AFTER putting in his best performance in a Swindon Town shirt in the goalless draw with Exeter City at the County Ground this afternoon, Alan O’Brien spoke the words on every Town fan’s lips – ‘we need a goalscorer’.

O’Brien posed the biggest threat to the visiting Grecians, showing a control in his blistering acceleration that has been so lacking in his game during his season-and-a-half in Wiltshire, and forced Exeter manager Paul Tisdale to alter his tactics in an effort to nullify the Irishman.

But for all his toil and creativity, O’Brien could not generate the vital opening that could have secured Swindon all three League One points.

And the 25-year-old admitted the absence of a seasoned or born hitman was a major factor behind Town having to settle for a point.

“I think all the boys played well, we just couldn’t seem to score on the day,” he said.

“The team played very well but we just couldn’t score. We need a natural goalscorer.”

O’Brien was deployed on the left of a four-man midfield by Danny Wilson, with Matt Ritchie moving up front to partner Thomas Dossevi.

The pair combined to produce Swindon’s best chance early on, with Ritchie heading O’Brien’s cross against the bar on nine minutes.

That was just one instance of the former Hibernian man’s contribution over the course of the match and the wide man, who was rightly awarded the sponsors’ man of the match award, said he was delighted he could make an impact.

“I’ve wanted to play well for quite a long time now and felt decent out there,” he said.

“I’ve been feeling very good for the last few weeks, and I’ve been feeling very sharp.

“I’ve been doing a lot of extra work with Dave (Morrison, Town’s fitness and conditioning coach) and when players seem to be giving me the ball a lot more I seem to be doing a lot better.

“I really enjoyed it, it felt really good so I’ve just got to keep it going.”