After Friday's 2-0 defeat he said, "I can accept it if players are below par with their performance if they give their lot. But last night they did not give me 100 per cent commitment either as a team or as individuals.

"I am ashamed to say that. I am not going to slag them off in the Press but I will do what I need to do in the dressing room and make no mistake, they know what my thoughts are."

Laws has confirmed that goalkeeper Lionel Perez will be back for tonight's game after being re-called by Newcastle to provide them with cover for Saturday's Premiership visit to Arsenal, and is trying to sign an unnamed midfielder in time to play at the Abbey tonight. Although he has not named his target, the Iron are reportedly £75,000 richer after their televised cup tie and Laws is thought to be chasing the signature of an experienced player.

"What I saw in the second half on Friday helped focus the mind," Laws told the Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph. "What I saw in those closing 45 minutes at Rushden & Diamonds were too dreadful for me not to react. If I didn't react then I would not be doing my job properly.

"We have not suddenly become a bad team over just 45 minutes - but what we have got to do now is bounce quickly back again at Cambridge. It gives the players a quick chance to redeem themselves, and I am sure they will."