MIDFIELDER James Dunne has vowed to stick behind Swindon Town captain Olly Lancashire, despite the defender falling victim of heavy criticism from the terraces in Tuesday’s desperate loss at home against Cambridge United.

Two quick goals by United at the start of the League Two clash prompted uproar and severe voices of discontent in the grandstand as Town’s grip on a play-off spot loosened by a further two points.

Six winless fixtures – from which Town have secured only three league points – have reduced confidence to a season low in the dressing room.

But erasing that result from their minds and focussing on what has turned into an increasingly desperate fixture against Notts County this weekend is part of Dunne’s plan, who backed defender Lancashire’s leadership qualities following Town’s latest defeat.

He said: “If you look at Olly Lancashire, the person that he is, he’s our captain and leads by example.

“I’m surprised with that (the boos), because he always works hard and gives 110 per cent.

“We’ll stick by Olly. He’s our captain and leads by example.

"He tells us that he’s a leader, and we trust him. He leads by example, in training every day.”

Part of the concern among supporters is Swindon’s inability to score from open play.

Elijah Adebayo’s strike from the edge of the box during Town’s 3-0 win at Yeovil was the last time that Phil Brown’s men scored a League Two goal from open play.

Thirty-three days later, and Dunne still admits the club has issues in the final third – something which all members of the squad will undoubtedly be working on ahead of the trip to Meadow Lane.

“Obviously we’re down at the moment, we haven’t been playing well for the last couple of weeks,” admitted Dunne.

“We’ve got to come in (to training) and get things right.

“We’re getting up to the final third, that final ball is our problem. And we’re letting in sloppy goals, we need to correct that quickly.

“Apart from 15 minutes, where they got their two goals, we controlled the game. But we weren’t clinical enough.”

Dunne’s inclusion on Tuesday resulted from the ill-fortune of Michael Doughty, who limped off the field with a heavy cut to his foot with 16 minutes played.

The 29-year-old made a positive impact on the game and showed determination moving forward, but went without reward.

He added: “We have to look at ourselves. Secondly, we must stick together and work hard on the training pitch to get us out of this situation that we are in.

“A bit of hard work on the training ground, and coming to a matchday and going at, it is important.

“Giving your all in the final third in that box, instead of allowing the opposition onto the end of the ball. The same applies in our box.

“I think there are enough options, but the decision making of the person delivering that final ball is something we need to get right.”