SWINDON Town U18s manager Alan McLoughlin insists his young players must learn to take responsibility following a 2-0 loss for the club’s development side to Forest Green Rovers in the Central League  today.

McLoughlin watched Town concede two second-half goals at the Corinium Stadium in Cirencester in a game where Swindon were restricted to a handful of chances.

Tahvon Campbell and Reece Brown scored for the visitors as McLoughlin conceded the better team won.

The result means Town drop to the bottom of the Central League South West division after picking up four points from seven fixtures.

McLoughlin said: “It was a deserved win for Forest Green.

“They had more chances than we did in the first half but we had the opportunities to score once we countered or broke down their defence.

“As coach, I don’t tell the lads what to do on the ball, I encourage them to be tactically aware and in the first half, they acted on what I was saying.

“In the second half I made a conscious effort to say nothing. From the first minute it wasn’t right and they scored.

“The second goal was too easy and they could have scored four or five others. I’m disappointed with the lack of responsibility our players took.

“I had a bit of a go at them and wasn’t happy they accepted 2-0 as a score.

“They must take responsibility. I expected more effort and commitment. But credit to Forest Green, they moved the ball around well.”

McLoughlin opted to make five substitutions throughout the second half as Archie Matthews and Elliot Dugan came on at the hour mark, while Teoman Atik, Harry Drag and Jay Dunstand-Digweed appeared in the closing 10 minutes.

But the changes did little to help Town’s game as McLoughlin explained he could have featured in Forest Green’s back four.

“If no one wants to rush me or tackle me I can play,” said McLoughlin.

“They’ll receive praise when they need it. But today not enough players took responsibility.

“I’m trying to get that into players. I can’t always guide them to make decisions.

“It’s something they have to learn themselves. We knew there would be spells when Forest Green would control the game.”

Despite the loss, McLoughlin was impressed with starting keeper Stuart Moore – who made a handful of good saves before being substituted in the second half.

He said: “Our keeper played well. He was competent and made some good saves.

“But overall we’ve been beat. I don’t mind getting beat as long as we’re beat honestly.

“We’ll take this on the chin and hopefully the lads have learned from today. That’s the main thing.

“We played a team with more experience today but it’s a chance for them to shine.”

Swindon Town: Stuart Moore (Archie Matthews 60), Paulo Giamattei, Harry Stanley (Teoman Atik 78), Luke Haines, Joe Romanski, Ollie Rejek (Jay Dunstan-Digweed 86), Jacob Bancroft, Ralph Graham (Harry Drag 86), Scott Twine (Elliot Dugan 60), Tommy Ouldridge, Louis Spalding.

Forest Green: Cameron Belford, Nathan Trueman, Alife Madden (Will Davidson 73), Scott Laird, Alex Whittle, Triallist (Sam Hendy 83), Thomas Anderson (Lewis Spurrier 73), Jordan Simpson, Reece Brown, Tahvon Campbell (Elias Yousseff 73), Jay Malshanskyj.