PHIL Brown has addressed his beliefs about consistency and commitment to Swindon Town’s promotion cause to his players ahead of tomorrow’s home fixture against Mansfield Town.

Four wins, five draws and four defeats from their opening 13 League Two fixtures have positioned Town out of the play-off frame and ‘behind schedule’, the County Ground boss admits.

Brown revealed he is pleased with the consistency displayed by ‘six or seven’ of his regular first-team members, suggesting the performance levels of Town’s fringe players must improve moving forward if promotion is to be achieved.

He said: “I think I’ve got it in six or seven players every Saturday, it’s the four or five transient players that can’t grab a hold of that shirt that’s proving the key factor.

“And that is something that we have addressed this week.

“We sat the team down on Monday and talked about consistency and commitment.

“If we do commit to the cause – the cause being promotion – because of the club that we are, then consistency has to follow.

“Four wins, five draws and four defeats – it’s about analysing those defeats and why they are coming along. Is it the preparation, the travel or hotel stay? It might be the way we’re living our lives during the week.

“It could be the motivation of winning promotion that is too much for one or two. All of these things are something that I have to – and do – take into consideration.”

Defeats by Exeter City and Crewe Alexandra coupled with frustrating home draws against Oldham Athletic and Northampton Town have seen Town earn just two points from their last four fixtures.

The mood on the terraces is a far cry to the jubilant scenes witnessed at Yeovil Town, where Swindon’s first-half dominance resulted in a three-goal victory with Steven Alzate, Matt Taylor and Elijah Adebayo finding the net.

Despite the club’s poor league form, Brown insists he is close to finding his best XI – adding that he knows what systems work best for individuals.

“There’s a lot to think about and a lot to understand as a football manager,” said Brown.

“I’m not going to discuss the turnover over of players, because that’s a bridge that we’ve now crossed – end of story.

“The level of consistency is something that you have to strive for one a day-to-day basis - we address that on the training ground.

“The change in personal is something that I have to consider. The starting XI and can we get somewhere near our best starting team, then once we’ve got that can we keep it.”