Robins feels mugged after loss

Mark Robins likened defeat to Notts County to being 'mugged' after Scunthorpe were beaten 1-0 at Glanford Park by a late penalty.

The Magpies had plenty of possession but offered little threat until Stephen McLaughlin won them a 89th-minute penalty when he was brought down in the box by goalkeeper Bobby Olejnik Substitute Zeli Ismail held his nerve to score from the spot and ensure that Notts' unbeaten run was extended to 11 matches. It was desperately tough luck on Scunthorpe, who had produced one of their most promising home displays of the season, and Robins could not hide his disappointment. "I feel like we have been mugged," he said. "We did not deserve this result. "Some of our play was excellent and we have created lots of chances, it's just a pity that we could not take some of them. "On another day we could have won three or four nil. "Well played to Notts County because they have got the three points and at the end of the day that is what we are in this game for. But we are getting better and better all the time. "We are not far off turning things around and getting the wins that we need. "There is still a lot of work to be done, but there is also still plenty of time to do it." Striker Lyle Taylor twice stung the fingertips of Notts goalkeeper Roy Carroll and Gary McSheffrey was unlucky to see a first-half header crash back into play off the foot of a post. "It's our finishing that has cost us at least a point," Robins continued. "And then we have lost it with a sloppy goal at the end at a time when we were pressing forward looking or a winner ourselves. "We have switched off - and it has cost us the penalty that has lost us the game. "But there are so many positives for us to take from this performance - and now we go again at Peterborough next week." Magpies manager Shaun Derry was relieved to see his team get away with all three points. "With Mark Robins just having come in here at Scunthorpe, we were under no illusions that this would be a tough game," said Derry. "We knew we just had to stay in the game. In the end it took us until the 89th minute for the chance to win it from the penalty spot. "It took one bit of quality to create us the chance. That was the only difference between the two teams. "We have several penalty takers in the team but I was always 100 per cent sure that Ismail would put the ball into the back of the net, even though Scunthorpe did their best to try and put him off. "He was the first one to rush over and pick the ball up once the penalty had been given. He wanted it and that is always a good sign of someone's confidence. "I know it was a scrappy game but I am delighted to have kept a clean sheet. "I personally would much prefer to come away and win 1-0 rather than have a bigger scoring game. "I was really pleased that we have got our just desserts for the way we have defended." Breaking news, transfer gossip, line ups and goal alerts from your football club - delivered direct to your mobile. Sign up for Sky Sports Alerts