Just as the League One table doesn't make for pleasant viewing for those at Glanford Park, neither should a glance in the mirror.

The past 12 months have been ones to forget for Scunthorpe United, who end the year third from bottom and desperately fighting to avoid a second successive relegation.

And striker Jordan Robertson suggests a bit of soul-searching is required as the Iron attempt to dig themselves out of what appears to be a very dark hole.

The critics were out in force after the Boxing Day debacle which saw United surrender a half-time lead to manager Alan Knill's former club Bury.

And the team accept the knives will only be sharpened further should the same happen against rock bottom Chesterfield today.

Given their sorry position, Robertson admits it has now become a must-win game for Scunthorpe.

"If anyone said we were going to be in the bottom four at this stage at the beginning of the season, I think it would have been a massive shock to a lot of people," said the 23-year-old.

"We didn't expect it ourselves.

"We were hoping to push to the play-offs, minimum.

"It's not nice to see yourself in the bottom four.

"I think now it's a matter of looking at every game as it comes and looking to get three points no matter what.

"Whether it's playing well or playing ugly we've got to get the three points and that's all there is to it really.

"We've got to look at how to kill teams off in training, take a good look at ourselves and the way we can improve – which is in many ways to be honest.

"We've got to go again, see what problems there are, take a good look at them and work on them.

"Chesterfield is a massive game.

"We need to get the three points, nothing else, that's all there is to it."

To do that, Robertson argues the Iron need to show more professionalism than was in evidence against the Shakers.

From 1-0 up to 3-1 down, the former Sheffield United trainee points out the players only have themselves to blame.

"Being professional footballers we should be professional in every performance. We weren't in the second half against Bury," he said.

"I wish I knew the answer to why it happens, then we could stop it.

"The first half on Monday we played excellent football, went in at half-time 1-0 in front, then the second half we carried on trying to play and it's not quite worked.

"We were flying in the first half, playing some brilliant football. We had a good shape and some good movement between the front six.

"We should have come out in the second half, got into our shape and said, 'try to get past us', and built from there.

"Unfortunately they got their goal and built on that. It's something we should have done when we got our first goal.

"Personally, I don't think we can take any positives from Monday.

"I think we've all got to take a look at ourselves individually and as a team.

"But on the flip side we can't go dwelling on it too much. We got a good point away at Exeter.

"I thought we'd turned the corner there and would kick on, but it wasn't to be.

"You want to have strong personalities and I think we've got that in certain people in the changing rooms.

"Hopefully they can help others who might need helping and we stay together.

"Like I said before, it's about being professional. If you can't handle the pressure then you shouldn't be playing.

"We've all got to be professional in our performance as well as in training."

Inclusive in that is accepting the manager's prerogative to alter the starting line-up.

Boxing Day was Robertson's home debut following his summer switch, and his first start since recovering from a broken ankle.

And although he was one of only a few in claret and blue to come away with any credit, he accepts the result means no-one is safe from the axe.

"Personally I don't think the manager should really take the blame for performances such as that," he said.

"You could look at him and say, 'look at the team he put out for the first half and the performance we put in'.

"I think it's something us as players have got to look at because the manager works with us all week and prepares us in the best way possible.

"Whether the manager makes changes this week, whoever's playing, we've just got to support each other and hopefully we can get the three points and keep building.

"It felt good to get the 90 minutes under my belt.

"Obviously the result is a massive blow but on a personal level, I felt good to get out there and get through the 90 minutes.

"Hopefully, if chosen, I can get through the next 90 and try to get myself on the scoresheet.

"The last two weeks in training I've felt much better and feel I'm getting towards where I want to be.

"I think all of us as front men, we can all work well together.

"Whoever's picked – me and Garry Thompson, Thommo and Dags (Chris Dagnall), Bobby Grant and Dags, it could be anyone – we've just got to be supportive of each other and try to get the goals that's going to kill off teams.

"I think it's all of us as a team, we've got to try to get more goals as a team.

"We just need to pick up some wins really."