On-loan Manchester United midfielder Oliver Norwood today apologised to Scunthorpe United fans who watched Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth by admitting: "We let you down."

More than 225 supporters braved a potential 500-mile round trip to the south coast buoyed by the Iron's recent improvement in performances and results.

But on Bonfire Night there was not a hint of any fireworks as United turned in a display which ranks among their poorest of the season on their travels.

"We've let ourselves down and the fans, who have travelled a long way, down," Norwood told the Telegraph.

"There's no excuse, we just weren't at the races. We need to be better.

"We're disappointed with ourselves because in the previous four games we've really turned a corner and started climbing up the table.

"We're very disappointed because we feel we didn't turn up and we've been punished.

"No disrespect to Bournemouth, but I think we're a better side than they are. We just weren't good enough and we accept that.

"We were poor from start to finish. We didn't deserve anything from the game."

Having been disappointed with their own displays, training today could well provide a chance to clear the air after a long bus journey back to reflect on the result to the Cherries.

Such a scenario worked well on the back of the club's previous defeat, a 3-2 home loss to Leyton Orient, after which things – albeit for only four games – picked up.

Norwood says the players will do what they can to ensure there really will never be a repeat of the Dean Court debacle.

"We need to get back to the training ground and put things right," added the 20-year-old, who insists he is 'still enjoying' his stay at Glanford Park.

"We'll speak to each other see what we think we did right and what we did well to get that togetherness back.

"We got on a bit of a run and got some momentum, but now we have to start again."

A tricky-looking FA Cup trip to League Two side AFC Wimbledon at the weekend leaves little room for error.