TWO-GOAL hero Marc Richards felt Swindon Town’s superb victory away at Cambridge United came as a result of hard graft on the training pitch from the players ever since former manager David Flitcroft’s shock departure at the start of the month.

Town triumphed 3-1 at the Abbey Stadium in new manager Phil Brown’s first game in charge, although striker Richards felt the foundations were laid under interim manager Matt Taylor, who led the team for 12 days following Flitcroft’s resignation.

Richards’ second-half double came after Luke Norris’ header gave Swindon the lead at the break and although Cambridge briefly had hope when Uche Ikpeazu made the score 2-1 for a while, the 35-year-old forward was pleased to see Town’s efforts pay off.

“We set up to come here for three points in the work we have done this week with the gaffer but it is not just this week, it was last week with Matt because the work we did last week was top drawer,” said Richards.

“This result comes on the back of two weeks’ work that we have done on the training ground.

“The gaffer said to us: ‘There is no point us putting in good work on the training ground and not replicating that on Saturday’ and I thought that is what we did.

“We conceded and we are disappointed about that but we got the three points at the end of the day.

“Going forward, if we can stop conceding as many goals as we have been in recent weeks, that should stand us in good stead.”

Richards’ first goal was a fine flicked header following a whipped Taylor free-kick from the right and his second came from the penalty spot after Kaiyne Woolery was felled by Brad Halliday.

Town’s penalty only arrived after regular taker Norris had limped off injured and despite currently being two from two from 12 yards for Swindon, Richards will be happy to hand back the responsibility should the situation arise.

“Everyone knows what Matt Taylor is about. He gives you that width on the left-hand side and from set-pieces, he is deadly,” said Richards.

“It was a case of putting myself in the right area. I knew he would pick one of us out, so it was just a case of getting on the end of it.

“I am always a willing penalty taker and if Luke is not playing, I will always step up.

“We have not had that discussion yet about who would take it if we are both on the pitch. He has been here longer than me and has been taking the penalties all season so it is over to him if we are both playing, but if it is just me on the pitch, I will step up and take one.”