Coventry City slumped to their seventh successive away league defeat as they lost 2-1 to Scunthorpe United at Glanford Park
Martin Paterson opening the scoring for the home side before Kevin Thornton equalised with a penalty for the Sky Blues.
But it was Jack Cork who secured all three points for the Iron midway through the second half in a disappointing afternoon for City.
Chris Coleman made one change to the side which lost 2-0 to Burnley on Tuesday night.
Scott Dann replaced Elliott Ward in the centre of defence, with the latter having to be content with a place on the bench.
Scunthorpe started the game bottom of the table, seven points behind the Sky Blues, who were in 18th place.
The home side had the opening opportunity in just the second minute - Paterson getting the better of Marcus Hall and playing the ball short and square to Ben May, who could only lift it over the crossbar.
Adkins' men were certainly having the better of the very early play and with six minutes gone, Paterson headed into the arms of Marshall following good play by Ian Morris.
At the other end, Dann forced a clearance from a Fox corner, before disaster struck for the Sky Blues with 15 minutes gone.
Paterson found himself in space 25 yards out from goal and the former Stoke City striker made no mistake as he unleashed a curling shot past Marshall and into the back of the net to give Scunthorpe the lead and net his 14th of the season.
Fox tried to level the scores immediately with a 20-yard shot which flew just past the post before the visitors had a prime opportunity with 20 minutes gone.
Coleman's men were awarded a spot-kick when Thornton was fouled in the box
and the Irishman made no mistake with the penalty as he struck it into the bottom right hand corner to make it 1-1.
As tempers rose at Glanford Park, Danny Fox went into the book for a foul on Cork, before Marshall saved well from May as the home side pushed on.
Tabb made a spectacular clearance off the line from Morris with almost half an hour gone before at the other end, Thornton shot into the arms of the keeper in a very open game.
The home side started the second half brightly, as with the first, and when Marshall's mis-kick eventually found its way to May, the goalkeeper has to be quick to make amends by saving at the feet of the striker.
Gray advanced well but fired across the goal with 55 on the clock, before Best went into the book for a foul on Hobbs.
And as tensions got the better of Coleman's men, things took a considerable turn for the worse in the 66th minute when Jack Cork scored with a cross-cum-shot from the edge of the box.
It marked the second goal of his career for Cork, son of former Coventry coach Alan, who incidentally scored the other goal of his career against the Sky Blues in the fixture at the Ricoh Arena this season.
Simpson replaced Best as Coleman went for fresh fire-power but time was running out for City as they desperately tried to salvage something from the game.
It ended 2-1 to Scunthorpe and the Sky Blues must perform better if they are going to move away from the bottom of the table.
Scunthorpe United: Murphy; Hobbs; Williams; Crosby; Iriekpen; Goodwin; Paterson; Cork; McCann; Morris; May
Subs: Hayes; Forte; Hurst; Wright; Lillis
Coventry City: Marshall; Osbourne; Fox; Dann; Hall; Hughes (Andrews, 71); Tabb; Thornton; Gray; Best (Simpson, 78); Mifsud
Subs: Konstantpoulos; Ward; Birchall
Bookings: Thornton, Fox, Best, Osbourne
Attendance: 5,866 (886 Coventry City fans)
