Defeat at Crawley 'not good enough' as Flynn stresses need for reinforcements

Manager Michael Flynn described as “not good enough” Swindon Town’s defeat at Crawley and added: “We need to bring players in with better mentalities and a better work-ethic.”

The Town boss saw his side slip to a 3-1 reverse on New Year’s Day - their fifth defeat in six league contests.

Dan Kemp scored a 90^th-minute consolation for Town, who already trailed to a double from Danilo Orsi and Jack Roles’s first-half volley.

Assessing his side’s performance, Flynn told BBC Radio Wiltshire: “Not good enough.

“Our finishing was poor. The defending – they hit the target three times and scored three. Decision-making, I thought we were second best, first half.

“We actually had some good chances but the goals we gave away were nowhere near good enough.

“A lot of them need to have a look at their performances and really evaluate what they think they are going to get out of the game.”

He added: “I think we are too open at times. It’s too easy to get crosses in, players are free in the box. You can start looking at things like desire to keep it out, understanding of the game.

“We were just too easy to score against and that is just not good enough for this football club.”

A frustrating defeat this afternoon.#STFC pic.twitter.com/LSZmt563th

— Swindon Town Football Club (@Official_STFC) January 1, 2024

Following the contest, Flynn confirmed loan duo Kemp and Jake Young were set to return to their parent clubs in MK Dons and Bradford respectively.

Both players’ departures he described as “big misses”.

Asked whether radical changes needed to be made, the manager replied: “One hundred percent, it needs new personnel.

“We need to bring players in with better mentalities and a better work-ethic.

“The injuries, it’s not helped. I’ve tried to back the players and stick up for the players as much as I can in the press. There’s certain aspects of that that’s got nothing to do with injuries.

“I’m just very, very disappointed.”

Defeat left Swindon 16^th in League Two. They host Colchester United at the County Ground on Saturday.