JAY McEveley has admitted that his 117-game goal drought is starting to “do his head in”.

The defender, who has scored nine times in 12 years as a professional, has not found the back of the net for Swindon Town since joining the Robins permanently in the summer of 2012.

The last time he was able to celebrate etching his name onto the scoresheet came as a Barnsley player during a 2-1 defeat at Norwich City in September 2010. With five games left of the current League One campaign, he is keen to end that barren streak as soon as possible.

“I’m looking to get on the end of a corner or a free-kick now because it’s doing my head in a little bit,” he said.

“The gaffer’s put the lead on me now, putting me in the back three - I don’t really have the time to get forward now. It would be nice to have a few goals. I’m a little bit disappointed I haven’t got on the scoresheet to be honest with you.

“I’ve been in some good positions and I probably should have done better or anticipated a little bit better and I have had the chances to go up for corners now, where before when I was in a back four I’d be the one staying back or taking the corners.”

Town’s chances of reaching the play-offs are all but over after Peterborough United extended their lead on the Robins to seven points with victory in midweek, but McEveley stressed that the p-word has been avoided for some time in the Swindon dressing room.

“We were never really talking about that word or thinking about it, we were just concentrating on keeping that level of performance and getting that consistency that we’ve been lacking during the season,” he said.

“We’ve had enough opportunities this season to put ourselves in that play-off position and we’ve missed out. We were just happy from the second half against Wolves right through to the Carlisle game, our performance levels have been where they need to be and we’re very happy with that. Over time that develops into a very good side.”