text: The Iron scored twice in the last 10 minutes to make a contest of it, but they left themselves with too much to do, having fallen 3-0 down midway through the second half.
  The visitors were fortunate to go in only a goal down at half-time, a Dale lead deservedly earned in the 41st minute when Joe Thompson side-footed home Joe Bunney's delivery.
  But Rochdale had also seen an Ian Henderson finish ruled out for handball, while Iron goalkeeper Luke Daniels had brilliantly saved Harrison McGahey's shot.
  Keith Hill's team doubled their lead in the 53rd minute through Ollie Rathbone and appeared to have made the result safe when substitute Calvin Andrew made it three with 15 minutes remaining.
  Substitute Tom Hopper's 81st-minute close-range finish offered Scunthorpe a glimmer of hope.
  Graham Alexander's men then set up a tense finale when Josh Morris' free-kick was side-footed home by Neal Bishop shortly afterwards, but Rochdale hung on for a deserved victory.
  Report supplied by the Press Association.
  Match ends, Rochdale 3, Scunthorpe United 2.
  Second Half ends, Rochdale 3, Scunthorpe United 2.
  Foul by Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (Rochdale).
  Neal Bishop (Scunthorpe United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
  Substitution, Rochdale. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing replaces Ian Henderson.
  Attempt missed. Josh Morris (Scunthorpe United) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
  Foul by Neal Bishop (Scunthorpe United).
  Ian Henderson (Rochdale) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
  Ian Henderson (Rochdale) is shown the yellow card.
  Josh Morris (Scunthorpe United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  Foul by Matthew Lund (Rochdale).
  Attempt missed. Ian Henderson (Rochdale) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right.
  Substitution, Rochdale. Andrew Cannon replaces Oliver Rathbone.
  Scott Wiseman (Scunthorpe United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
  Foul by Oliver Rathbone (Rochdale).
  Goal!  Rochdale 3, Scunthorpe United 2. Neal Bishop (Scunthorpe United) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Josh Morris.
  Scott Wiseman (Scunthorpe United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
  Foul by Ian Henderson (Rochdale).
  Goal!  Rochdale 3, Scunthorpe United 1. Tom Hopper (Scunthorpe United) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Josh Morris.
  Foul by Calvin Andrew (Rochdale).
  Charlie Goode (Scunthorpe United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
  Attempt missed. Calvin Andrew (Rochdale) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
  Joe Bunney (Rochdale) wins a free kick on the left wing.
  Foul by Paddy Madden (Scunthorpe United).
  Attempt missed. Sam Mantom (Scunthorpe United) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
  Corner,  Scunthorpe United. Conceded by Harrison McGahey.
  Goal!  Rochdale 3, Scunthorpe United 0. Calvin Andrew (Rochdale) left footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Ian Henderson.
  Corner,  Scunthorpe United. Conceded by Joe Bunney.
  Attempt missed. Matthew Lund (Rochdale) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
  Corner,  Rochdale. Conceded by Scott Wiseman.
  Matthew Lund (Rochdale) wins a free kick on the left wing.
  Foul by Sam Mantom (Scunthorpe United).
  Substitution, Scunthorpe United. Tom Hopper replaces Kevin van Veen.
  Foul by Joe Thompson (Rochdale).
  Murray Wallace (Scunthorpe United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
  Attempt saved. Luke Williams (Scunthorpe United) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
  Attempt missed. Joe Thompson (Rochdale) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
  Attempt missed. Matthew Lund (Rochdale) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
  Corner,  Rochdale. Conceded by Murray Wallace.
  Substitution, Scunthorpe United. Sam Mantom replaces Conor Townsend.
target: League One leaders Scunthorpe United suffered their third defeat of the season as Rochdale held on to win at Spotland.