'Beyond frustration' - Gunning's annoyance after Swindon concede 'terrible' goals at Mansfield

Gavin Gunning laid down the gauntlet to his Swindon Town squad’s lacklustre marking, insisting “either do it or you won’t play”.

The interim head coach saw his side twice respond against League Two leaders Mansfield at Field Mill, before a free header for Will Swan allowed the hosts to record a 3-2 victory.

Defeat left Town 18^th in the division, having picked up 44 points from 37 league fixtures.

Gunning told the club’s official YouTube channel: “Everyone whose around the training ground knows we’re working so much around marking in the box.

“We don’t mark in the box. It’s one of those things that either do it or you won’t play, it’s simple.

“We’ve conceded too many goals, even before I came in, of people being free in the box.

“I don’t know when it clicks in the head of ‘listen, if you don’t mark in the box, you will concede’ it’s simple.”

The Stags went ahead in the first half when Lucas Akins found the bottom corner with a neat finish.

Paul Glatzel then showed good awareness to level up for Town five minutes into the second half – before only a minute later David Kellor-Dunn put Mansfield back in front.

Swindon found another leveller just before the hour mark when Aaron Drinan headed in a cross from the right.

But high-flying Mansfield scored a third to wrap up victory when Swan ghosted between two defenders to nod in the winner.

“Listen. Don’t do the basics, don’t mark in the box, don’t switch on after we score a goal – it’s what happens,” added Gunning.

“They’ve probably not had a team come here and give them a game like that but, honestly, for them to have a man spare in the box… you work on it all week. Lock in, mark in the box.

“Then we score. We get overly-excited, which is what happens. We’re buzzing, we’ve come to Mansfield and given them a proper game.

“The boys were doing so well, so proud of them but then to switch off and they score straight away is a bit embarrassing.

“But it’s football. If you don’t switch on and you don’t do the basics really well, that’s what happens.

“To come to Mansfield, play so well, you score two goals and you concede absolutely terrible goals like that – it’s beyond frustration.”

(Picture: Rob Noyes)