A SELF-proclaimed student of the game, Ian Baraclough would admit he is still learning his trade.

Sat in the executive suite at Glanford Park, the Scunthorpe United manager cut a pragmatic figure when reflecting upon an almighty baptism of fire which, at times, has driven him to distraction.

One facet of the game the 40-year-old has been exposed to, more than most, is dealing with the pressure cooker lifestyle of a struggling Championship manager, a scenario he greets with a knowing smile.

Since that halcyon September evening at Bramall Lane, in which the Iron sauntered to a 4-0 win over Sheffield United on his debut as boss, Baraclough has enjoyed the same elation of triumph just five times in the following 23 games.

He has faced a barrage of questions discussing United's faltering fortunes at home, where Wednesday's 1-0 success over Nottingham Forest ended a 172-day wait for three more points at Glanford Park.

Throw into the melting pot a mis-firing strike-force that had only netted three times in eight encounters, and it all leads to an inevitable build-up of cat calling from some fans for the head of the man in charge.

Even for the most battle-weary manager, it is a scenario which could have cracked the hardest exterior.

But victory over the Reds inched United to within four points of safety, heading into home clashes with Derby County tomorrow, and the Blades on Tuesday.

And it is those two fixtures which many a United faithful will be expecting their team to pick up a decent points haul from, as the Rams and the steel city side currently reside in the lower echelons of the division, alongside Scunthorpe.

But for Baraclough, who is in his seventh year at the club, pressure management is now second nature as he battles to take the club out of the relegation zone.

"Am I feeling the pressure? Nobody likes not picking up points and nobody likes losing games," admitted the United boss.

"But I have still got the same will as when I first signed for the club.

"It is a day job and I am constantly thinking about it 24 hours a day.

"This club is in my heart. I have spent the longest period of time here that I have at any other club and I don't want to be seen as a failure.

"I put my own pressure on myself to get this right.

"I knew what the job was, but I am loving it. It is something that, at the end of the season, I will be able to look back and draw on all the experiences – I'll be a better person for it.

"Having a supportive family around me, that is what keeps me going and keeps me sane.

"At work, I deal with the pressure by having exceptional people around me – Kevin Pressman and Steve Parkin.

"They have seen it before as players, managers and coaches.

"Having a chairman that has given me great backing and a board that has allowed me to try to bring players in when I have needed to, also helps.

"That is people backing me, that is people giving me the confidence that this club can go forward, from wherever we end up.

"If we stay up, then great, we can build for another season.

"If we go down, we can recover, and we have got things in place to recover."

The survival cause was given a significant boost against promotion-chasing Forest, hardly a surprise when analysing the stats – the Iron have collected the majority of their points – 16 in all – from top half sides.

But it is battles with the basement strugglers that now take precedence, a fact highlighted by Baraclough ahead of the two home ties with the free-falling Rams and the relegation-haunted Blades.

"I think people will judge us on it," said the Scunthorpe supremo of three successive Glanford Park fixtures his side are currently in the thick of.

"I am not saying it is the be all and end all, there are six points on offer at home now.

"But after these three games there are still 15 to go and 45 points to play for, so there is still plenty of time.

"But we are looking at two home games now, both against teams who are a little bit out of form.

"We have got to aim to take good points from those three games."