Scunthorpe Utd: Same old story says Iron boss as errors prove costly

Alan Knill claimed he was 'unbelievably disappointed' at the way Scunthorpe United succumbed to a fifth League One defeat in six games on Boxing Day.

For the second successive home match the Iron led at half-time thanks to an early goal, only to end up losing 3-1.

Bury's Mark Hughes (right) celebrates his side's equaliser at Glanford Park. Picture: David Haber.

And the manner in which they were torn apart during the second half - on the back of stringing together one of their best performances for some time during the opening 45 minutes - frustrated their manager the most.

"I thought we played as well as we've played for a long time during the first half," said Knill, whose side slipped into the relegation zone for the first time this term as a result of the defeat.

"Their first goal was a poor one to concede, but the second one really killed us.

"We keep saying it week in, week out, but individual mistakes are costing us.

"We can keep showing the players and talking to them, but once they're on the pitch they have to make the decisions for themselves.

"Today, in the second half, there were some really poor decisions.

"We could have gone in at half-time three-up, but that's the problem - you have to take your chances.

"At 1-0 up the next goal was always going to be important.

"If we'd have got it, chances are we were going to win the game, if they got it it was always going to be game on.

"We make some poor decisions and gave them a goal.

"It's unbelievably disappointing."

Knill was subjected to a vitriol of personal abuse from Bury fans throughout the afternoon, still angry at his decision to leave the Shakers for Scunthorpe in April, when they were on course for promotion from League Two.

He admitted losing in such circumstances against his former club had been hard to stomach.

"I don't like losing, but this one hurts more than most," he conceded.

Bury boss Richie Barker felt his side, which included eight players to have featured for the Shakers during Knill's time in charge, got caught up in the hype during a first-half in which they were always on the back foot.

He was understandably pleased though with the way they turned the screw after Peter Sweeney had levelled within five minutes of the restart.

"Some of them found it difficult to get their heads around the situation," said Barker, a former youth coach at United.

"But at half-time we told them to treat it as just another game and they responded excellently."