'DELIGHTED' manager Alan Knill tipped winger Andy Barcham to get even better after watching his summer signing rescue a point for Scunthorpe United.

The 24-year-old ace kept his composure to slot the ball home from 12 yards with just three minutes left on the clock and secure a 1-1 draw against Preston North End at Glanford Park.

It was Barcham's second goal in as many matches, on what was his league debut for the club, and Knill believes the pacy former Gillingham wide man has all the qualities, on and off the pitch, to thrive in the third tier.

"It's good for him, though he'll probably agree it wasn't his best game," said Knill of Barcham's late strike.

"The good thing is, when he's in front of goal, he doesn't panic and he puts the ball in the back of the net.

"I'm delighted for him and I'm quite sure he is only going to get better.

"He's a really good player and on top of that, he's someone who wants to get better.

"We've got a great chance with him."

The draw against the Lilywhites, who led through Iain Hume's 13th minute goal, was the second successive Saturday the Iron have come from behind to claim a point, on the back of the 1-1 scoreline at Wycombe on the opening day of the season.

And although understandably frustrated not to have their first league win on the board, Knill believes his side have the right character to be contenders in League One.

"It was a tough game, but we knew that it would be before the start," he continued.

"The game plan for them looked like the keeper kicked it as far as he possibly could. We had to deal with that first ball and probably didn't deal with it as well as we could.

"When we did, in the second half, it made a huge difference and second half we played in their half rather than them in ours.

"I thought we gave as good as we got against one of the favourites to go up.

"I'm delighted with the result, though I'd have been happier with three points. But we've come back from a goal down, again, and the players have shown a lot of character.

"If they continue to show that character I think we'll win more than we lose."