FIVE months, 24 league games and 15 defeats after the dream start, Scunthorpe United boss Ian Baraclough faces the bleak reality.

While an emphatic 4-0 defeat of Sheffield United in his first game in charge proved memorable, the sequel – at Glanford Park tonight – threatens to be season-defining.

FIGHTING BACK: Scunthorpe boss Ian Baraclough has been encouraged by a mini run of form ahead of tonight's home game with Sheffield United.

This, as that reliable old cliche goes, is a real six-pointer, with the third-from-bottom Blades just one point above the Iron in the table.

"There's a certain amount of pressure when we play against teams around us," said Baraclough.

"You put the onus on yourself to win those games.

"No-one expected us to get anything from the Forest game (last Wednesday). But I did, the coaching staff did and hopefully the players did.

"You've got to take that mental approach into each and every game.

"The game can be as easy or as hard as you make it with the way you approach it.

"It's a very, very big game being fought out by two clubs who find themselves in the bottom three.

"I think both managers, myself and Micky Adams, will send out a team realising this game could have a bearing on how we end the season.

"But, it is only three points and there will be a lot of points to play for afterwards.

"No side will feel if they've been beaten, or if they don't get a positive result, that they're going to be down and out.

"For us, there will still be 15 games to go after this."

Those happy memories from United's trip to Bramall Lane back in September had seemed a distant memory as Baraclough's men slumped down the table.

But the man himself insists he always knew a battle was likely to be on the cards.

"I wanted to retire after that one!" Baraclough said of his managerial debut.

"It was certainly a great night for me. I couldn't have wanted it to go any other way and couldn't have expected it to go any better than that.

"But, for me, it wasn't realistic of how it was going to be this season, or any season I suppose. It was just a great start.

"If it raised any expectations of me from outside the club, then it wasn't my doing, it wasn't my say so.

"I knew exactly what sort of job was in hand.

"We know how hard it has been and how hard it is.

"But this run of results hasn't deterred me and I think we're fighting back strong having started to put a squad together that can compete in the Championship regularly."