Iron manager Nigel Adkins highlighted poor defending and a lack of tempo going forward as key factors behind his side's 2-0 home defeat to Bristol Rovers.

Strikes from Darryl Duffy and Jo Kuffour sealed the victory for the Pirates, who sat back and successfully defended their lead in the second period.

Paul Hayes missed a penalty straight after the half-time break just as Scunthorpe were showing promise going forward, but it took the wind from their sails as they dropped three points on their home turf.

"The lack of tempo is something which we'll have to look at," said Adkins, speaking on Iron World.

"The two weeks off (caused by postponements) might have had an effect because we were in a good run of form and playing good football.

"We wanted to play at a high tempo but, for whatever reason, we didn't.

"We've worked very hard in training. We had been topping up our fitness and wanted to come into the game fresh.

"For whatever reason we didn't move the ball around quick enough.

"Goals change games and had we taken one of the early chances things might have been very different.

"We gave away two poor goals and it gave them something to sit back and hang onto while we tried to make things happen."

Hear much more from Nigel Adkins, Paul Trollope and Grant McCann on Iron World.