SWINDON Town manager Richie Wellens felt only the lack of a killer instinct in the final third prevented his side from leaving Mansfield Town with all three points instead of one this afternoon.

Wellens’ side brought the curtain down on their 2018 fixtures with a 0-0 draw away at League Two high-flyers Mansfield, making three draws in a row over Christmas.

Town were only denied a half-time lead at the One Call Stadium by some superb saves from Stags stopper Conrad Logan, first from Keshi Anderson and then from a dipping Matt Taylor free-kick.

Although Mansfield had the better of the action in the second half, Wellens believed his side could have travelled home with victory had they been more ruthless in front of goal.

“We were outstanding in the first half and should have been three or four goals up,” said Wellens.

“I can set a team up – we’re organised, we have defensive structure, we press well, we play good football and we can counter.

“We look a really good team, but – and I am frustrated – we are never going to see our full potential unless we start taking our chances.

“Their man of the match was announced as Tyler Walker. No disrespect, but I didn’t really see him, he was quiet today.

“Their man of the match was the goalkeeper. He pulled off vital saves when required.

“We are difficult to beat now, but if we had gone 1-0 up today, we would have picked them off.

“I said it after Northampton (a 1-1 draw on Boxing Day), we are a decent team, but we aren’t going to see our true potential until we start finishing chances off.”

Wellens believes his Swindon side have now got to grips with all facets of the game he has tried to implement since taking over at the club in November.

A feature of their play has been a high press, which frequently caused problems for a Mansfield side who have lost just one league game all season.

However, Wellens says Swindon must learn how to kill off opponents in order to become the finished article.

“I need help – I need goals in the squad for our structure, for our pressing and intensity, for our counter,” said Wellens.

“How many balls were there from the last defender through to the goalkeeper? Three or four in the first half. We were getting in behind for a cutback six or seven times. There should be goals.

“But I can’t fault effort and organisation. We limited a team who has been beaten once all season to very few opportunities and they came from our turnover of possession.

“I thought we were by far the better team.”