LUKE Williams concedes the manner in which Swindon Town’s League One status is slipping from their grasp is the bitterest pill to swallow.

Town looked on course to become the first side this season to inflict defeat on promotion-chasing Bradford City in front of their own fans when they led with five minutes to go at Valley Parade on Saturday.

However, late defensive lapses saw them concede twice in the dying stages and leave Yorkshire with nothing to show for their efforts.

Five days earlier, Town had battled back from two goals down at the break at home to leaders Sheffield United only to fall apart in similar dispiriting fashion.

Having gone so close to positive results against two of the best sides in the division only to have them snatched away, Williams says it is that false hope that provides the most painful aspect of what now looks an increasingly likely demise into League Two.

“If we got destroyed but we gave everything and the other team were far too good for us, I could accept it because they are near the top of the table for a reason and we are near the bottom for a reason,” said Williams.

“If you are outclassed and you know whatever you had done on the day, if the other team perform in a certain way, you have got no chance to win, you can accept that.

“Sometimes you are not as good as your opponents but to go toe-to-toe with them, even though the form and the table suggests we shouldn’t be anywhere near them, and be able to strike the first blow so late in the game makes it just very, very difficult to accept.”

The collapse against the Bantams was just the latest in a long line of shambolic moments on the pitch that have proved so costly this season, but Williams is aware that constantly going over old mistakes could do severe damage to morale at a time when the players need their spirits lifted.

“I think sitting down and showing them one calamity after another is probably not the best thing but we certainly analyse every game and try to improve on things we have done wrong,’’ he added.