Iron striker Jordan Robertson has called for his side to 'really step it up' as they head into February.
The frontman, who shook off a hip problem to start and score in Tuesday night's 3-1 home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, put the loss down to the lapses of concentration which have blighted United's season so far.
"We're massively disappointed because a lack of concentration in the first five minutes of each half has hurt us," he told The Iron Player.
"We've given three goals away on the day, and you just can't do that against a team like Sheffield Wednesday.
"It was disappointing to concede those goals, but we dug in and kept on going until the end, so we can take those as positives.
"It's frustrating because it's down to a lack of concentration more than anything.
"We've got to look into that because it has happened too many times.
"We've got to be stronger and then, once we've got ourselves into the game, go for it."
With Scunthorpe's next game, at home to Walsall a week on Saturday, starting a run of games against other struggling League One sides, the importance of the upcoming month isn't lost on Robertson.
"We've got a while until our next game now due to having no match at the weekend, so it's something we can look at over the next week," he added.
"Maybe it's not something on the training field, maybe we need to look at ourselves mentally.
"We just have to work as hard as we can for the next game, so it gives us time to work on things.
"It's an important time because February is a massive month that could maybe define our season because we're playing a number of teams that are in or around us.
"We've got to really step it up next month.
"There are some quality players in that dressing room, and those quality players have got to step up now.
"We've got some 'six-pointers' coming up and we have to win as many of those as possible."
Robertson scored his first goal for the club on Tuesday night, as well as scooping the man of the match award.
He was philosophical afterwards though, saying: "Winning man of the match doesn't mean as much when you lose 3-1 at home and give three sloppy goals away.
"It's just the same as every other goal. If I can get as many goals as possible then that will be good for the team.
"I'd rather it had come in a 1-0 though.
"It was nice to get my first goal for the club and maybe we could have clinched something. We had a couple of headed chances in the last ten minutes.
"We've had really good first halves in past games and then dropped off in the second half, while it seemed to be the opposite on Tuesday night.
"The positive thing is we kept going, we know we've got to improve though."
See much more from Jordan Robertson, Josh Walker and Alan Knill, plus an extended highlights package, on The Iron Player.
