SIMON Gustafsson admits he is under pressure to keep his place in the Swindon Robins side.

The Swede recent poor form has left team manager Alun Rossiter considering whether to wield the axe for the third time this year.

And with Nicolai Klindt and Dan Greenwood already axed by Rossiter in a bid to resurrect the Robins’ disappointing Elite League campaign, Gustafsson knows that he has to improve or he will be next.

Following Wednesday night’s 48-42 defeat at King’s Lynn Stars the Swede could only manage three points and it left Rossiter questioning Gustafsson’s future in the Robins kevlars.

The Abbey Stadium boss said he would at the very least switch his pairings around and that he couldn’t see any fight from Gustafsson.

“I hadn’t heard that,” the Swede said told the Advertiser “I know I’m under pressure, I’ve had a couple of bad meetings in a row - I know that I have to improve.

“The new engine is good, there are no excuses - it is all down to me.

“I guess that my confidence is a little low, so I will be practicing hard in Sweden, working on my starts and trying to be a bit more relaxed.”

Having seen Klindt and Greenwood depart, Gustafsson admits that if Rossiter did decide to make the change he could have few complaints.

The Swede has only managed five heat wins in 40 races since joining Swindon from Eastbourne, and has been beaten by fast track riders on several occasions on his way to 44 points from 10 matches.

“I hope that it doesn’t come to that (being axed) and I’ll be doing all that I can to improve,” he said.

“I know that I’ve been struggling a fair bit, this hasn’t been a great season so far.

“But this happens in speedway and I know that I will comeback stronger.”

While Rossiter says that he has one or two options to come in and ‘do a job’ he won’t be making any rash decisions.

The Blunsdon side are not in action again until Thursday when they welcome Leicester to the Abbey Stadium.