MANAGER Alan Knill was left to rue Scunthorpe United's defensive decision-making as they were edged out in a five-goal thriller at Sheffield Wednesday.

Another poor start, which saw them 2-0 down inside 16 minutes, was again compensated by a spirited second-half effort.

But although twice getting themselves back in the game, more sloppy goals – the seventh, eighth and ninth they have conceded in the opening five games - again delayed their hopes of a first League One victory of the season.

"I was delighted with the attitude – we were more or less camped in their half second half – especially after coming on the back of 100 or whatever minutes the other night," Knill told the assembled media at Hillsborough.

"But obviously I'm disappointed again with the goals we've conceded. It's the same problems.

"The first thing we look at is it is about how we're playing, but I don't think it's about how we're playing, it's about really poor decisions. They are killing us at the moment

"When you look at the whole context of the game, whenever we got in their half, we looked a threat, but unfortunately, when they got in ours, they looked a threat."

Referee James Linington also came in for criticism from the Iron boss.

Knill was not so much angered by the fact that the Iron did not end up getting a spot kick following David Prutton's eighth-minute challenge on Chris Dagnall as he entered the box in front of the Kop end at Hillsborough.

The biggest frustration was that that proved to be the case after the Isle of Wight official had initially blown his whistle and pointed to the spot, only to then be pressured into speaking to his assistant and reversing the decision after being surrounded by Owls players.

"It was awful," he groaned.

"I've never seen a referee consult a linesman if he's got a clear view.

"I watched Howard Webb (at Sunderland-Newcastle) the other week with the handball. He couldn't see it, so he consults the linesman and together they come up with a decision.

"But the referee yesterday had a clear view, made the decision and then consulted the linesman.

"What was worse is he then gave us a corner – the ball never even went out.

"I never criticise referees. But it was so glaring.

"He's on the pitch to make decisions, he makes it and then goes 'hold it, I'll go and a look' when the crowd and players say 'no it's wrong'.

"I'm sorry but I've never seen that before. We might as well not even have a referee.

"If we'd have scored the pen and it have gone 1-1, it would have been a different game. As it was, they go up the other end and make it 2-0."

Knill was pleased with the way the Iron finished the match at Hillsborough – having named an unchanged starting XI from the side that was taken to extra-time by Newcastle United in the Carling Cup little more than 40 hours earlier.

For the closing half-hour, the visitors were the stronger side, and would have snatched another latye equaliser had Mark Duffy's header not been brilliantly kept out by Owls keeper Nicky Weaver.

"It's there for an excuse if you want it, but we tried to stop that," said Knill of any potentially weary legs.

"We're fit. We finish every game just like we finished this one. It's some poor decisions that are costing us at the minute."