SWINDON Town manager Luke Williams admitted that he is still searching for the right balance between attack and defence after Barnsley struck late to claim a 1-0 win at the County Ground.

Town had looked a lot more assured at the back as they dealt with the threat of Sam Winnall and Ash Fletcher with Williams opting for three at the back, with Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill and Bradley Barry acting as wing-backs.

However, it was another defensive lapse as Town failed to clear a Josh Scowen cross with less than three minutes on the clock that allowed Winnall to get in and score his ninth goal in six league outings to the frustration of Williams.

“I’m very disappointed to concede so late,” he told the local media.

“We have been conceding goals at home and we tried to address that.

“I thought we looked solid, I couldn’t see them scoring and then to concede so late is disappointing.

“It is something that we have done before (playing with three at the back). Last season it was the formation we used most often and Nathan (Thompson) is very comfortable there.

“In some ways it did make us a bit stronger at the back.

“It is always give and take and when you try to be more solid at one end of the pitch you are probably not quite as creative at the other.

“I think we have got to search for the right balance.

“I think we did enough to certainly come away with a point but I feel we could have been crisper in the final third.

“At times we were a little bit sloppy. We probably did enough to warrant a point.

“It is very frustrating (not to get the elusive clean sheet at home) and much more frustrating when you don’t have a clean sheet and you don’t win.

“Giving away goals but coming off as a winner softens the blow a bit.”

Nathan Thompson made his first start since Town’s game with Burton on Saturday, September 19, and Williams conceded that his skipper is still not at 100 per cent as he continues his recovery from a troublesome groin injury.

“Obviously he is not quite there,” he added.

“We have seen Nathan when he gets into full fitness and a run of games, he is a Rolls Royce at the back.

“I don’t think he is too far off.”

Swindon were forced into a change at half time when Barry failed to emerge from the changing room after a dizzy spell during the break and that is something the club will monitor ahead of their trip to Port Vale on Tuesday.

“Bradley got up to walk out (at half time) and felt dizzy and by the time he got to the medical room he was already suffering with a migraine and there was no way he could go out and play,” said Williams.

“The boy had no idea until he tried to get up and walk down the tunnel so it left us a little bit scrambling.”