PHIL Brown made no attempt to sugar coat the abject nature of Swindon Town's performance as they found themselves comprehensively outplayed by Bury at the Energy Check County Ground.

Two goals from Byron Moore handed the Shakers a richly-deserved win in Wiltshire as Brown's dishevelled troops delivered a woeful League Tow performance in front of their own fans.

Loan signing Luke Woolfenden volleyed Town level in the early stages of the second half but in truth, the home side were lucky to get away with a one-goal defeat as they found themselves comprehensively outclassed by the visitors.

The home side looked entirely out-of-sorts, Brown attempting a series of substitutions which rather than inspire an dramatic improvement instead led to more confusion among a side that saw its six-match unbeaten run ended.

Reflecting on a first home league defeat of the campaign, Brown conceded: "It’s very, very difficult to explain why it was such a poor performance from us.

"I suppose if you want to play the numbers game where Bury is concerned – they’ve not won away from home for so many years, games, or whatever it is and it was going to come.

"Unfortunately today it did come. They’re an experienced team and they looked as though they were comfortable playing on that surface.

"But we didn’t make it difficult for them, even with the ball which has probably been one of our strengths this year. Even without the ball we were poor as well.''

Brown held up his own hands to the tactical changes that added further bewilderment to Town's performance instead of clarity

"I tried everything I possibly could from the touchline, but it’s too late when a manager has to make that many changes,'' added Brown, who was deprived of the services of top scorer Michael Doughty by a hip injury..

"You’re making changes 30 minutes into the game, then 55 or whatever it was and then a changing system and I can take blame for that. I can take responsibility.

"But at the same time, we didn’t look like we were going anywhere, or ever really had a strong foothold in the game.

"The goal (from Luke Woolfenden) gets you that, but then consequently we were 2-1 down and climbing that mountain again.

"They (Bury) had better players than us on the day, which is the first time I’ve had to say that since the Lincoln game and it’s deflating to tell you the truth because I’ve been really impressed with the attitude and the ability of the teams that I’ve been putting out there.

"But today was as if there was no energy in the side.

"You can never fault any of our team so far in our performances so far this season for a lack of effort, or a lack of work rate, but today they just looked empty.

"It was a strange one, very, very strange.''