A late goal from Grant Holt sealed a 1-0 victory for the Canaries, who deserved the three points and had seen an earlier effort from Holt ruled out.
"I thought it was a good game, in the first-half we played some very good football but losing Michael O'Connor and Josh Wright [replaced by Michael Collins and Andrew Wright in the second-half due to injures] affected us a lot," said Adkins.
"For the last 25 minutes we gave the ball away far too cheaply. We know Holt is a big danger in the box - I've tried to sign him a couple of times - and he's popped up with a goal.
"When you play against a good side, if you give cheap possession away then the opposition will have sustained pressure. That's basically what happened.
"The back four have done very well. The first-half was really good, we played some good football and created opportunities but it's about winning and picking up points
"Too many players when they had possession were not composed enough to keep the ball. It just wasn't good enough.
"We've got a small squad of players, and they've got to make an impact when they get the opportunities if they don't they know what the consequences are."
Paul Lambert, the Norwich manager, was delighted to leave North Lincolnshire with a win.
"I was really pleased with the way we played and I thought the three points were deserved, though they were late coming," he said.
"I thought we dominated the second half and it was a great header from Grant Holt that won the game for us. We know that if the delivery is right, then that is just what Grant can do for us.
"Scunthorpe is a difficult place to come. Not many teams will win here this season. We knew it would be a physical battle against the hard-working Scunthorpe team on their small pitch and that is why I made some changes."