Gunning: We didn’t play the way we want to play

Interim boss Gavin Gunning expressed his frustration after Swindon Town were blown away in the early stages by MK Dons.

The visitors raced into a two-goal lead inside eight minutes at the County Ground during the League Two contest. 

After keeper Jack Bycroft and defender Conor McCarthy both left the ball for one another, Stephen Wearne pounced for the visitors to open the scoring on four minutes. 

Wearne then added a second in quick time after converting a ball into the six-yard box. 

Charlie Austin pulled a goal back for the hosts late on having come off the bench, but Town were left to ponder a run of just two points from their past four league games following a 2-1 reverse. 

Speaking post-match, Gunning told the club’s official YouTube channel: “We’ve had four unbelievable performances and we didn’t have one today. That’s how it is. We didn’t play the way we want to play. 

“We didn’t operate in the space, we got marked, we got up against people which I don’t want. 

“Our forward players were up against their defence, which we don’t need. We’ve got to play with depth to suck them out and play down the sides of them and create pockets of space. 

“We conceded that goal and we went back to the Swindon who feel sorry for themselves, who don’t look to make mistakes trying to do the right thing – that was the most frustrating part.”

Defeat left Swindon 18th in League Two with 39 points from 33 games. 

Quizzed on the nature of the goals his side conceded against the Dons, Gunning replied: “Just simple mistakes, like has been going on all season. 

“I think the mistakes are lapses in concentration or not wanting to deal with the situation in hand. 

“The first one is obviously a mix-up between centre-half and goalkeeper. Both should probably do better.

“To be fair, the keeper should come out first. Then the centre-half should kick it of the pitch but he tries to hold it up and then let the keeper come. Mix-up, awful, and obviously you are chasing your tail then. 

“Then their outside forward comes in off our full-back I think. He obviously gets caught ball-watching, gets done in behind and they score one touch. 

“Straight away you are chasing your tail, the game plan goes out the window and we’re trying to adapt.

“We didn’t quite stick to the game plan, which is the most important part to be honest.”

(Picture: Rob Noyes)