SWINDON Town head coach Scott Lindsey admitted his team “got worse the longer the game went on” during Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Harrogate Town.

Looking for a ninth opening-day victory in a row, Swindon survived an early penalty shout for a foul by Angus MacDonald on Alex Pattison.

The Wiltshire side looked to be heading into half-time all square, only to concede from a corner two minutes before the interval.

READ: Swindon Town lose 3-0 to Harrogate Town in League Two.

Lindsey’s men showed glimpses of threat in the early moments of the second half, only for Harrogate’s Matty Daly to score a superb effort and double the hosts’ advantage.

And after Ben Gladwin struck the post with a penalty midway through the second period, the Sulphurites went on to add a third through Jack Muldoon late on to seal the result.

Analysing a mixed display from his team, Lindsey denied speculation that his team was not well prepared enough for the start of the new season.

He said: “I don’t think the team were a week short because you could see in the first half how we played.

“I thought we were really good in the first half, but I think the goal probably knocked us as it came just before half-time.

“I still think we played reasonably well in that first half, and if one of those chances goes in then it’s a different game.

“I believe if Ben Gladwin scores the penalty then we’ve got a real opportunity to take something from the game.

“But the longer the game went on, we were really open and made poor decisions on the ball. The longer the game went on, we got worse.”

Swindon now have a week to fix the issues in their gameplan and ensure that the opening home game of the season does not see Lindsey’s men suffer the same fragilities as they showed against Harrogate.

The Town boss vowed to hold himself in a more positive light when training resumes and expects his players to do the same as they aim to pick up three points against Salford City next weekend.

Lindsey said: “We’ll be working really hard to put it right. I know the players were just as disappointed as I am, as you can imagine.

“They’re a good group, and they’ve got a good work ethic so I’m sure they’ll put this right. One result won’t be the measure of the season.

“As bitterly disappointed as I am, because I really am, Monday morning is a different day and we’ll start again from there. It (defeat to Harrogate) was hard to take.”