Manager Alan Knill believes Scunthorpe United are only a 'small step' away from reaching one of the biggest components that has been missing from their game this season – consistency.

Although pleased to see his side go a third game unbeaten with yesterday's 1-1 draw at Colchester United, the Iron boss could not hide his frustration at having to again settle for just a single point on the back of a dominant second-half display.

As well as being the 12th time in 25 games this term United have been held to a draw – no other Football League side has done so on more occasions – it was also the ninth time they have let slip a lead.

But having given debuts to all three of his January transfer window signings at the Weston Homes Community Stadium, Knill is confident his side are continually improving.

"We're playing okay and though we've had 12 draws, we could have easily won 12," he said during his post-match press conference.

"We're a short step away from being extremely consistent.

"The good thing is the players are really committed to what we're trying at do.

"At the end of the game there was no holding on to what we had, they were all trying to go forward and score.

"We dominated the second half but, as we said to the players, what's the difference? There should be no difference. We've got talented players, so we should have done that during the first half too.

"We weren't aggressive enough and didn't defend well enough and we nearly paid for it.

"Fortunately we had the opportunity to turn it around and after the break we produced an excellent performance."

Scunthorpe lead in the eighth minute courtesy of a debut goal from midfielder Josh Walker.

There was an element of fortune as the 22-year-old Watford loanee opened his account for his new club with a side-footed shot looping up off a defender before bouncing over the line.

But that was a slice of luck few would begrudge the former Middlesbrough trainee, who 24 hours earlier had come close to missing the game when a six-month full-time contract had to be torn up to be replaced by a loan deal because he had already played for two other clubs this term.

"Just to have him on the pitch was a triumph because we'd been stopping at service stations to fax documents over on the way down," said Knill.

"I'm delighted for him, because it's been quite a saga over the last couple of days, for him, for me and for everybody.

"The goal was probably a little bit fortuitous because he tried to pass it into the corner and it's taken a deflection.

"But he's a talented footballer and now we can all relax and let him go and play."

Colchester levelled in the 27th minute, from the penalty spot, after Steven Gillespie was brought down by Eddie Nolan as the visitors frantically tried to clear their lines.

Knill had no complaints about the decision, awarded by referee David Phillips and converted coolly by Gillespie.

"As soon as Eddie goes to ground, it's irrelevant whether he touches him, he gives the referee the opportunity to make the decision," groaned the United boss.

"Eddie knows the worst that happens is the lad takes it out of the box. There was no need to go to ground.

"The good thing is, it hasn't cost us everything. We managed to salvage a point, but it put us in a difficult situation.

"Hopefully we'll learn from it."