for Price (20)

Scorers
Scunthorpe United: Walker (11)
Swansea City: Watkin (25, 87)

Bookings
Scunthorpe United: Gayle (42)
Swansea City: Coates (74)

Referee: M. G. Cowburn (Blackpool)

Attendance: 3,631