IFFY Onuora admits Town's failure to find the target summed up one of their season's failings but on a personal level believes he will gain strength from a tough start to management.

Had Ricky Shakes not found the far post rather than the net with a header then Town would have ended the campaign with three points.

Sadly, the scoresheet remained blank.

Onuora said: "We tried to be positive in the second half, although I'm not sure if the sending off helped or hindered us.

"We came close, one off the inside of the post, a couple of other things didn't quite go for us and in some ways from an attacking point of view that has been the story of the season.

"Defensively I thought we were sound, even before the sending off, although we gave them the odd sight of goal late on."

But it wasn't all negatives for the manager.

Lukas Jutkiewicz was given another start while teenager Ben Wells enjoyed around 50 minutes action after replacing the injured Sean O'Hanlon.

Onuora said: "I saw little glimpses out there. The younger ones didn't look out of place and acquitted themselves well."

The manager chose to go with Chris McPhee and Lukas Jutkiewicz in attack, not that that said anything about Jamie Cureton's position.

Onuora said: "I know all about Jamie, I just needed to know a little bit more about Chris and Lukas.

"They've been doing well. Their running and the way they hold the ball up for us has been a feature of our recent play, particularly away from home.

"I wanted to give them their heads a little bit at home. I think there's goals in them. Everyone needs that one just to get you off the mark."

Skipper Sean O'Hanlon hobbled off after sustaining a knee injury but Onuora is hoping it doesn't prove to be the Scouser's final game in a Swindon Town shirt.

He said: "He's been a great servant, we know all about him and we're desperate for him to stay with us.

"That's up to Sean and his agent, we've made him a good offer to stay.

"The same with Rhys Evans. The ball's entirely in their hands.

"I spoke to them both recently and reiterated my desire to keep them and be part of building the foundations to coming back next season."

Relegation hurts Onuora but he takes heart from the fact that other young managers have suffered, only to bounce back.

He said: "I look at my contemporaries, people like Paul Simpson and Steve Tilson.

"You can reel off a list of names of youngish managers who've had to take a little bit of a setback early on and thrived after that.

"The last six months have been an incredible learning process and I'm looking forward to taking what I believe I've learned about myself, about the players, about life as a manager and putting all that into practice next season.

"The break now will give us that opportunity to put some solid foundations in place all round the squad.

"I'm looking forward to that challenge."