HE PUT in a standout performance earlier in the week, but Scunthorpe United's Michael Nelson hopes his defensive credentials won't come under quite such close scrutiny this afternoon.

The Iron were subjected to some intense pressure during Wednesday's 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest.

And, having seen the scoreline go the other way at Cardiff a few days earlier, Nelson accepts that can be a dangerous game to play.

"It's hard, it's very demanding on your body and mentally as well, especially when the games come thick and fast," said Nelson, whose side host Derby County today.

"You've just got to try and take the game to them and then get a breather when you can.

"Hopefully we can pin Derby in their own half and turn the tables a little bit, have more of the pressure rather than inviting it on ourselves.

"Hopefully too, we can get into the same position as on Wednesday, get a goal, and then it's just a case of driving it on and trying to get the second.

"We just have to try to get the three points really, we don't care how they come."

United's midweek result will no doubt have sent shock waves across the rest of the division.

But Nelson knows back to back wins would be even more beneficial in Scunthorpe's survival battle, with a visit from Sheffield United also on the horizon.

"That (Forest) result doesn't take any pressure off the other games because we still want to win them," said the former Norwich January signing.

"But it gives us a little bit of a boost and makes other teams sit up and look at us and know we're not just going to roll over.

"If you put two or three results together, you can see a massive difference in where you'll be sitting in the league.

"That's what we're trying to do at the minute.

"At this stage of the season everyone is fighting for something, so there's pressure across the division.

"It's just how you deal with it.

"Sometimes it's a good thing to have a little bit of pressure to know you're playing for something and to spur you on."