"It looked like it could have been a rout in the first half," Jones said.
"We could have made life a lot easier if we had scored more goals when we had the chance. But it was some sloppiness and laziness on our part which let Scunthorpe back into the game just before half-time.
"Credit to them, they then had a real go in the second half and made a real game of it. It's good to get back in winning ways for us.
"We will always have the odd blip during the season and we will be assassinated for it when we lose a game.
"But this is a good squad of players who are giving me everything they have got."
Scunthorpe manager Ian Baraclough was left hanging his head in frustration after a fourth successive home defeat.
Baraclough said: "We spent all week preaching to the players the need for us to get away to a good start, particularly against a team like Cardiff.
"But we were a goal down inside a minute before any of my players had touched the ball or got anywhere really near it.
"When you're 3-0 down in little more than half an hour a lot of things go through your mind, including the thought of a cricket score.
"We showed great character to get ourselves back into the game but everything that we did in the second half pales into insignificance after what had gone on before.
"Our home form really is becoming a problem, we desperately want to do better in front of our own fans."