SWINDON Town’s solid defensive structure was the most satisfying aspect of their New Year’s Day victory away at Barnet for manager David Flitcroft.

Although the Bees are struggling down in the League Two relegation zone, Flitcroft was still well aware of the threats posed by the Londoners after they inflicted a 4-1 defeat on Swindon at the Energy Check County Ground earlier in the season.

Barnet’s John Akinde netted a powerful header either side of goals from Ellis Iandolo and Matt Preston for Town but other than that, the home side posed very few problems at the Hive Stadium.

The three-man visiting back-line of Preston, skipper Olly Lancashire and Chris Robertson were able to deal with the pressure as Town rounded off the festive period with a nine-point haul from four games.

“You have got to focus, it is coming in from all angles,” said Flitcroft.

“John Akinde is a threat, he is a strong boy and a strong presence and they get players around him. Shaquile Coulthirst destroyed us at home but we kept him quiet.

“Barnet have got a real threat but we contained them and kept them quiet. I am not too sure how many shots Reice (Charles-Cook) actually had to save, so I am just delighted.

“I think Lancy epitomises it. He took a smash to the cheek and buckled his teeth and then took another one to the face later on but got up and just epitomised what we were about.”

Flitcroft confirmed there were no major injury concerns in the immediate aftermath of the match in north London.

Midfielder Amine Linganzi lasted less than a minute of the second half before succumbing to a thigh strain, although his withdrawal was described as precautionary, while forward Kaiyne Woolery came off due to fatigue with 20 minutes to go.

John Goddard was also absent from the Town matchday squad that had beaten Notts County 1-0 at home two days earlier, with Flitcroft revealing the midfielder had been struck down by a bout of flu.

“Amine was precaution. We tried to work on it at half-time but we just couldn’t get it back,” said Flitcroft.

“He had a little bit of a thigh strain and once he’d had the 15 minutes off, it just tightened. As soon as he came out to run, he was struggling.

“Kaiyne Woolery tired towards the end after the shift he put in against Notts County. He blew up after 65 minutes but his high intensity running and his sprint distance was the best it’s been against Notts County.

“John Goddard has really come down with the flu. Some of the staff had to have a couple of days off with it and it has really taken hold of John and I made the decision for him to stay away.”