SWINDON Town head coach Luke Williams says ‘life is on hold’ after watching his side fall into the grips of the relegation zone at the weekend.

Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Bury, courtesy of a controversial penalty that was dispatched with aplomb by League One player of the month James Vaughan, saw the Shakers move above Town and with Oldham Athletic also recording 3-2 win over bottom-of-the-league Coventry City, Williams' side now sit 22nd in the table.

It’s only the second time that Swindon have fallen into the drop zone this term, the last time coming in the wake of October's 4-1 defeat at Scunthorpe, and Williams has vowed to do everything in his power to make sure it is only temporary again, with Town travelling to Northampton Town tomorrow evening.

“It’s awful,” he said, after admitting that he is now back in charge of team selection.

“It’s absolutely horrendous to be in that situation and we need to get out of there as quickly as possible.

“Life is on hold until we are out of that position.

“I'm disappointed because I felt that it was a very soft way for us to concede a goal through a penalty that is not a penalty, and that is very upsetting but there is nothing I can do about that. I can only try to help the team to win the next game.

“If we can limit the opposition to one attempt on goal, for sure, we will not be below that line for very long.

“If you want to be sure, you need to score as well because the referee might decide he is in the mood to give the opposition a goal and then you need to score at least one to prevent you losing a game through one bad decision.”

Town were forced into a late change at Gigg Lane after Luke Norris failed a fitness test during the warm-up, having pulled a muscle in the week.

That saw Jermaine Hylton start in his place, who was replaced by the returning Jonathan Obika just shy of the hour mark, and Williams is hopeful the striker will now be in contention for a starting place tomorrow night at Sixfields Stadium.

Meanwhile, the Swindon boss also revealed that teenage midfielder Jake Evans has been enjoying a spell with Irish First Division side Waterford, the team that Town chairman Lee Power acquired last year.

“He has been over to Ireland and I believe he has played for Waterford and enjoyed the experience,” said Williams, following the first sign of a player link between the Power’s two clubs.

“We are in regular contact with him to make sure he is enjoying himself there and earning and getting the experience he needs.”