Blighted boss Alan Knill says Scunthorpe United are crying out for 'a little bit of luck' after seeing his side held to a 13th draw of the campaign.

The Iron maintained their unbeaten start to 2012 with a 1-1 stalemate against Stevenage at Glanford Park,  but would have claimed a deserved victory had they not switched off and allowed high-flying Boro an equaliser six minutes before the final whistle.

Despite having been forced to field a patched-up starting line-up – and a bench that included a partially-fit Damien Mozika and three first-year pro's – the Iron were largely the better team against a visiting side unbeaten in 10 matches away from home.

They went ahead through Garry Thompson's third goal of the campaign, two minutes after half-time.

But as has been the case all season, victory was turned into a draw by poor defending and individual errors.

"The difference today was Stevenage made some changes off the bench and it affected the game," groaned Knill, who saw Jordan Robertson (hip) and Christian Ribeiro (deadleg) become the latest names to join the Iron's injury list.

"We can't do that. When you look at the team, that's all we've got.

"We had to shuffle things around and I said to Thommo to play down the middle and whenever we got possession of the ball, or when it bounces, to get himself over the top.

"He was brilliant. He worked his socks off all game and deserved his goal.

"His all round performance was good. I was delighted with him and for him as well.

"I've been delighted with all the players. Since the turn of the year their effort and commitment has been excellent, but we need a little bit of luck.

"At the moment we're not getting it. Whether it be on the pitch or off it, things seem to be going against us.

"But it will turn, because we are so close.  Thirteen draws says that."

Try as they might, results like yesterday's are preventing Scunthorpe from putting daylight between themselves and the League One relegation zone.

Other results were largely kind to the Iron, although bottom two Chesterfield and Wycombe both enjoyed rare victories.

But they have to start taking charge of the situation they find themselves in.

"It feels like a loss, because we should have won 1-0," Knill added.

"I thought at half-time it looked like it was a 1-0 game and that it would be a set piece, or something along those lines, that settled it.

"We had some other opportunities, but we just didn't take them. That's the problem.

"Their goal was a poor goal. We lost it in the middle of the park, didn't stop the cross and then got done at the far post.

"We're better than we were a month ago, but fine lines are killing us.

"Until we can turn draws into wins, all we'll be is a side that competes well and plays well.

"I thought today was an opportunity to win the game."