AFTER securing four points from the previous two games, Swindon’s mini recovery came to a grinding halt after a complete no show from the entire Town squad against Gillingham.

The result puts Town bottom of the recent form charts, after taking just four points from a possible eighteen in the last six League One games.

It was easily one of the worst team performances this season, and they should be criticised for an under-par display, losing to Gillingham 3-0 at home is never acceptable in any season.

A total lack of decisiveness from players and management was obvious when they could see Plan A wasn’t working.

But I know that some fans and myself need to take a step back, a deep breath and gain some perspective.

Town are still just two points from 2nd place, and sit thirteen points inside the playoffs in early March, a position I would never have dreamt we would be in last August.

On Tuesday night every single player looked exhausted and painfully short of confidence, especially in the second half.

After playing non-stop this season in League One and the Asian Cup both Massimo Luongo and Yaser Kasim looked shattered, ideally they would both be rested this Saturday, but with Louis now on the sidelines, neither player can afford to miss any of the last 12 games.

After being told continually throughout the season by the chairman, that Town has one of the smallest budgets in League One, this scenario was always on the cards.

While we watch our rivals make 2-3 changes a game, Town can only select from a small number of players, which was obvious on Tuesday, as Mark Cooper had to look to his youth team squad to make up the numbers on the bench.

As all the other top five sides are able to buy players and bring in more loan signings, it’s very unlikely we will see any more additions at Town before the loan window shuts on 26th March.

Out of all the top five teams playing on Tuesday night, Town had just 17 players available, compared to Preston’s 27-man squad, Bristol City’s 19, Milton Keynes 25 and Sheffield United’s 26.

It’s something that puts Town at a disadvantage compared to the other clubs gunning for promotion, but being the underdog for promotion this season is a challenge the players should be excited about facing over the next 12 games.

This weekend Town faces Notts County at the County Ground; this game will be the last home fixture for four weeks as Mark Cooper’s side faces a month on the road with three away fixtures.

With that in mind, it makes this weekend more important, and another must-win game for Town to keep pressure on those sides in the top two spots in League One.

Follow me on Twitter @danwjonson