"I'm not Ronaldo, I'm allowed to be subbed!" Swindon Town's Nicky Ajose responds to being replaced at the weekend

Swindon Town striker Nicky Ajose has revealed that he was surprised with the reaction that the fans showed to his head coach, Luke Williams, when he was brought off in Saturday's defeat to Port Vale.

Ajose, 25, scored the opening goal in Swindon's 3-2 loss in Stoke-on-Trent on Saturday but was substituted for fellow forward Luke Norris when the Robins were a goal down at 2-1 and chasing the game at Vale Park.

Williams said at full-time that this was due to Ajose not being fully fit.

"Nicky hasn't had a full week of training and it looked to me that he'd given us everything he possibly could," Williams said.

"I felt like there would be far more direct, long balls to the centre of the pitch which is something that Nicky is not so comfortable with. He much prefers the ball to be played from the wide area inside the box for him to score.

"Luke Norris came on (and) did exactly what he was asked to do - to run at the heart of them and compete with the physical centre backs.

"He ran with him and scored so I understand the fans are going to give me criticism. Nicky didn't have a full week of training this week and Luke went on and did his job and scored a goal and gave us a chance to get back in the game."

Ajose then spoke, on Monday in the build-up to Sheffield United, of his surprise at the reception Williams got for bringing him off.

"To be honest I wasn't meant to be back (until) possibly after the Bradford game (next Saturday) so to get an hour (75 minutes) on Saturday was a credit to the staff at Charlton who took me back and worked with me literally eight days straight.

"I felt good. I know Luke got pelted when I came off and I was surprised because I'm not Ronaldo, you know, I'm allowed to be subbed and I can't come back from fatigue and play 90 (minutes) the next week, it's going to be 60 max - I think he (Williams) pushed it a bit with 75!

"I feel good and ready for tomorrow."