For Oliver Norwood, playing is the pleasure which comes after a hard week of training.

But it is the pain which comes after missing out on three points which has so far typified Scunthorpe United's season.

On three out of four occasions, the Iron have proved themselves equal to League One's frontrunners.

It should be a record indicative of a team competing at the top end of the table.

United however, remain closer to the relegation zone than the play-off positions.

Nine draws have not helped their cause, with Norwood accepting it is those dropped points which are proving costly.

Consequently, he wants to see Alan Knill's men show their ruthless streak when Tranmere visit Glanford Park today.

"We're a footballing team," said Norwood.

"When anyone tries to play football against us, we fancy ourselves to pick teams off.

"We're a match for anybody who wants to play football, whereas the clubs that don't want to play football tend to be more physical and stop us doing what we're good at.

"We want to be higher in the table and when we've played the top four teams I think we've shown we're capable of that.

"We've only lost to Sheffield Wednesday and drew with Huddersfield, Sheffield United and Charlton.

"It shows when we do play the big teams, we can match them.

"We're a match for anybody in this league on our day.

"We need to start beating the so called smaller teams, no disrespect to them.

"That's when we need to start picking up points – against the teams who are around us.

"We need to be more clinical and we need to start winning games.

"The performances are good enough and it's all well and true people saying we're the best team they've played, but we're not taking three points off people and that's what we need to do.

"We need to start winning games sooner rather than later and start climbing up the table."

Tuesday night's 2-2 draw with Huddersfield Town was a prime example of such missed opportunities.

Taking the lead with a stunning strike from Norwood, Ian Bennett's two penalty saves from Chris Dagnall and Michael O'Connor then threatened to cost United as the visitors took a 2-1 lead four minutes from time.

Only a late strike from Dagnall rescued a point.

"In the changing room afterwards, it was like a defeat to us," said the Manchester United loanee.

"We played a top team who are up there in the league and I thought we competed and played really well.

"We missed two penalties, so to still get something out of the game is a good point in the end. But it should have been all three really.

"It started at Brentford when we went there and took a point. We were disappointed we didn't get all three there.

"Then again at MK Dons, disappointed we didn't get all three, and then the same on Tuesday night.

"We could have taken nine points from the last three games and we've played three big, big teams who are up the top end of the league.

"Huddersfield are unbeaten now in 40 games and it should have come to an end on Tuesday.

"Unfortunately it didn't but our performances are getting better.

"Tranmere are up there too.

"They've had a great start to the season and we need to take them as seriously as we did Huddersfield on Tuesday night because they are a good side.

"They're not up there in the table by mistake. But we want to get three points out of that one."

A repeat of the 20-year-old's midweek performance would go some way to helping Scunthorpe achieve that.

Although delighted to bag his first professional goal, finding the net more often is just one of the areas Norwood wants to improve on.

"I was happy with how I performed at Brentford away," he said.

"At MK Dons I was really happy, and then to get my first professional goal on Tuesday night was a good buzz for me.

"It was nice to be able to celebrate with my mum and dad there as well.

"I've been practising in training and the gaffer's been saying, 'you need to shoot more'.

"I think I'm improving. I think I'm doing well getting about the pitch and also getting some tackles and headers in.

"That's the other side of the game that you come out on loan to experience and to learn from.

"I think when we don't have the ball, the defensive side of the game, I want to get better at that.

"I want to be able to stop players playing and then do my bit when I do get the ball."

In the meantime, Norwood believes the Iron can draw strength from a defence which has tightened up in recent games as team spirit comes to the fore.

"We've worked hard on the training ground together, that's where the hard work goes in," he said.

"Playing is the pleasure at the end of that training.

"You can see out there, we all stick together. It's pleasing for the gaffer to see the team spirit is there.

"We've only conceded two goals in the last three games and the back four's been magnificent.

"Sam Slocombe has come in goal and done really well.

"He's stepped up to the plate now which shows there's competition for places.

"People know there's pressure on them to perform.

"There's competition for places and I think it's bringing the best out of people now."