Pressure building on boss Williams

INFLUENTIAL MIDFIELDER . . . Swindon's Iraqi-born star Yaser Kasim

A THIRD straight Sky Bet League One defeat on Tuesday ­- 2-1 at home by West Country rivals Bristol Rovers ­- means Swindon boss Luke Williams is already having to field awkward questions about his future.

Williams was appointed into the County Ground hot-seat only at Christmas as a replacement for Martin Ling ­- who lasted less than two months.

He guided the Robins into a stable mid-table position last term, but it seems alarm bells are ringing already this term with Williams' team now sat only above the third-tier drop zone on goal difference.

BOOS

The loss to Rovers followed a derby defeat to Oxford United on September 10 as well as another to Bury at home last weekend.

A vociferous chorus of boos rang around the County Ground after the final whistle on Tuesday, and head coach Williams is fully aware that it will be he who lives or dies by whether Town can return to top form sooner rather than later.

"The responsibility falls on my shoulders and I need to try to help the group turn around this predicament that they are in," Williams said.

"Ultimately, if I am not successful in that, somebody else will have to do it but I will certainly be trying to do everything I possibly can to help the team and change the current results.

"I am not thinking about going anywhere. It is a challenge that I have got no problems with."

Town took the lead inside six minutes when Lloyd Jones put them in front from a corner but from there, it was a real backs-to-the-wall effort as Rovers dictated the proceedings.

The home side looked like they would hold out for the three points, but for a nightmare 90 seconds for defender Raphael Branco late on.

First, the Brazilian gave away a penalty that allowed Matty Taylor to level, before he then diverted a Jermaine Easter shot past Lawrence Vigouroux into his own net.

After being on the back foot for the majority of the 90 minutes, Williams conceded that his team did not warrant victory.

"In the end, they deserved to win the game," added Williams.