WELLENS: We have to concentrate on the league

RICHIE WELLENS gave a brutal analysis of his Swindon Town side as the Robins fell to a shock one-nil defeat against Woking FC in the FA Cup second round. TotalSport Swindon’s Ryan Walker got the thoughts of the manager following the result.

Favourites going into the game presented Swindon with their best opportunity in recent years of progressing to the tournaments third round. 

However, on exiting the cup against non-league Woking, Wellens gave a harsh analysis of his team's performance.

“It’s the cup and we’ve seen it so many times over the years where there is an FA Cup shock,” said Wellens.

“We were slightly below par, played far too slow and wanted to play in front of them too much.

“We didn’t get down the sides of them and obviously the keeper has pulled off a couple of good saves and blocked one off the line.

“We had so many corners and did we look like scoring from them today? Not really,” he added.

“I’m really disappointed from how well we started on Tuesday to starting sloppy today when the big word of the week was attitude.

“We didn’t think they had as much ability as us but they could still run as hard and work as hard against us.

“We wanted to win the game but our purposefulness on the ball wasn’t good enough and we didn’t move the ball quick enough to slice them [Woking] open,” he said.

Four changes from the impressive midweek league victory over Stevenage saw Wellens reshuffle his pack for the cup fixture. And speaking after the game, Wellens explained his decision behind this.

“There were a couple of changes and I want to keep the spirit in the squad in terms of letting everyone play,” said Wellens.

“Two or three lads got an opportunity. Dunney [James Dunne] hasn’t played for three weeks, trained the last couple of days but felt it was important he got a game.

“I still felt we had enough quality to win the game and I’m hugely disappointed,” he said.

“I would’ve liked a good cup run but we have to concentrate on the league.

“The league is the most important thing and I want a reaction now against Newport,” said the manager.

Dominant throughout saw Swindon end the game having controlled 62% of the possession, but Wellens explained that with his side missing a prolific striker, chances in front of goal were wasted.

“If we had a top striker today then I think we win,” stated Wellens.

“We had all the possession, territorially more or less all of the game.

“But when the balls flashing in we needed just that little bit of cleverness.

“I would like to run down the sides of centre-backs more and we didn’t do that today,” he added.

“Sol Pryce stayed in the team because he scored twice in the midweek game.

“I’m a little bit disappointed with his performance today, I don’t want to be too hard on him as he’s only a baby.

“I didn’t think he worked the two centre-halves enough today,” said Wellens.

A lack of creativity on the ball saw Town struggle to break down a robust Woking defence. But Wellens noted that his side’s inability to move the ball quicker led to a lack of chances in front of goal. 

“I think everyone wanted to come to the ball and play because Woking allowed us easy possession,” said Wellens.

“No one wanted to run off the ball, run in behind to attract a runner and make space.

“I just think everyone wanted to drop deep, get on the ball and look good.

“Every time we got two or three passes on Tuesday against Stevenage we finished with a cross and it was good football.

“Today we were too slow,” he said. 

Defeat against Woking made it six consecutive seasons that Swindon have now failed to progress past the FA Cup second round. And Wellens was emotive after the game when describing his feelings about exiting the competition.

“It hurts me massively [losing against Woking],” explained Wellens.

“I’ve been involved in good cup runs and seen the difference it makes to a sides momentum.

“Financially it can be huge to a club so I’m very disappointed.

“I’m pretty angry but the main thing now is to make sure we don’t lack any confidence from today and get back on the training ground to prepare as best as we can against Newport,” he added.