Swindon Town head coach Luke Williams defends conservative tactics in recent matches

Swindon Town head coach Luke Williams has backed his stance to not go gung-ho in the closing stages of the season, despite the Robins not getting the required wins of late.

Williams' men had a four-game unbeaten run ended by Walsall on Bank Holiday Monday, but at the same time, Swindon are now without a win in three following home draws against the MK Dons and AFC Wimbledon.

The 22nd-placed Robins only scored two goals in that run of four games without defeat and have struggled in front of goal all season, with top scorer Obika having only notched six this campaign.

As well as that, Swindon have not scored before the 75th minute since the 4-2 loss at home to Sheffield United on March 14, and have not netted in the first half since a 3-2 reverse at Port Vale on March 11.

Head coach Williams thinks he is right to stick to his beliefs though, as chucking men forward will lead to Swindon being exposed at the back, in his opinion.

Speaking after the Walsall loss, he said:

"I wanted the team to stay in the game for as long as possible, we started to be more attacking at the end of the game, we put John Goddard high up the pitch, but still weren't able to get the ball in the back of the net and, of course, conceded.

"I think, the gameplan, I haven't got too much trouble with, because we stayed in the game for a long, long time.

"Like I said before, we don't want to give ourselves a mountain to climb, we want to always be in the game and, as people get tired and switch off, we should have the motivation to keep going and others may start to dwindle, but it wasn't to be.

"I think we broke quite well in the first half, but once we got to the 18-yard box we wasn't able to make the clinical (impact). 

"Nicky Ajose put three crosses in, Jon Obika on the break broke in the box and had a shot blocked, Ben Gladwin looked a threat on the break - it's just that moment of quality.

"I don't think it's always possible to just go charging forward and hit the back of the net, you need to finish the action with a shot on target so there are times when players need to make a sensible decision and retain possession, otherwise it becomes basketball. When we had a chance we didn't take it."

Swindon now only have two games remaining, Scunthorpe at home on Saturday and Charlton away the following Sunday. 

When asked if the cautionary approach will be abandoned as Town desperately scrap for points, Williams replied:

"I'd rather not tell the opposition what we're planning to do, at this point, but we have to be sensible and not completely lose the plot.

"To play 10 strikers on the pitch is ridiculous but we'll have to have a look and think 'what's the best gameplan for us?' and try to make sure that we don't attack and leave ourselves completely vulnerable."

Swindon could be relegated on Saturday if they fail to win and other results go against them.

There are lots of permutations going into the final day whether Swindon win or draw on Saturday, but if they lose at the weekend and Bury avoid defeat at home to Northampton, their fate will be sealed ahead of the trip to the Valley.