Baraclough has won only four games since taking charge of Scunthorpe

Scunthorpe United boss Ian Baraclough says he is facing a major challenge so early in his managerial career.

The Iron suffered their fifth straight defeat in the 3-0 loss at Millwall leaving them outside the Championship relegation zone on goal difference.

"I've questioned the players about their desire to want to win a game," the 40-year-old who took over in September told BBC Radio Humberside.

"It's a test for me and something I've got to go and deal with."

Baraclough added that he feels his players are performing "within themselves".

"They know they're on the back of five defeats and they're not expressing themselves the way they did at the beginning of the season," he said.

"That's the tendency, you go into your shell and don't want to be the one to make a mistake."

However, the Iron manager went on to say that he did not feel he was struggling to lift his players.

"Training's bright every day and the sessions that we put on are there to improve them and to work them hard," he said.

"For me, the individual has got to be able to look himself in the mirror at the end of the game and look with pride. I'm not sure too many can do."

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