ALL good teams build from the back, but in Swindon Town’s case it appears to be the other way round.

On Saturday they fielded only three recognised defenders (apart from the goalkeeper), with their wing backs being out and out midfielders/attackers. Not only that but the three defenders, although obviously talented, are lacking the necessary experience for this standard of football.

All successful teams possess a reliable and capable defence which breeds a confidence in the rest of the side. This was lacking last year at Swindon and is only too obviously lacking this season. Look at the past – Butler/Burrows/Harland – strong tackling defenders – supplemented by Dawson/Thomas/Trollope – principally defenders but capable of coming forward as well. Or perhaps, Hoddle/Calderwood/Taylor, assisted by Bodin/Kerslake/Summerbee.

Building from the back means instilling organisation and discipline in your key positions and letting this good practice flow forward to influence the other areas of the team. If a team manages to keep a clean sheet they are always going to get at least one point every game, which must be a good foundation to work from!

We now appear, in principle, to have a very potent strike force, but no defence to go with it.

How about having one or more conventional wingers and leave any “wing backs” to concentrate more on defence? Just a thought for a non-existent Plan B.

Peter Mitchell Cirencester