Gavin Gunning: Swindon interim boss criticises intensity after 'dreadful' loss
- Published
Gavin Gunning was appointed as interim manager after Michael Flynn left on 15 January
Swindon Town interim manager Gavin Gunning has questioned his players' "heart" after defeat by Accrington saw them fall to 18th in League Two.
The Robins have two wins in 10 games since Gunning was appointed in January
Swindon took the lead against the Reds and had more shots but conceded twice during the second half to lose.
"Dreadful, no intensity, no appetite to be a successful team and that's why we are where we are in the table," Gunning told BBC Radio Wiltshire.
"It's not formations, it's not technical ability, it is heart. Wear your heart on your sleeve, graft and that is the bare minimum.
"If you don't graft and work your tail off you are going to come up short in every game at this level because the difference in teams and quality is minimal."
Gunning - who was previously Swindon's development phase loans manager - was appointed following the departure of Michael Flynn on 15 January and given the role until the summer.
Swindon were at the time 15th in the table and had won only three of their last 15 matches, but results have not turned around and the club have slid further down the fourth tier.
"We don't do our jobs and when you're not professional enough as a whole - and I include myself in this - this has got to be better," Gunning said.
"There's some fantastic players in there for the level, that's the thing, they've got to believe in themselves and they've got to be willing to work hard.
"There's no point being a great player for the level and not performing because otherwise you're wasting your own time as well."
Only Notts County, Salford City and Sutton United have conceded more goals in League Two so far than Swindon's 68, who next face Doncaster Rovers at home on Saturday.
"We're just compounding mistakes with mistakes and leading to goals, it's ultimately massively frustrating for the fans and for everyone involved. As a staff, as a footballing team, it's got to mean more, it's got to hurt," Gunning added.
"It was lacklustre, it was everything you cannot be as a team at this level. I thought we had gone away from that, this is obviously a major stumbling block of just having the realism of if you do not work hard at this level this is what happens."