SATURDAY’S defeat to Crewe was disappointing, but ultimately not that much of a blow.

Swindon were always going to lose before the end of the season, but what is important is how the players react when they take on Torquay at the County Ground tomorrow night.

Yes, for well over one hour Town were disappointing. Passes were wayward, while they seemed largely devoid of ideas going forward.

Crewe, in contrast, looked hungry and dangerous and I fully expect them to be well within the play-off mix come the end of the season.

But Swindon did show in the last 20 minutes just what they are capable. The Crewe goal was firmly under siege as the Town players finally started playing like they can and, with a bit more luck, they could certainly have got one goal and the outcome may have been different.

But it didn’t happen and now it will be interesting to see how they respond tomorrow.

After the Oxford defeat, Swindon served up the perfect response by easing to a 4-0 demolition of Dagenham & Redbridge.

Torquay will be very different opposition to the Daggers. Like Town, they have lost only twice this year and have stormed through the play-off places to sit just four points behind Paolo Di Canio’s men in second.

Di Canio has hinted that he will make changes from Saturday’s game, and it will be interesting to see where those changes are made.

Personally, and this is a view clearly shared by a lot of Town fans, I feel Alan Connell deserves his chance again.

The striker had just appeared to be hitting a good run of form, having scored five goals since the turn of the year despite many of his appearances having been from the bench.

Connell’s ability to hold the ball up and bring the wingers into play was missing against Crewe and that could be important against a Torquay side who will not come to the County Ground tomorrow simply to sit back and defend.

Town have had a number of what Di Canio calls ‘direct confrontations’ this year, but tomorrow’s game probably trumps them all.

Win and Town put good distance against a side who are in as good form as they are this year, but lose and the battle for the League Two title is wide open.