SWINDON Town slipped to their third successive loss on Tuesday night with a defeat to Bristol Rovers capping off a week to forget for Robins fans.

News that Jamie Sendles-White is out for the season after knee ligament damage and Michael Doughty could miss at least six weeks following a complicated appendicitis operation didn't lift the mood.   

A poor performance at home to Bury on Saturday saw the Reds lose 2-1 with manager Luke Williams challenging his players to up the intensity for Rovers.

Despite coming out of the blocks well against the Gas, their strong start being rewarded with a sixth-minute goal, it wasn’t to be and a disastrous final 10 minutes in which Town conceded a penalty and an own goal leaves them hovering just above the relegation spots early on in the season.

The Bury match was a typical game of two halves with the away side putting in a dominant performance that gave them a 2-0 lead going into the break.

A highly controversial decision at 1-0 saw a Town equaliser ruled out for offside.

Williams no doubt read his side the riot act at half-time and the fightback after the break was spirited with Jon Obika getting Swindon back into the game.

Town’s passing was creative in the second half but they didn’t seize their chances and the manager was right to describe his players as starting the game 'in a coma'.

It’s not the first time Swindon have been punished for a poor start this season so they began the Rovers’ game playing with high pressure and tempo and were excellent at winning the ball back.

An early goal from Lloyd Jones was exactly what the home side deserved, and needed. A pin-point Sean Murray corner meant Jones only had to nudge the ball into the back of the net to grab his first goal of the season.

It was a good start but by the final whistle Town once again found themselves rueing their missed chances. Despite good passing play, chances were few and in the 75th minute substitute Norris spurned a golden opportunity to put Town 2-0 up; one on one with Rovers’ keeper, he chose power over accuracy and hit his shot straight at Kelle Roos.

In the 83rd minute, Raphael Rossi-Branco gave away a cheap penalty and then conceded an own goal a mere 60 seconds later.

After the game a crestfallen Williams said Rovers deserved the three points, but his comments were harsh given how well Swindon had played for much of the game.

Unlike the Bury fixture they didn’t deserve to lose, especially not in the manner they did, but questions will be raised about Rossi-Branco’s position in the starting line-up.