MANAGER David Flitcroft will always prioritise results over performances after being left to rue a missed opportunity for Swindon Town to make it three wins on the bounce in League Two.

After claiming back-to-back victories for the first time in his tenure at the County Ground last Friday in a 2-0 success at Forest Green Rovers, Town were unable to extend that sequence when they were beaten 2-1 at home by Coventry City on Tuesday.

Although the manner of the loss was far more heartening than previous heavy home defeats at the hands of Crawley Town and Barnet, that was of scant consolation to Flitcroft.

The Town chief was proud that his side showed plenty of resolve in adversity – with the Sky Blues only grabbing a winner after the hosts were reduced to 10 men – but that bears no comparison to a positive outcome on the scoreboard.

“I said to the players after: ‘You left it all out there but we can’t start games in that manner and expect to impose ourselves on the game’. The lads have given the effort and played with an honesty,” said Flitcroft.

“You are never satisfied with a defeat. I think people get satisfied with a performance sometimes but it’s about the result, it’s about winning football matches.

“We have not done that so we have got to make sure that this group of players and this staff understand why we haven’t done.

“If you come out of that game with a draw, you keep that unbeaten run going and keep getting used to that unbeaten run.

“I was gutted we lost that unbeaten away run at Notts County and I am trying to teach this group the importance of keeping winning runs and unbeaten runs going.

“Whatever you do, you make sure we come off that pitch with a point and then we can move on, but we haven’t.”

Town will look to bounce back from their midweek disappointment when they return to the County Ground on Saturday for the visit of Cambridge United.

Meanwhile, a behind-closed-doors fixture against Championship side Bristol City has also been arranged for next Tuesday at an undisclosed location as Flitcroft looks to get match minutes into some of his players who have seen their game time limited so far this term.