Following their 3-1 loss away to Colchester United, Michael Flynn claims Swindon Town are too easy to score against.
The Wiltshire side started the game well with a 23rd-minute goal from Jake Young, going into the half-time break with a one-goal lead. A lead they were unable to hold on to for long with a Liam Kinsella own goal in the 49th minute.
In the 64th minute, Samson Tovide gave the home side the lead before a 90th-minute goal from Noah Chilvers completed the comeback for the home side. Colchester find themselves in 18th position after the win as they attempt to pull away from the relegation zone.
This result meant a fourth consecutive loss for Flynn’s side, with three of those coming in the League. Most notably Swindon lost 7-4 at home to National League side Aldershot in the FA Cup first round, which included going 7-0 down, before a late double from Dan Kemp and Charlie Austin saved their embarrassment somewhat.
The Robins started the season convincingly, with a nine-game unbeaten streak which included a 6-0 win over Crawley Town. In this period they averaged over three goals scored a game, conceding only 0.6 goals per game. They have only managed to pick up four points in the seven games following this promising start.
Flynn, via the Swindon Advertiser, commented on how easy it has been for the opposition to score against them. He said: “We are too easy to score against right now and we need to be better in both boxes because we missed some chances as well.
“I can’t keep saying it, but it is what is costing us right now and stopping us from winning games.
“We had good energy in the first half, we pressed as a team, we won our individual battles and we did everything that we did not do on Saturday.
“We got the goal and we could have had a couple more, but then in the second half we dropped off, we went too deep, and it was a poor second half.”
Speaking more generally about recent games, he continued: “We are conceding goals at bad times. We needed to be more compact and it is too easy to put the cross in the box, and then he has pulled off and nobody has gone with him.
“We are away from home and those are the ones where you have to throw your body in front of it or keep him with his back to goal.
“The goals we are conceding are not good from our perspective.”
The 43-year-old doesn’t believe all hope is lost, however. He claimed: “The solution is do Plan A better. Everybody goes on about six-foot-seven defenders, but we are not conceding from corners and long throws.
“We need leaders on the pitch, they can be 18 or they can be 38, we just do not have enough of them at the minute.
“We are a young squad and they need guidance from players with leadership.”
Swindon currently find themselves sat 10th in the League just four points off the playoff spots. This weekend they host Stockport County at the County Ground for a Saturday 3pm kick off.
Writer’s View
Conceding thirteen goals in just 3 matches is form that will cost any club hopes of winning in the League. If they want to start winning games they certainly need to strengthen their defensive displays.
Hopes of a playoff finish rely on changing their fortune fast, starting with top of the league this Saturday.
