"YOU can't give good teams bad goals."

That was Joe Murphy's brutal assessment of his side's display in the 2-0 loss at QPR on Saturday.

A Bradley Orr header and a superb Heidar Helguson chip had a dominant Rangers side in total control by the interval, with the Iron stopper needing to be on top form to keep the hosts at bay.

Although United gained a foothold in the second half, as the home side took their foot off the pedal, Murphy was critical of a performance that lacked the new-found resolve that has seen Scunthorpe, defensively, improve on last season.

After four games of the previous campaign, Murphy was, on average, conceding a goal every 40 minutes.

This time around it is a more respectable goal every 72 minutes.

But a patched up rearguard, shorn of an ill Rob Jones and an injured David Mirfin, were handed a unique brand of capital punishment by the league leaders who, at times, opened up the Iron at will.

"We have learned some lessons," admitted Murphy, who was celebrating his 29th birthday on Saturday.

"You don't mind if they stick one in the top corner or it's a great bit of skill and they score.

"But the first goal was disappointing – we weren't organised from the corner.

"Josh Wright had to come out and the ball bobbled in at the back post.

"With the second one, the lads at the back won't be happy that the ball through has done them.

"Second half we probably improved a little bit but it was a harsh lesson."

Jonathan Forte spurned two clear-cut chances for the visitors on a day when they faced an Adel Taarabt-inspired Rangers.

The mercurial midfielder provided a creative spark which was the difference between the two sides on the day, according to Murphy.

"They have got some Premier League quality and it showed," added the Republic of Ireland keeper.

"Neil Warnock's teams work really hard and they have individuals like (Hogan) Ephraim and Taarabt that are always going to change games.

"I think in the first half that was the difference.

"In the second half we got a little bit of a hold of the game, but it was too late then.

"At 2-0 down at half-time, we could have crumbled and it could have been four, so we can take that positive from it.

"But we just need to take our chances.

"(Jonathan Forte) is not to blame and on another day he would stick those away."