Gillingham escaped from Scunthorpe with a point.

Play-off outsiders Iron hit the woodwork twice during a dominant opening half but failed to find the net.

Gillingham came under plenty of pressure after the break but held out as the hosts were unable to beat keeper Stuart Nelson.

Gills boss Justin Edinburgh made three changes to his starting XI, bringing Jake Hessenthaler back for his first start in seven. Captain Doug Loft also returned to the starting line-up.

Ryan Jackson missed out through injury and Adam Chicksen was ill. Dominic Samuel was brought back in to play alongside Luke Norris up front in a 4-4-2 formation.

The Gills had lost their previous three games in League 1, leading them to fall away from the automatic promotion places. They started the afternoon sitting fourth in the league.

Scunthorpe had a number of good chances in the opening half, having by far the better chances but wasting a number of them. Eighteen-goal striker Paddy Madden was at the heart of most of it.

Madden clipped the top of the bar with a header as he got on the end of a Jamie Ness cross.

Gills defender Adam El-Abd headed against his own post from a Ness free-kick and the follow-up from Madden was cleared by Max Ehmer is it headed towards the top corner.

Nelson was called upon to make a number of saves, denying Neal Bishop, Stephen Dawson, Madden and Conor Townsend during a tough half for the Gills. Madden was guilty of wasting another good chance, smashing over after being picked out by Dawson.

Clear-cut chances were lacking for the Gills, with Doug Loft getting a toe to a Brennan Dickenson cross but lacking power to beat keeper Luke Daniels. The Gills reached the break thankful to be level.

Jermaine McGlashan was introduced at the interval, playing on the right flank.

Scunthorpe made the better start, however, with Dawson having an early second-half header saved by Nelson.

The Gills keeper also got down well to save from Madden as he was put in down the right side. The home side maintained their dominance and Madden prodded another chance wide with 20 minutes left.

Substitute Kyle Wootton headed a good chance at Nelson five minutes later.

Madden could have had a hatful but was denied again after being put in the clear. Gills’ star man Nelson got down well to save with an outstretched foot.

Gillingham: Nelson, A Morris, Dickenson, Ehmer, El-Abd, Loft, Hessenthaler, Wright, Williams (McGlashan 46mins), Norris (Donnelly 64mins), Samuel (Garmston 73mins). Subs: G. Morris, Osadebe, Oldaker, List.

Scunthorpe: Daniels, Clarke, Mirfin, Wallace, Townsend, Bishop, Dawson (McSheffrey 77mins), Ness, O'Brien (Vose 85mins), Madden, Hopper (Wootton 71mins). Subs: Anyon, Wiseman, Laird, King.

Attendance: 3,355.