Richie Wellens said his team were too passive as they signed off their year at the County Ground with a 0-0 draw against Cheltenham.
Wellens said his side started slowly and allowed what he said to be a good visiting team dictate play.
“We started the game really poorly – they’re (Cheltenham) a decent team, they can play the ball about. They surprised us a bit with the formation because they changed today – they went 3-4-3 and our full-backs were very passive.
“They were happy to mark their wide men and put no pressure on them higher up. We were slow in possession but when we got them in at half time, you expect a reaction and we certainly got that. We could have been behind at half time.
“In the end, I’m disappointed not to win it and for long periods in the second half, Cheltenham couldn’t get out of their own half but then we were lacking that final piece of quality.
“We kicked off the second half and within 30 seconds we’d pressed and Elijah won the ball high up the pitch and the centre-back was booked from it but from then on, we were so passive it was untrue.”
Wellens’ substitutes did make a difference but without managing to break down the away team.
“Jermaine has been chomping at the bit and has impressed in the couple of times he’s come on. I thought he was positive and I thought him and Kyle (Knoyle) worked well down the right but I’d still have liked to seen a better final product.
“Steven Alzate – we know how good he is – came on but, at the moment, he’s struggling with his back and can’t train. We want him to start but need to make sure his back recovers properly so we have him 100%.”
Overall the Swindon boss has been pleased with his charges, but wants them to start to kill teams off, and be more ruthless.
“I would have liked more wide players, more strikers, but we’ve got what we’ve got – I think it shows where we are. We’re a decent team – we can play with a lot of energy, we can close teams when we’re aggressive.
“Now we just need to start finishing teams off and scoring in twos and threes because that’s what I want for us. It wasn’t to be today but I don’t think we were ever in danger of losing the game. It wasn’t even.”
