PHIL Brown was impressed by the patterns of play and confidence displayed during the first half of Swindon Town’s pre-season friendly fixture at Melksham Town earlier today.

Goals from a trialist, Keshi Anderson, Steven Alzate, Jermaine McGlashan and Scott Twine earned Town a 5-2 victory, after which Brown confirmed one trialist will travel to Spain for the club’s warm-weather pre-season tour.

Brown’s squad will jet off tomorrow night before completing four days of training ahead of the club’s third pre-season fixture - a home fixture against West Brom on Saturday, July 14.

Reaction to his side’s 5-2 win, Brown again said individual performances mean more to him than the score.

“I’m looking for patterns of play and confidence from the lads,” said Brown.

“Passing ability and moments of play from individuals and units – all of those things.

“In the first half I was well impressed, probably similar to how I was impressed with the second half at Cirencester.

“The first half at Cirencester was a little bit stodgy and one dimensional. But in the second half we had more movement and creativity, and I think that happened again today except the squads were reversed.

“We saw that same movement and fluidity in the first half today.

“You’re looking for players to come through pre-season unscathed.”

Brown fielded seven trialists at Melksham while new addition Luke McCormick also played – this morning’s other confirmed signings Martin Smith and Elijah Adebayo did not play.

And the former Hull City boss, who first took charge at the County Ground in March, said assessing trialists in his back four has been difficult.

He said: “It’s difficult to asses trialists, certainly when it comes down to defenders and they might not be doing as much defending as what a team would do in a league game.

“But at the same time you’re looking at character and desire, as well as their attitude towards hard work.

“It was a hot game today.

“Of the thousand here I would say everyone is going to have their opinion about the trialists – everyone will asses them like I am. And hopefully my experience counts for enough to be able to spot a trialist and get them through it.

“Everybody looks at scores and the goals were going in.

“But with all respect to the opposition we should be scoring goals. And we have done.

“There’s lots to like and admire about the games, but it means nothing to me.

“I want to get 20 or 25 players ready for action come August.”