MATT Ritchie has hinted that frayed tempers and hot-headedness may have blighted the Swindon Town set-up in recent weeks.

But the winger insisted things have cooled down at the County Ground, as the Robins look to build on an impressive performance in defeat to Colchester on Saturday when they tackle the final third of the League One campaign.

A miserable run of just three points gained from 27 available has the potential to test even the sternest of characters.

And so Ritchie’s suggestion the atmosphere in the dressing room may have been a little tense over the past six weeks is understandable.

However, the former Portsmouth man was quick to point out morale was lifted by the weekend display, with the players all rallying together for a common cause.

“We’ve got a great dressing room and some of the lads have made a big, big difference,” he said.

“Not just in terms of banter but giving people pats on the back and encouraging when someone makes a mistake.

“Maybe a couple of weeks ago it would have been on his back but things have changed and we’re together.

“We’re a lot more a team and spirits have been lifted in the dressing room.

“The experienced pros and the lads in and around the dressing room just have to make sure the banter keeps going, and that team morale altogether keeps going and we’re not bickering.

“It is easy, obviously people are stressed and it’s not a nice time so people have got shorter fuses, but we’ll make sure that all stays out of it and stick together and I think we did that great on Saturday.”

Ritchie threw his support behind manager Danny Wilson, who has come in for severe criticism from fans since the turn of the year.

And the wide man revealed how the boss’ words have kept the team’s self-belief high during a difficult time in Wiltshire.

“The manager makes a big difference and the manager spoke to us and said it’s only us that’s going to get ourselves out of this,” he said.

“After Tuesday we were low and we had to pick ourselves up from the down-in-the-dumps attitude and we picked it up Thursday and Friday, and I think Saturday it showed.

“We got together as a group and we played well and we were very unlucky to come away with nothing.

“On the pitch there was a vibe about the team and when we got that one back we had belief in ourselves we could go on and win, obviously we didn’t but hopefully that’s another step on the ladder.”