ASSISTANT manager Ben Futcher is keen to see Swindon Town find their steely resolve at the back again in their bid to get back to top form.

Town recorded three clean sheets in a row en route to winning their final three matches in October but did not record a single shut-out in the six games they played throughout November.

Of the teams inside the top 10 in the League Two table, only Wycombe Wanderers have conceded more goals than the 25 shipped by David Flitcroft’s Swindon side over the opening 20 league fixtures.

Although they were only beaten by a single goal in the narrow 1-0 reverse at home to Newport County last weekend, it ensured Town suffered a second loss in succession and dropped out of the play-off places as a result.

After putting a strong run together already this term, Futcher knows Town are more than capable of producing solid defensive performances and is eager to see them recapture that form when they travel to Stevenage in the second round of the FA Cup on Saturday.

“We like clean sheets and we stress that to the lads but it is about winning football matches. Clean sheets are a part of that and we have not had enough of them over the last couple of games,” said Futcher.

“The lads know that and we know that and we want to get back to them as soon as we can. We have been working hard on the training ground to make sure that happens.

“It’s a really tight league and we have said that all the way along.

“We are disappointed with the manner we have conceded recently and in those type of tight games, we have got to make sure we come out on top of them.

“It is the time of year where games come thick and fast and you have got to make sure you avoid those late defeats in tight games.

“We have stressed that to the boys this week and they are all in a confident mood and are all really looking forward to Saturday.”

Goals conceded from set-pieces have been a cause for concern for Flitcroft and his management team of late and Futcher says every effort is being put in to ensure Town eradicate that from their play.

“When we started the season, I don’t think we conceded from a set-piece for 10 or 12 games, we were fantastic. Now I think we have conceded three in the last five or six games,” said Futcher.

“We are trying to get the players in the mentality where they are aggressive and first to the ball – all the things we were doing.

“You don’t want to go on about it too much as it does put doubt in their minds but they are aware of it and they have worked really hard on it.

“Attacking set-pieces and defending set-pieces is a massive part of football in League Two and League One – it can win you games. We want to improve on it and keep getting better at it.”

JOIN HARRY ABBOTT FOR MATCHDAY LIVE FROM THE LAMEX STADIUM ON SATURDAY AT SWINDONADVERTISER.CO.UK/SPORT