TOWN boss Mark Cooper was reasonably happy with the night’s work of his team as they were defeated by Premier League opposition for the second time this preseason.

Tim Sherwood’s Aston Villa scored once in each half to secure a comfortable win 2-0 at the County Ground in a game played at a canter.

The goals, firstly for Scott Sinclair and then Jerell Sellars, came from defensive errors – not uncommon in pre-season, but nonetheless avoidable.

Sinclair was able to tap in from close range in the first half after a poor touch by Jordan Williams in the build-up.

Sellars’ goal was equally easy, coming after a poor back pass from Brad Barry to substitute keeper Jamie Stephens.

Similarly to the defeat against Everton, for much of the first half Town matched their Premier League visitors, but as ever the game waned once the benches started to empty.

“I thought we played quite well in patches tonight, we probably threatened the goal a bit more,” Cooper told the local media afterwards.

“I thought we looked solid, with some players getting some extended game time.

“I liked the shape of the team and we dominated a lot of the possession as well.”

Swindon’s starting shape was an interesting note as Cooper chose to play four at the back for the first time since March 2014.

The physically-imposing centre-back, who played at Petersfield on Saturday, Abdelaye Diakité, partnered Williams in the middle. Nathan Thompson and Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill filled the roles of traditional full-backs down the flanks.

Completing the 4-3-3 were Fabien Robert, Kevin Stewart and Drissa Traore in midfield, with Michael Smith playing as the central striker between Jonathan Obika and Nathan Byrne.

Cooper revealed this was a decision he has taken given the nature of the squad he is currently working.

“The group of players you have sometimes dictates the shape,” he explained. “We’re looking for a shape that suits the players we’ve got. For me at the moment that’s not far away from it.”

Town started brightly and kept possession well against their more feted opponents.

Traore, the most consistently impressive performer for Swindon in pre-season, continued in that manner. The little Ivorian broke up play well and distributed with purpose.

The best moment came from the home side harrying the Villa backline in their own half. Obika nicked the ball away from Micah Richards and strode towards goal, but a poor touch took the striker a bit wide and in the end he could only shoot wide.

For most of the opening 30 minutes the best efforts from Sherwood’s men came from distance. Gary Gardner and Sinclair took it in turns to have a go, with the former clipping the outside of the post and the latter fizzing a shot just wide.

Villa’s goal actually came from a rather shorter distance.

A cross from the right was put into the path of Gabby Agbonlahor on the sixyard box via a poor Williams’ touch. The striker smartly found Sinclair, with an unselfish pass, for the former Manchester City man to tap into an unguarded net.

Villa had more of the game from then until the break, but Robert did have a decent chance to bring Town level after he’d stolen the ball from Ciaran Clark. Unfortunately the Frenchman could not take advantage, tamely shooting at Jed Steer from 18 yards.

As both sides rang the changes the contest petered out somewhat. There was little in the way of goalmouth action aside from half-chances from out wide.

Villa substitute Sellars was able to make Town pay for a hideous defensive lapse to double the lead with just under 10 minutes to go.

A weak back pass from Barry resulted in substitute keeper Jamie Stephens’ clearance being charged down. The Villans’ youngster was left with the easiest of finishes into an empty net.

Town (4-3-3): Belford (Stephens, 70); Thompson [C] (Barry, 70), Williams (Marshall, 81), Diakete (Branco, 63), OrmondeOttewill (Brophy, 63); Traore (Rodgers, 45) Stewart (Kasim, 63), Robert (Jebb, 63), Byrne (Randall, 75); Smith (Hylton, 45), Obika (Iandolo, 81).

Aston Villa starting XI (4-4-1-1): Steer; Hutton, Richards, Clark, Amavi; Bacuna, Gard- n ner, Westwood, Sinclair; Gil; Agbonlahor.