RICHIE Wellens has called on his strikers to follow in the footsteps of his wider players by upping their game and delivering goals when facing Cheltenham Town at the County Ground this weekend.

Wellens, who together with assistant Noel Hunt has successfully worked on improving the attacking threat possessed by Swindon on both wings, watched his men slip to a 2-1 loss against Grimsby Town at the weekend – a result which dropped Swindon back into the bottom half of the League Two table.

Chances were aplenty for strikers Kaiyne Woolery and Elijah Adebayo, but only Matt Taylor could convert from a free-kick as Town registered just the one goal – despite creating 14 chances.

Adebayo’s form is of particular concern among supporters, with the loan signing netting just once since the club’s best result of the season when defeating Yeovil Town 3-0 away at the end of September.

Boss Wellens now insists the time has come for his forward players to step up and take advantage of the improved crosses being delivered into the penalty area when pressing forward.

He said: “In the last three or four games, the number of corners and crosses that we have put into the box – the opportunities are now coming from them.

“We had some really good chances against Grimsby.

“Sometimes a manager can want a team to play in a certain way. But when the ball is flying in the box, you’re looking towards the people that can get in those positions.

“Elijah (Adebayo) should’ve scored his one-on-one, James Dunne should’ve scored from that rebound.

“Next week, we might take those chances and win the game 5-4.

“Matt (Taylor) has got a brilliant strike, he’s made a career from his left foot.

“When he takes his free-kicks, you always presume that there is a chance of scoring.”

Although lacking a scoring spark, Wellens was satisfied with how his side restricted the number of opportunities granted to Grimsby.

The hosts were limited to just six shots on target and three corners, figures which Wellens insists will bring points if those numbers remain a constant throughout the festive period.

He added: “We can’t be too critical. The game plan that we worked on worked to a certain extent.

“We conceded two goals when we didn’t give too many chances to the opposition, and I’m disappointed with that.

“Sid (Nelson) will learn from the mistake (his first-half handball) – I’m not sure if it was in the box or not. He’ll learn that you can’t lean in because it forces the referee to make a decision.”