Swindon Town "struggled to cope with the reality of being in front" says Luke Williams

After Swindon took the lead and lost against Oxford United on Sunday, head coach Luke Williams says the side "struggled with the reality of being in front".

Fankaty Dabo's first senior goal opened the scoring in Town's favour but, in the second half, Swindon conceded two goals in the space of three minutes and lost the derby.

Swindon took the lead in the 19th minute but, following the goal, Oxford gained momentum and seemed to dominate the midfield from then onwards.

At full-time, a dejected Williams told the local media that the young Reds struggled to build on their one-goal lead.

"We looked like we struggled to cope with the reality of being in front and we allowed the opposition to impose themselves on us and stopped doing the things that made us acceptable in the first half.

"I don't think the players were able to continue to do what we did well in the first half (and) I don't think we matched Oxford in the middle of the pitch, particularly in the second half.

"I think (we struggled) mentally again. Once the pressure starts to rise too many people are not able to keep their concentration and be disciplined and (they) play too much within themselves.

"It looks to me all the time that (mentality) is our biggest problem. We know that, physically, we're often going to be outmuscled but we've got ways of dealing with that, provided that players stick to the gameplan."