htafc.com got the views of manager Andy Ritchie in the immediate aftermath of the 3-2 defeat at Swindon Town.

"Despite the fight-back in the second-half, we are left to reflect on the first. In possession I thought we were the better side but we defended like schoolboys. We never got to grips with them and every time they came down our end, they looked as if they were going to score; having said that, we probably could have had two or three ourselves.

"We've asked them why we started so slowly and it feels like they need a going over before the game to get them going. That happened at half-time, so perhaps that is sometimes the case.

"The first-half in Saturday's game against Swansea cost us and it's happened again. You can't put it down to the absence of Rob Page because we have defended brilliantly for the second 45 minutes.

"Matty (Glennon) has not had a shot to save in the second-half, but we have to start games in a bright fashion - 'in the zone', as they say. In the end, a three goal deficit was just too much to claw back. Even before the lad was sent-off we were the better side in the second-half, so it must be something in the attitude at the start of the game. I can't question their passion, but we defended very poorly - like schoolboys.

"When we get the ball down, we can play around anyone and create chances but one or two things didn't fall for us in the box in the second-half. I thought we deserved something from the game, but as I've said three goals was just too much. The pitch was bobbly but we played some good football.

"We need people to come in and perform at this stage of the season and since we haven't been scoring goals, we decided to bring Boothy in to give us that aerial threat in the box - which he certainly did. That was the thinking behind it, but we might change it around at the weekend.

"I thought that the two lads in midfield played very well together. Michael and Andy showed a lot of energy and passed it around well. Phil Jevons is cool - sometimes perhaps too cool - and he put his penalties away expertly, but he had a couple of half-chances in the second-half that he couldn't capitalize on.

"It's now going to be very difficult to claw our way into the Play-Offs but we still have the games to do so. We keep saying that we need to go on a run, but we'll try to start the Orient game on Saturday and take the game to them."