Veteran striker Brett Pitman admitted Swindon Town ship goals too easily after three more last weekend saw the League One strugglers beaten by Gillingham.

Town’s top scorer this season has netted four goals in the past six games but is seeing his hard work undone by mistakes at the other end of the pitch.

The 31-year-old said: “It’s been the story of our season, it’s too easy to score against us week in, week out and that’s not just the defence, that’s a collective because we concede from set-pieces.

“They’re just... I can’t really sum it up. They’re too easy.

“Look at the other end, we get chances as easily as other teams do but obviously once you concede one, against a team like Gillingham who had the wind in the second half, we should still defend our box better.

“It makes it a tough game, it was 3-1 after 61 minutes and it’s not good enough.

“People are disappointed. It counts for nothing but I thought we finished the game pretty well after the subs came on, Payne made a big difference, as did Ellis.

“We finished the game pretty strong and probably could have nicked another but ultimately the game’s really done and dusted by then.

“We’ve got to put it right quickly because it’s a slippery slope.”

“Motivation comes from within yourself, you shouldn’t need a manger to motivate yourself, you should come out every week and do that yourself.

“Four weeks ago we went to the league leaders at the time (Lincoln) and deserved three points, we beat Northampton and Crewe, managers can’t control what happens on the pitch, ultimately we’ve got to stick together.

“We need to fight to stay in this league.”

Pitman scored Town’s only goal at the weekend to break the deadlock just before half-time. He’s found the net nine times for the club in 29 matches.

Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Gillingham also made heads turn when manager John Sheridan pulled out a quintuple substitution.

Five players were replaced in the 78th minute and Pitman thinks that was the right decision.

He added: “We were in a desperate situation, 3-1 down with 10 minutes to go, that’s pretty desperate. He’s done what he thinks will impact the game.

“And it did. The subs did impact the game. I thought we certainly got better after they came on.”