ON the evidence of the 90 minutes at the County Ground on Saturday, Swindon Town may not have reached their turning point in the season after all.

Peterborough took all three points with a single goal, but it could have been more had the visitors been more ruthless.

I took the opportunity to watch the four new players who had come in at Bolton the previous weekend when a shock victory was the result.

All four have quickly bought into the Swindon Town way. In pure footballing terms, what Town used to do well they now do even better.

But the fundamental flaws of this Swindon side remain – powder puff in attack, more flair than bite in midfield and shapeless on the back foot and indisciplined in defence.

It was a game of two halves. Some of the football Swindon played in the first half, especially when Ben Gladwin was in full flow, was sublime.

But Posh keeper Luke McGee wouldn’t need to wash his gloves because he hardly had to use them. When Town threatened to pull them apart the visitors defended well and put in vital blocks.

And while Swindon were focused on playing 'The Beautiful Game', Peterborough were trying to score.

Their first set piece required a fine Lawrence Vigouroux save to keep out a Ryan Tafazolli header. Tom Nichols later found acres of space in the Town box only to make a hash of his effort, It was not the only time Town were outnumbered on the break in their own box.

As the second half opened, a half-asleep Swindon conceded possession just inside their own half and within seconds Posh skipper Chris Forrester had driven the ball home.

Clearly rattled Town could have conceded again but Tafazolli planted a free central header straight at Vigouroux. And even after regaining some composure Swindon never truly threatened to get back in the game.

Irritating though it was to watch, you had to admire Peterborough’s management of the game and their lead.

There was once priceless scene when manager Grant McCann called Marcus Maddison to the bench and pointed to the furthest corner of the ground. Five minutes later Maddison, standing in that far corner, was substituted – and ran the clock down more ambling over to the dugouts. It was all too easy for the Posh to see out the game.

What of the new quartet?

Ben Gladwin: He oozed class in the opening 45 and was better than even I remember him. But he rather disappeared like most of his team-mates in the second half.

Charlie Colkett: Back heels, drag backs, nutmegs, Cruyff turns, the white-booted Colkett has the whole repertoire and most of it came off in the first half when he was great to watch. Without the ball, not so good.

Fankaty Dabo: Hit the two best passes of the first half to set up great breaks and for one so small he is difficult to shake off the ball.

Islam Feruz: Seemed alert and pacy but the end product was minimal and he was hauled off within 10 minutes of the restart.

Three key positions remain vacant at Town – prolific striker; a combative midfielder in the Jonathan Douglas mould who will track runners, and a wily defender to demand shape and discipline from his fellow Town defenders.

Nathan Delfouneso, who scored on his Blackpool debut on Saturday, is now off the payroll, so that at least frees up some cash. But the type of player required does not come cheap Undoubtedly, Swindon have the quality to gain the wins necessary to ensure safety but two or three incoming characterful leaders would be handy ahead of the forthcoming derbys with Bristol Rovers and Oxford.