First team manager Neil Cox provided his reaction to iFollow Iron after his side lost 1-0 at home against Colchester United.
The decisive goal in the first half from Tommy Smith had the Iron chasing for the rest of the match, and despite some close attempts Scunthorpe couldn’t equalise.
Cox said: “I thought we were excellent tonight. I know they’re a good footballing side but I thought we had them under pressure from the first minute and had a couple of chances.
“We took the game to them - if anything they’ve counter-attacked us and that’s how they got the goal. I’m disappointed because we’ve been working so hard defensively to stop crosses, to mark in the box but we just seemed to switch off and ended up 1-0 down.”
Reflecting further on the game, he said: “After that, it was one-way traffic if I’m being honest, I think we had 25 chances on goal. Their keeper made some great saves, a chance that we should have scored.
“I’m proud of the boys, we’ve had a hard few weeks. I’ve got a couple of boys that are struggling and a couple more with injuries tonight which is difficult. But we go again, we put a smile on our face and we go for a big challenge on Saturday (away at Southend United).”
Discussing one of the closest chances, which was a header from Ryan Loft, the manager said: “We believe it’s hit the bar, gone over the line and come back out. The linesman is in a great position but isn’t 100 per cent sure, so he couldn’t give it. That’s the way the rules are until technology changes it, even in the lower leagues. We can’t do anything about it.
“After that, we still kept going and I think we wasted a few opportunities. We had a ten-minute spell where we put chance after chance in and then we had too many touches and stopped putting it in.
“It probably wasn’t the prettiest football but you’ve got to try to get a goal in somewhere. I thought the effort, the determination and the work rate were excellent.”
Commenting on the team's performance, Cox said: "The positive is we are going forward. I know you see the negative we lost the game and had to change the team and have got a couple of injuries but I think the way we played, the way we pushed forward and how we put them under pressure was excellent.
“We’ve been on a good run of form. There are many positives - we’ve been playing forward and getting chances in the box and I thought that we did that again tonight. But I’m disappointed we lost the game.”
Discussing the positives from the players, he said: “Jai (Rowe) is young but does well when he comes on, I think the two midfield players were excellent.
“I think their work rate and effort they put in for the football team is unbelievable. It was a good performance but obviously it’s a points game and we didn’t get any.”
Talking about the injuries the squad is facing, he said: “Harrison McGahey looks like he’s got a problem with his hamstring, while Jordan (Clarke) looks like he might have got a thigh injury but we’re unsure.
“Dev (Green) might have done a calf and Lofty (Ryan Loft) and (Abo) Eisa have been struggling anyway so we have to be careful with them. (Aaron) Jarvis is just bruised and battered but I’ve had to play him longer than I wanted to.”
Looking ahead to Saturday’s game away game against Southend (3pm kick-off), Cox said: “We go again, we’ve got a squad and that’s what they’re for. We get them in Thursday, we work them hard and we get them ready."
See much more from Neil Cox on iFollow Iron.