RICHIE Wellens slammed Swindon Town’s performance against Bradford City as the worst of the season, following his side’s 2-1 defeat at the Northern Commercials Stadium.

Town were lucky not to be behind at the break, Zeli Ismail struck the post from a favourable position while earlier efforts for Hope Akpan and Clayton Donaldson were struck over Luke McCormick’s crossbar.

Despite an improvement in performance levels, Town conceded twice in the second half – Akpan and impact substitute Shay McCartan netted to confirm Town’s third League Two defeat in four games.

Reacting to Town’s fourth defeat of the season, Wellens said: “That was the poorest we’ve played this season, most definitely.

“We didn’t pass the ball in the first half, we looked leggy and we were second to everything.

“There was a bit of pressure in terms of balls into the box and corners, but I can’t remember Luke McCormick having to make a save.

“We were better in the second, but no way near to the standards we have set. We’ve let a point slip because we didn’t manage the game.

“We made bad mistakes for both goals.”

Wellens picked up another yellow card on the touchline for voicing his opinion about referee Tom Nield.

Nield frequently paused play – and Wellens was critical of the officials’ decisions that denied the game to continue fluently.

He added: “I don’t want to start going on about referees.

“I want the game to be fluent and for us to have a rhythm. Anthony Grant was fouled early and the ball fell to (Lloyd) Isgrove, but the whistle went and we couldn’t break.

“For the next five minutes, he never took the whistle out of his mouth. I won’t use that as an excuse because we were way off it, but it didn’t help.

“I’m disappointed, it would’ve been a good point away from home.”