GOALKEEPER Joe Murphy knows this is going to be a big week in training for Scunthorpe United.

As they prepare for Saturday's daunting home clash with leaders QPR, the players have got to 'win over' new manager Alan Knill after the humbling 6-0 defeat at Norwich City.

The loss was so painful for Murphy that he raced straight off the Carrow Road pitch after the final whistle.

He was stung by the nature of the result, and said he felt sorry for the travelling support.

"That was the worst day of my football career," Murphy told the Telegraph.

"It was embarrassing and I felt sorry for the fans.

"It can't have been easy for them.

"I know it is difficult when you go down to 10 men, especially against a good team like Norwich, but we should not crumble like that.

"It was tough for the gaffer to take. It has been going on for too long now, especially away from home with nine successive defeats and not many goals."

Murphy expects there will be a few home truths this week between Knill and the squad he has inherited.

"The gaffer said after the game at Norwich that things are going to have to change," continued the United keeper.

"That's fair enough.

"I am sure he will stamp his authority down and bring in his own ideas of how he wants us to play.

"We have got to adapt to that and get used to it pretty quickly.

"The new manager seems very positive.

"He wants us to play football and he wants us to attack. That can only be good a good thing."

Murphy insists that though the Iron are now bottom of the table and looking certainties for the drop, the players must try to remain positive.

"We have got to get our heads up and keep going until the fat lady sings," he said.

"There are still points there to be won.

"We have got games coming up that we must try to win.

"We have got to dust ourselves down and get on with it.

"Hopefully the new gaffer can give us that spark we need."

Murphy knows the pain of relegation, having been part of the Scunthorpe squad that went down from the Championship three years ago.

"It's tough to take, it's something you don't want to experience again," he said.

"I didn't want to come back into the team like this after so long out through injury.

"I want to do well, I want to impress."

Murphy is one of a handful of players out of contract this summer and knows he is playing for his future.

And even those under contract will need to convince Knill they can be part of his plans, as he looks to rebuild the club from the wreckage of this season.