BRIDGWATER Town manager Phil Hucker has explained how he was pleased with the attitude shown by his players in the 3-1 defeat to Swindon Supermarine on Saturday.

The boss was seeking a reaction after a disappointing home defeat to Barnstaple, and the team responded with a much-improved display in Wiltshire.

“The lads stood up to the challenge really well and we played some very good stuff against a top quality side,” he said.

“We took a deserved lead with a superb goal and for a while we built on that.

“The lads looked like they were enjoying it and it was a great response to last weekend.”

Harry Horton’s early belter was cancelled out before half-time and Supermarine went on to score two second half goals to earn the victory, but Bridgwater did not give up against the play-off chasers.

“We knew they would be well-drilled and that they were a good footballing side, and they scored some well-worked goals,” Hucker said.

“Our system change to 4-4-2 worked and the personnel changes we made had an effect as well - we’ve now got to be consistent and take that level of performance into the coming games.”

They do not come much more important than Saturday’s match against third-bottom AFC Totton, with the Robins realistically needing a win to keep their slim survival hopes alive.

A full preview of that match, which kicks off at 3pm, will be online later this week.