Leyton Orient’s dire relegation form continued after slumping to a 4-1 home defeat to Scunthorpe United this afternoon.

Orient made a lively start but fell behind to Scunthorpe’s first attack when Liam O’Neil curled a shot into the net.

It got even worse for the hosts before the half hour mark when Gary McSheffrey’s cross inexplicably managed to beat keeper Gary Woods.

Scunthorpe made it 3-0 at the start of the second half when Top Hopper tapped into the net. Darius Henderson marked his comeback from injury by pulling one back from the penalty spot. But Hopper netted the visitors’ fourth to leave Orient in desperate trouble at the bottom of League One.

The O’s made four changes to the side beaten at Colchester United. Mathieu Baudry made his first start since November while Elliot Omozusi also came into the defence. Bradley Pritchard started in midfield and striker Gianvito Plasmati earned a recall.

Winger Ryan Hedges was surprisingly dropped to the bench along with fellow loanee Neil Eardley. David Mooney was also a substitute along with Henderson after being out injured since October.

The hosts made a bright start and almost took an early lead but Chris Dagnall’s shot was deflected onto a post by keeper Luke Daniels.

Orient continued to threaten and Dean Cox set up Dagnall but the striker’s curling shot was too close to Daniels.

But the O’s fell behind against the run of play after 13 minutes when O’Neil picked up the ball and curled a shot past Woods.

The visitors punished Orient again when they extended their lead in the 28th minute. McSheffrey sent in a cross and it somehow managed to beat Woods and crept into the net.

Orient almost pulled one back when Daniels raced off his line and Pritchard fired towards an open goal but his long-range effort was charged down by Neil Bishop.

Cox had a late chance to score before the break but his long-range strike was parried by Daniels.

Henderson made his long awaited comeback at the start of the second half when he replaced the ineffective Plasmati.

It was a disastrous start to the second half as Scuthorpe added a third goal after Paddy Madden’s cross was tapped in by Hopper.

Orient were awarded a penalty when Henderson was brought down by Jordan Clarke and the striker blasted his effort into the net to give the hosts hope.

Fabio Liverani made his second change when he introduced Hedges in place of Pritchard.

Orient also brought on Mooney with their final substitution as John Lundstram made way.

Cox had the chance to test Daniels from a free-kick outside the area but the winger blasted his effort over the bar.

United ended any chance of an Orient fightback as Hopper broke clear to neatly fire in his second of the game to leave the O's in grave danger of relegation.

Leyton Orient: Woods; Sawyer, Clarke, Baudry, Omozusi; Cox, Vincelot, Lundstram (Mooney, 76), Pritchard (Hedges, 68); Plasmati (Henderson, HT), Dagnall

Subs not used: Lowry, Wright, Eardley, Grainger

Scunthorpe United: Daniels; Clarke, Boyce, Canavan, Williams; Osbourne, O’Neil (Evans, 90), Bishop; McSheffrey, Madden (Taylor, 90), Hopper (Adelakun, 82)

Subs not used: Anyon, McAllister, Murphy, Llera

Referee: Keith Hill

Attendance: 5,184