It is part of almost every manager's early season rhetoric.

'Look at the table after 10 games and the table has taken shape', or something similar.

Fifteen matches in and the Iron are not exactly in the sort of the position they would have wanted or expected.

Sixteenth place, 15 points. It is, by their own admission, an under-whelming return to League One.

Performances mean talk at Glanford Park remains about a battle in the top half of the table.

So while manager Alan Knill refuses to listen to suggestions his side are in a false position, he is not concerned that the gap between the Iron and the bottom four is now just two points.

"You'd be more concerned if we were losing games every week, but we're competing well," Knill told the Telegraph on the eve of Saturday's home game with Tranmere Rovers.

"We could easily have won all the nine games we've drawn.

"But talk to me in another 15 games and if we're still in the same position, then it's a concern.

"At the moment there's still such a long way to go. A lot of managers will say the same.

"Things change and three or four wins puts you unbelievably high up the table.

"If we'd have won three of the games we've drawn we'd have six more points and be just outside the play-offs.

"We all think the points we've amassed don't reflect performances, but that's the reality. We are where we are.

"The good thing is we had what was perceived to be a poor start, but we picked up three points in August, six in September and have six this month with one game left to better that.

"The aim is to keep improving every month."

The Iron face one of League One's surprise packages tomorrow.

Sixth-placed Rovers had been tipped by many to struggle this term, but arrive at Glanford Park on the back of a six-match unbeaten run and having kept more clean sheets than any other club in the top four divisions.

Their 16-man squad to face United will include striker Mustafa Tiryaki, the former Havant & Waterlooville front man who spent a chunk of the summer on trial at Scunthorpe.

Tiryaki scored his first professional goal last weekend to earn Tranmere a 2-1 win at Walsall.

And Knill can have no complaints if he notches against the team he tried so hard to impress.

"When I spoke to Les (Tranmere boss Les Parry) in the summer, he told me he was after a striker, so I recommended him (Tiryaki)," Knill said.

"We couldn't take him because we were full up, but I said they should have a look at him.

"He's done okay. He got the winner for them last week.

"He was brilliant when he came here, we just couldn't fit him in.

"They've surprised a few people with where they are in the table, but I didn't think they'd struggle.

"At Bury we played them last year in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and they were strong and powerful.

"They play to a system and do it really well."