IRON manager Alan Knill felt his side went 'some of the way' to answering their critics as they came back from 2-0 down to claim a point at League One leaders Charlton Athletic.

They may still be chasing their first league win of the campaign, but Bobby Grant's double in the closing quarter of the match rescued a result few would have predicted possible after an hour.

Knill accepts Scunthorpe  - who were booed off at both half-time and full-time during a lacklustre 2-1 home defeat by Oldham Athletic in midweek – still have a lot of work to do.

But the character they showed at The Valley offers plenty of room for optimism in the eyes of the United chief.

"I'm delighted for Bobby Grant and delighted for the team, because there were questions asked and some criticism levelled at us, deservedly after Tuesday night's game," he said.

"Although we haven't fully answered them, we've gone some of the way to doing it.

"Nobody fancied us today at Charlton, nobody except those in the dressing room. Whenever the team turns up, I expect to win."

Previously critical of the Iron's performances in both boxes, Knill believes his side are starting to get things right as an attacking force.

He has warned them though they must do better defensively, with United's trend of conceding the first goal in league matches continuing at The Valley.

"We've had to come back from a goal behind in every game. At any level, you can't do that," he groaned.

"Someone gave me a stat the other day that we're the team with the most shots on goal, but it's the goals against column that's killing us at the moment.

"Lots of work needs to be done, it's just finding the time when we're Saturday-Tuesday, Saturday-Thursday.

"Once we get a bit more time and hopefully some more players in, we can sort that out.

"The good thing is I've got some players who can score, so the only thing for us now is to stop the goals flying in at the other end.

"If we do that, we'll compete comfortably in this league.

"But that's the big test for us, because the goals seem to go in really easily."

The Iron manager singled out Grant for special praise – saying the striker had earned his chance in the starting line-up on the back of some hard work and lively performances in training.

"We've played other strikers and Bobby has been on the fringes, but we had a chat with him a week or two ago and he's been bang on it," Knill added.

"He's been great in training and whenever he's got on the pitch he's looked positive.

"Today we said 'let's give him a go' and I'm delighted for him, he deserves it.

"He works really hard and wants to learn. He's someone I quite enjoy working with."