RICHIE Wellens wasn’t afraid to slam central defenders Rarmani Edmonds-Green and Zeki Fryers for their hesitant defensive efforts during the first half of Saturday’s 3-1 League Two win over Grimsby Town.

The Town chief was frustrated by both players’ persistent decision to play possession back to goalkeeper Steven Benda when neither of the visitors’ attacking threats pressed Swindon’s back four.

The above only delayed how quickly Town could advance play up the pitch, and consequently neither team managed to break the deadlock before half-time.

A half-time rousting certainly geed up the home side, though, as three quick goals at the start of the second half paved the way for Swindon’s 20th victory of the season.

Wellens explained: “We were playing the ball around too slow, far too slow (in the first half).

“We were passing the ball back to Steven (Benda) far too many times. Rarmani (Edmonds-Green) in the second half went forward with the ball and played a diagonal ball out to the left – that’s what he has got in his locker.

“When there is no player within 30 yards of you once you’ve received a pass from Steven, there is no point in passing the ball back to Steven. If you do that, you’re only asking a goalkeeper to do an outfield player’s job from a different angle.

“I wanted him and Zeki (Fryers) to step out a bit more and be that bit more positive. I thought they did that really well in the second half.”

Winger Lloyd Isgrove enjoyed a strong second half also.

In conditions that were far from ideal for a twinkle-toed winger like Town’s 27-year-old, Isgrove got to the byline well on several occasions while drawing fouls too in key areas of the pitch.

The Southampton academy graduate was consequently rewarded with an assist. But Wellens still sees that slight room for improvement in his game.

He added: “Saturday was tough for Lloyd (Isgrove), but he did exactly what we wanted and got an assist.

“Can he do more? Yes. But, again, conditions weren’t ideal for wingers.

“He dug in and put a real shift in, defensively he put a couple of good blocks in too so all in all it was a strong day for Lloyd.”