DAVID Flitcroft insists the rising tide of pessimism surrounding the fortunes of his Swindon Town side can only partially be attributed to their recent woes.

While only part of a run that has seen Town lose six of their last seven matches, Boxing Day’s 5-0 home hammering by League Two leaders Luton Town saw the current campaign hit a new low as the second half of the season began.

Seven home defeats have seen the wheels wobble significantly and while Tuesday’s attendance of 8,526 was the best of the campaign to date, there is no disguising a measure of antipathy towards the club.

Flitcroft though believes much of that is also down to the last disastrous season, which saw the club relegated from League One in turbulent circumstances.

“I think the enthusiasm was hit before I came here, let’s not try to hide the history,’’ he said.

“We tried to pick it up over the summer and lift it. One thing I wish I could do is swap the home form with the away form so our supporters could see where we are at but I can’t.

“We will have to regroup and once we get into January, we can start getting some solutions then.’’

Asked whether the die is cast as regards the futures of some members of his squad heading into the January transfer window, he added: “No, I will assess that over the season.

“Over the 23 games, that is what I will assess that on as we come into January. I think some players have really found it difficult to accept playing at home and accept the expectation and the demand from a group of supporters that want better and deserve better.

“That’s my job now to make sure we can deliver that as we go into the second part of the season and we will be searching for those players that can to that and make sure over the 23 games, the assessment I have done on the playing squad, we get that balance right because the home form is completely not good enough.’’