Scunthorpe United hope their new-found defensive resolve is ready to be given it's most rigorous workout yet at Glanford Park tonight.

Goal-less draws at Brentford and MK Dons during the past 10 days mean the Iron go into their game with in-form Huddersfield Town having kept successive clean sheets in the league for only the second time in 18 months.

That's a timely occurrence too as they prepare to host a side playing second fiddle to only big-spending Manchester City when it comes to the number of goals scored in the top four divisions this season.

The Terriers have, on average, netted at least twice in every one of their 14 league matches and have won their last two away games, at Brentford and Exeter City, 4-0.

They also possess one of English football's most coveted young strikers, Scottish Under-21 international Jordan Rhodes, who has scored 13 goals in five games in all competitions – including three hat-tricks.

Scunthorpe boss Alan Knill describes the match as a 'big test' for his side, who have drawn more matches than any other in League One this term.

But while frustrated at the Iron's inability to turn even a few of those results into wins, he admits the steely edge they have shown in their last two outings means he goes into tonight's match feeling more confident than he might have done previously.

"The biggest change we've seen is that when we conceded goals, the blame was always on 'that lot back there'," Knill told the Telegraph.

"But it's not always 'that lot back there' where the problem has been. The team concedes goals just as the team scores goals.

"In the last two games there's been a real desire to keep the ball out of our net.

"We hear the players talk and say things and they are together in trying to keep it out of the net. I'm hoping that continues.

"If you don't concede it gives you something to build on and in previous games, we'd been having to come back from being a goal behind.

"Whenever we score, it makes the opposition come out instead of the other way around.

"The longer you can keep it out of your net, the easier it is to counter attack the opposition."

It is indicative of the Iron's sluggish start to life back in League One that just as they sort their problems out at one end of the field, deficiencies begin to appear at the other.

For all the criticism levelled at their inability to sign a goalscorer during the summer, United have failed to notch in just three of their 14 games this term.

Crucially, two of those have come when they've kept a clean sheet.

Knill though denies the desire that has gone into keeping the ball out of their own net is reducing United's threat going forward.

"We had good chances at Brentford, we had good chances on Saturday, probably more than the home team at MK Dons," he said.

"I don't think it's changed the way we play. When we get the ball I think we still want to go forward, but you need the same desire at both ends.

"We have some good play, but then that final bit lets us down a little bit. That's down to the decisions people make.

"It's always easier to destroy than to create.

"There are some things we can do better, without a doubt, but we do create chances. We just need a bit more composure.

"We watch the players every day and the ball flies into the back of the net.

"When it comes to the big game we should be trying to do the same thing.

"Goalscorers are the hardest thing to come by in football, but I believe we've got some quality players. Sometimes they have to believe that as well."

Self-belief is unlikely to be a problem for Huddersfield – who will be backed by 2,000 fans tonight.

The Terriers are looking to make it 40-matches unbeaten in the league at Glanford Park, a run stretching back to the end of December.

Knill sees no reason though why Scunthorpe cannot claim an impressive scalp to further suggestions they may now be beginning to get their act together.

He said: "Huddersfield's record is unbelievable, but sooner or later it's got to go. Why can't it be against us?

"We said straight after the game on Saturday, if we're on our game we can perform against anybody.

"It's just getting that consistency and that end product.

"We seem to do everything but put the ball in the back of the net and that's how far away we are of being a really good team.

"Until we get that bit, while it's not a struggle, it's frustrating for everybody."

A result at Glanford Park, where the Iron have struggled to recreate the sort of football they have pieced together on their travels this season, would go some of the way to circumventing that sense of unfulfillment.