LUKE Williams fears there may be a crisis of confidence within his Swindon Town squad as they look to arrest their slump in form.

Town suffered a third straight defeat in League One when they were stung by a late fightback from Bristol Rovers on Tuesday night and are now only being kept out of the relegation zone on goal difference.

They now travel to Oldham Athletic tomorrow seeking a first win in the league since the 1-0 success at home to Port Vale on August 20.

Town took an early lead against Rovers in midweek but then retreated into their shells, allowing the visitors to dominate the play and turn the game around in the closing stages at the County Ground.

Head coach Williams believes his side are carrying a few mental scars at the moment and they need to rediscover their self-assurance as soon as possible if they are to put their form bac on the right track.

“I think possibly there is (a confidence shortage) because there is no reason why you can start the game so well, go in front so deservedly, control the game for a few minutes afterwards, and then; I can’t understand,” Williams told BBC Wiltshire.

“There wasn’t a massive tactical change from Bristol Rovers. They did the same thing, they didn’t change players until late.

“There is no reason in the flow of the game for it to change so drastically, so I imagine it is some sort of mental problem, some sort of confidence issue.

“Maybe after some bad results, now there is a lack of belief.

“We went 1-0 (up). We looked very, very good up until the goal and in the minutes immediately afterwards and then slowly, slowly, we had less belief.

“But it’s too long. To hold out for 85 minutes is silly.”

Defender Jamie Sendles-White and forward Jordan Stewart will miss this weekend’s trip to Boundary Park due to long-term knee injuries, while Bradley Barry (hamstring) and Michael Doughty (appendicitis) are also likely absentees.