THE threat of being called in for training at 5am was enough to motivate the Swindon players to come out all guns blazing after the break, according to defender Aden Flint.

Town were not at their best in a cold first half against a Shrewsbury team lacking in ideas, but two goals inside the first 10 minutes of the second half were enough to see them through and earn their fourth straight home victory.

After the match manager Paolo Di Canio revelaed he had threatened to call the players to Liddington for 5am yesterday morning if they didn’t come out on top, and Flint believes that is exactly what they needed.

“I think it (being threatened with early training) gives you a bit of a kick, but that is what we needed because we weren’t up to scratch in the first half, and we were below par,” he said.

“The manager said we needed to get in behind them and improve in the second period, and that is exactly what we did and we came out a lot better.

“It was a tough game and we expected Shrewsbury to come here and give us a game, which they did, so credit to all the boys.

“First half wasn’t the best but we stepped it up a little bit in the second and got the two goals, and we created a few more chances but the keeper has done well to pull off a few big saves.

“The pitch was soft and it was good because of the covers, and although it was very cold we knew what we had to do and that was win a football match.”

Flint returned to the side in place of the injured Joe Devera for the first time since the 1-1 draw with Doncaster at the start of December, and the 23-year-old was pleased with the way he performed alongside the vastly experienced Darren Ward.

“It was nice to be back, but it was only one game so I need to knuckle down now and keep going,” he said.

“The defence has been doing really well recently, and we have kept another clean sheet so I hope I have done enough to earn a place, but we have to keep working.

“It is difficult being out of the side, but when a back four has been playing as well as ours have it is understandable, and I have to wait for my chance.

“Darren’s knowledge is unbelievable, and he is in your ear all game helping you.”

Flint was also happy to see striker Chris Martin get off the mark in Swindon red.

“It was nice for him to get off the mark, and it was a good penalty so hopefully the goals keep coming,” he said.

“It took him a while to get going, but now he has one there is no reason he can’t go on and get a few more which is what we want.”