GEORGE Barker has admitted that the Swindon Town dressing room has gone a little quiet in recent weeks but it’s nothing to do with fatigue, according to the forward.

Barker, who has made five appearances for Town since joining from Brighton in January, said that the “buzz” that engulfed the club has diminished slightly as bad form and misfortune combined to leave Swindon’s League One play-off aspirations hanging by a thread.

However, having accepted the squad has not found the going all that good in recent weeks, the 22-year-old stressed that he and his teammates are doing all they can to rectify a winless run which has now reached five matches.

“When I came here I think we were only a few points off the play-offs and there was a really good buzz about the team. Everyone seemed to be playing really well. In the last few games there have been a few draws, a few defeats and everything seems to have gone a bit quiet,” he said.

“I’m sure it’s going to turn around. We need to starting picking it up now. There are 12 games left and we need to turn it around soon.

“We’re going through a bit of a hard time and it’s been a bit of a downer the last few games. It’s been a bit quiet around the training ground.”

When it was suggested by the Advertiser that the decline in form could be down to tiredness as a long season reaches its business end, Barker quickly rubbished the notion.

He said: “I’m not sure (fatigue) is the reason. I think for us, we’re such a young group confidence could be a major factor. When results aren’t going our way I think sometimes we approach games differently.

“We try out new things, we try out new formations, we try out new players and sometimes it doesn’t work and you have to look at yourself and take the personal performances into consideration.

“Mainly it’s down to the boys - nothing to do with fatigue - it’s about the boys out there on the pitch rather than fatigue.”

Peterborough United, who currently occupy sixth spot and the final play-off place, lead Town by five points with a game in hand and Barker knows the enormity of the task at hand as well as most. But he’s refusing to give up hope of challenging for promotion.

“Every day we talk about the possibility of going up and getting to the play-offs, so I don’t think anyone is going to lose that,” he said. “It’s never in doubt, losing the confidence or losing the will to give 100 per cent. We’ve got a good group of players so we’ve got to start pushing on and getting wins.

“Maybe a bit of luck can go our way and we can start winning a few more games.”