BEN Purkiss believes elements of Town’s League Two victory over Stevenage earlier this season can be used as a template for restoring the team to winning ways.

Defeats in their last two matches, at Grimsby and at home to Newport, have put the brakes on a Swindon campaign that was starting to gather momentum after a run of six unbeaten from the middle of last month.

Town return to what has become their comfort zone this season - away matches - as they head to Hertfordshire for today’s FA Cup second round tie, but defender Purkiss reckons the previous County Ground meeting between the sides this season does offer clues for returning the team to winning ways.

Luke Norris and Keshi Anderson both scored in a dominant first quarter of the 3-2 win in September and although the sides traded goals after that, the 33 year old says the match was an example of Town making sure their early dominance was reflected in the scoreboard.

“With all these teams, when you are on top in the game, you need to score because they are all capable of creating chances off set-pieces, something out of nothing or a mistake,’’ he said.

“I felt we were relatively comfortable (against Stevenage in the league). We tried our best to throw it away at the end, but I thought we were worthy winners on the day.

“But you see they’ve had some good results this season so they are an outfit to be respected.’’ Town’s apparent preference for road trips has been well documented this season, but despite today’s tie being another trip, it hasn’t stopped David Flitcroft and his players searching for answers to their home struggles.

“I think games are different away from home, as opposed to home,’’ added Purkiss. “When you are the away side, the onus may be on the opposition to attack and press and that creates spaces.

“We’ve spoken about it and done a lot of work this week, trying to really dig down into the reasons why the home form perhaps isn’t married up with the away (form).

“We hopefully feel like we’ve identified those and we go into the away game trying to replicate previous performances and you do that by understanding why you have been successful.

“We are expecting a slightly different game. It’s a cup tie, so perhaps a little more open as well with teams going for it. We know what to expect and we’re hopeful of getting a result.’’