SWINDON Town’s missed opportunity to poach three valuable points from League Two leaders Lincoln City at the County Ground settled minutes after the final whistle, according the goalscorer Michael Doughty.

Relief was the phrase used by Doughty in the immediate aftermath of Saturday’s four-goal thriller against Lincoln, which occurred after the visitors had both Bruno Andrade and Jason Shackell sent off.

However, frustration kicked in minutes later as Doughty realised Town’s missed opportunities – which ensured Richie Wellens’ men remain seven points short of the play-off frame with only 18 fixtures remaining.

Saturday’s brace means Doughty is now Town’s leading goalscorer this season with eight strikes and four assists – far more than the two goals that strikers Kaiyne Woolery, Keshi Anderson and Marc Richards have so far notched this campaign.

“Initially it was relief, but after the game there was a little bit of frustration,” said Doughty, who appeared off the bench when replacing Kyle Knoyle at half time.

“Ultimately I thought the boys did really well. Just a couple of lapses in concentration cost us, and a wonder goal from them.

“Even when you’re 2-0 down with 10 or nine men it’s a tough ask. I remember last year playing for Peterborough at Milton Keynes Dons – who had nine men – and we lost 1-0.

“I know the feeling and the frustration from before.”

Swindon are now priced as high as 40/1 to earn promotion to League One next season, confirming that bookmakers have little faith in the Wiltshire outfit transforming their fortunes in the final third of the season.

A different final third was the major talking point among fans after the game, with many frustrated by Town’s lack of forward movement despite holding a two-man advantage for large parts of the second half.

But Doughty insists passing the ball around the edge of the D is the correct way to break down a team short of man-power, believing that a patient approach led to Town’s second goal which helped secure a point.

Doughty added: “It’s a mixture of being patient and trying to score. For the spectator there is frustration because they just want us to have a shot or cross the ball at any possible stage.

“But the reality is that when they have nine men you have got to move them around a bit because they will want to defend the box.

“We did that okay, it worked well for the second goal. Our main chances came from that action.

“Ultimately, both teams will be pleased with the outcome.”