FLEXIBILITY is going to be a key asset for Swindon Town this season and boss Mark Cooper was pleased with his side’s ability to adapt, despite a 4-1 defeat, in their latest pre-season friendly with West Bromwich Albion.

Town started with the 4-3-3 system employed on Tuesday night against Aston Villa. After finding themselves 2-0 down after 22 minutes against the Baggies they returned the more familiar 3-5-2 formation.

It paid off and after that point the Robins improved, scoring before half-time through Yaser Kasim.

For the remaining majority of the contest they more than lived with their Premier League visitors, before Albion punished some sloppy defending late on to add two goals.

Last season one criticism regularly thrown at Cooper’s side was their tactical inflexibility and it now seems he, and assistant Luke Williams, have worked on a solution.

Albeit against Albion Town ended up reverting back to the formation they know at 2-0 down, but it was their ability to do so that pleased Cooper.

"I think it is important that we have that flexibility and look to change depending on what the other team do, and try and mess with them a little bit," said the County Ground chief.

"It enables us to wrestle the initiative in the game.

"Sometimes teams press us and it suits us to go with three at the back and if teams drop off it maybe suits us to go with four, so plenty for us to work on and look at."

The scoreline may have been 4-1, but Town were better than that, even after the break when they returned to a back four. Cooper certainly saw things that way.

"(The final score was) a little bit harsh,” he added. “For the first 15 minutes we were a little bit sloppy and gave too many balls away, but after that I changed the shape back to a three and it gave us a little bit more of a foothold in the game.

"We went back to a four at the start of the second-half and we totally dominated for twenty-five minutes.

"When you change the team and give all of the boys a chance, it disrupts the organisation a little bit.”

The Swindon Advertiser was not permitted to attend Cooper’s post-match press duties.