SWINDON Town manager Mark Cooper has asked the club’s fans to continue to stick by his young side despite their poor form away from home.

Town’s latest defeat on the road, to Gillingham on Saturday, left the Robins five points off the League One play-offs even though Swindon boast the second best home record in the division.

Cooper persisted with the suggestion that Town’s youthfulness worked against them in their meek performance at the Priestfield Stadium and pleaded to supporters to keep on backing his players as they look to bridge the gap to the top six in the coming weeks.

“Somebody criticised me for my team talk on Tuesday night, saying there was no reaction. There was a reaction tonight for the second half, which was a plus. I understand the supporters will be frustrated but they’ve got to stick with us because we have got a lot of young players who are trying to learn how to play football,” Cooper said.

“That’s the way we’ve got to go at the minute. They’re learning, they’re trying their best and it is frustrating for all of us but we’ll get there in the end.

“It’s difficult and I feel for them and it’s frustrating, I understand that, but please stick with us.

“It’s going to be a long process but we’ll get there in the end if they stick with us.

“There was one or two who need to up their game, it doesn’t take much working out, people who saw the game will know.

“We just tried to tweak a few things and be tidier on the ball in midfield and calm and that would lead to chances.

“Little George Barker had a couple of really good chances and if one of them goes in it’s game on again.”