Iron manager Nigel Adkins was bitterly disappointed after his team's 3-0 defeat at Swansea City.

Scunthorpe never got going at the Liberty Stadium and struggled as an attacking force, with chances at a premium against Paulo Sousa's dominant Swans.

David Edgar gave the hosts the lead midway through the first half, before Ashley Williams added one just after half-time.

Shefki Kuqi made it three ten minutes before the end as United suffered a defeat which saw the gap between and the bottom three narrowed to just two points as they dropped down a place in the league.

Talking after the game, Adkins felt aspects of his side's play weren't good enough, explaining they 'lacked fight' on occasions and 'certain things were said' in the changing room in the aftermath.

He told the media: "We knew before the game that Swansea were an excellent footballing side and I felt we were in the match until they scored their first goal.

"Before then we had enjoyed a good period of possession and I felt their goal had come against the run of play.

"At 2-0 we were always in with a shout but poor defending from ourselves made it 3-0 with around ten minutes left, like on Friday when we lost to Blackpool.

"We were playing a very good side today, who defended resolutely but at times I felt we gave the ball away too cheaply."

When asked if he felt the Easter results had dragged his side back into the battle against relegation, he added: "We've always been in a battle, I've said that all along.

"It could well go down to the last day of the season.

"What we've got to do is get ourselves together and try to get a result against Preston North End on Saturday."

Adkins hopes Michael O'Connor, who missed today's match with a back injury, will be fit for the weekend.

He also added that Marcus Williams, Matt Sparrow and Paul Hayes all picked up knocks in the defeat.

See much more from Nigel Adkins, Josh Wright and Jim McNulty on The Iron Player.