After finishing January on a high and in third position in League One, United entered February with one eye on reclaiming a top two place.
Unfortunately though, the cold snap affecting the country stopped them from being able to add to a four game winning run.
The players, along with some fans, had made the trip to Southend on the first Tuesday in February expecting the game to go ahead after the Roots Hall club had declared it on following a pitch inspection.
However, referee Keith Hill called the fixture off 15 minutes before kick-off and the pitch never looked playable. He offered a public apology to the fans the following day.
The fruitless trip had left the players frustrated and they were now chomping on the bit to see off Cheltenham at Glanford Park the following Saturday.
Disappointingly though, the weather put paid to that match too and referee Andy Hall called the game off at 8.30am that morning.
The next scheduled game wasn't for another week, when the Iron hosted Bristol Rovers.
Having a fortnight's rest didn't seem to benefit a Scunthorpe side who had lost their stride and went down to a 2-0 defeat through goals from Darryl Duffy and Jo Kuffour.
United should have been back in the game in the 54th minute but striker Paul Hayes fired his penalty straight at goalkeeper Steve Phillips. After that, the Pirates held on comfortably.
It wasn't the ideal preparation for the midweek match at Rotherham, the second leg of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Northern Section final. After winning the first 2-0 in January, Scunthorpe defended resolutely and counter-attacked with intent, and were rewarded with a 1-0 victory.
Gary Hooper was played through and beat his man before firing beyond the Millers goalkeeper.
It cued mass celebrations after the match as United celebrated reaching Wembley for the third time in their history. Nevertheless, there were still 10 league games to play before their date at the national stadium on April 5.
Swindon Town were the first opponents after that game and all was well at half-time as United led 2-0 through Hooper and Henri Lansbury.
Cliff Byrne was sent off for a second bookabale offence soon into the second period and the Robins pulled a goal back. Then, David Mirfin was alse sent off for two bookable offences. The Robins equalised and then added another two goals against a depleted Iron team.
Manager Adkins wasn't too pleased after the game, mostly with the performance of referee Chris Sarginson.
A couple of loan moves were made the following Monday as the Iron prepared to travel to play Southend in a rearranged match on the Tuesday.
Liam Trotter, who had been on trial, signed on loan from Ipswich Town for an initial month, while left-back Joseph Mills also joined from Southampton for a similar spell. Both loans would be extended until the end of the season.
Theo Robinson's goal during the first half left United trying to fightback throughout, and Alan McCormack made the points safe late on as Steve Tilson's team won 2-0.
The final of four straight away matches was at Leeds United the subsequent Saturday and it saw Scunthorpe try and overcome a three match losing streak in the league.
Giant striker Kayode Odejayi was brought in on loan from Barnsley for a month as United tried to beef up the attack ahead of their trip to Elland Road.
He started the game, and performed well on his debut. Leeds went 2-0 up through strikes from former Scunthorpe forward Jermaine Beckford and Bradley Johnson. The Iron pulled one back before half-time through Hooper though, and then he added a spectacular second early in the second half when he beat off the challenge of several men before poking the ball into the top corner of the net.
Beckford struck the decisive blow in one of their only attacks of the second period though and inflicted a fourth straight loss on the Iron.
It had been a poor month in the league, playing four and losing four, and the Iron finished it in sixth spot.
February's league record
P4 W0 L0 D0 Pts 0.
February's top scorer
Gary Hooper (four).
