SWINDON TOWN boss Mark Copper strongly hinted at personnel changes for the visit of Notts County to Wiltshire on Saturday after his promotion chasers crashed to their fifth defeat in the last eight games on Tuesday night.

A lacklustre Town were outplayed and out-thought in the disappointing 3-0 home defeat by a Gillingham side who look much improved under new manager Justin Edinburgh.

“We were totally under par – nearly every player – and you can’t win games like that,” said Cooper. “It was a bad, bad evening. It can’t stay the same for Saturday."

Cooper’s strikers continued to misfire but young Jermaine Hylton looked lively and energetic when coming off the bench and may be given his first start against County.

Centre back Raphael Rossi Branco was one of several Town players who was well below his best on the night and did not do himself any favours when heading straight down the tunnel after his late substitution with Copper chasing the game by playing just two at the back and four up front. Rossi Branco looks certain to lose his place on Saturday to the back-from-suspension Jack Stephens.

Swindon remain in fourth place, two points off an automatic promotion spot, as their fellow top-six sides also faltered at home. Both MK Dons (third) and Sheffield United (fifth) lost, while Preston (second) needed a stoppage time equaliser to draw 2-2 with Doncaster.

A minute's applause before the Gillingham game was held for Spurs legend Dave Mackay who cut his managerial teeth as a player-boss at Swindon Town.

He went on to win the league title as boss of Derby County but many Town fans remember him as the man who sold Don Rogers to Crystal Palace a week before quitting his post.