Iron manager Nigel Adkins said there was no shame in his side losing 3-0 at runaway Championship leaders Newcastle United on Wednesday night.

Looking at 'the big picture' as he called it, the United boss made five changes from the side defeated at Ipswich Town, with Saturday's vital relegation six-pointer at home to Plymouth on the horizon.

On occasions this season, the Iron have struggled when playing on Saturdays immediately after Wednesday matches, and Adkins was mindful of that heading to St James' Park.

"We knew going to Newcastle was going to be a massive game in terms of it being a big challenge for everybody due to the quality they possess," said Adkins, speaking on The Iron Player.

"It was great for some of the players because they actually got to see how hard they have to work in and out of possession of the football.

"Newcastle are the benchmark in this division and it helped some of the youngsters realise how much they have got to keep improving.

"They are a top side so this result is only what people would have expected.

"We were 2-0 down after around 20 minutes and people may have thought that Newcastle would go and run away with it.

"Great credit to the players though because we may have lost the second half 1-0 but we kept going.

"We asked them to keep possession of the football and try and complete the game today.

"If you give the ball away cheaply then quality opposition such as Newcastle will punish you.

"They have a massive set-play threat and that was there for all to see.

"Andy Carroll is a player who we have tried to bring in in the past and he showed what a top talent he is.

"The focus is now on Plymouth this Saturday. It is the biggest game of our season so far and we have to be ready for it."

See much more from Nigel Adkins, Sam Togwell and Joe Murphy on The Iron Player.