SWINDON Town need to lose the shackles of anxiety if they are to return to winning ways said head coach Luke Williams after a 1-1 draw away to fellow strugglers Shrewsbury Town.

On a miserable afternoon in Shropshire, Swindon added a ray of sunshine early on as John Goddard rose to head home a Darnell Furlong cross in the ninth minute.

Town looked on top in the first half against a Salop side who were happy to let them have the ball, however, an Ivan Toney goal a minute before the break dealt a big blow and Swindon went into their shell in the second half.

Despite a late charge from Town, with Shrewsbury going down to 10 men when Gary Deegan picked up a second yellow card, they lacked a clinical edge in the second period.

Williams is aware that there is still work to be done with his squad but believes he has the talent in his Team to move up the league.

“We started very well, we look very confident, we go in front, and it almost looks like we become more anxious because we feel like we need two or three or four to be really comfortable,” he told BBC Wiltshire.

“The more we chase, the more we leave ourselves vulnerable.

“We need to continue to start games well and then be able to control and maintain from that position.

“It was disappointing because we no longer managed to control the game as much and because we are desperately chasing for another goal, we are too quickly going forward with too many difficult passes to make.

“We then turn the ball over too many times and we are having to rush back.

“It was disappointing in the second 45.”

Goddard’s goal in the first half was his first competitive strike in the red of Swindon and Williams was delighted to see him get off the mark.

“I am really pleased,” he added.

“He has been threatening for a while and I am really pleased that he finally got one.”