Caretaker manager Andy Dawson spoke to iFollow Iron after the 4-0 away loss at promotion-chasing Charlton Athletic.
United created chances and were well in the game up to 56 minutes when Joe Aribo netted Charlton’s second, which followed up an early strike from Anfernee Dijksteel.
Igor Vetokele and former Iron striker Lyle Taylor rounded off the scoring in quickfire fashion after Aribo’s strike, leaving Scunthorpe with an uphill challenge to get anything from the game.
Dawson said: “I’m devastated for the boys. It was really difficult because we went in 1-0 down at half-time, and had played some decent stuff, creating good opportunities. Unfortunately, we didn’t take them but the message at half-time was keep structured and we can hit them on the break if we get that first pass off.
“Just before the second goal, we had a really good spell where we got it wide and got a couple of balls in the box, and had them pinned back.
“Again though, we didn’t do our job from a set-play and it was 2-0, before they then went and got another couple in the space of eight or nine minutes. It was disappointing and probably not a true reflection of the first 60 minutes, but that’s the reality.
“It’s about picking the boys up now and we have to. The difficult thing for us is playing the good parts of our game for longer. Before they scored their second I was pleased with what we were producing, but all of a sudden you’re four down and it’s tough to recover from that. We have to deal with those situations better and be more clinical in the final third because we did have opportunities today.
“There are 180 minutes now to change our season (the Bradford home and Plymouth away games) and get the results we need to stay up. It’s not going to be easy but we’ve got to be brave, focused and attack it head on because nobody will simply give us anything. We’re going to have to earn and show quality to get what we need.”
Josh Morris started the match and played the majority of it, while Matthew Lund also came on for the final 20 minutes, as both received valuable game time in their comebacks from injury.
Dawson added: “They’re going to be important before the end of the season. It’s good that Josh has got 80 minutes under his belt, while Lundy has had a good few weeks now and it was good to get him out on the pitch.
“Tom (Pearce) felt his hip flexor on Saturday morning following the Blackpool game, so this one came a little too soon for him, but we’ll see how he is for Saturday.”
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