SWINDON Town first-team coach Ross Embleton says there are lessons to learn for his development side following their last-minute 2-1 defeat to their Bristol Rovers counterparts this afternoon.

The scores were level going into added time after Rhys Sharpe, who is currently out of contract, cancelled out Jamie Lucas’ opener, but James Spruce snatched a late winner for the visitors.

On a pitch at Swindon Supermarine’s Webbswood Stadium that cut up as the game progressed, Embleton admitted it didn’t lend itself to free-flowing football but knows his players should get used to adapting to difficult conditions.

“Swindon Supermarine were really good to us and managed to get the game on but it was a very difficult surface to play on,” he said.

“It was interesting to try and look at how the boys adapted and how they implemented the things we talk about.

“We’ve got young players out there who, at some stage in their career, are going to come and experience this (level of) football, whether it be the level they are going to come and play at or they’re going to have to come and play here as part of a loan move to develop them and kick them onto the next level.

“We have to understand that we are not going to play on slick surfaces like at the County Ground every week so, as a professional, you have just got to adapt to certain circumstances.

“You have got to be aware that the opposition are going to come and make it difficult and play a way to suit the conditions, so you have got to fit in with that and then compose yourself in the way we want.”

Town went with a mixture of youth and experience for the Central League South West fixture, with first-team regulars Anton Rodgers, Sean Murray and Nathan Delfouneso, two of which were unused substitutes during Saturday’s 2-1 win away to Bolton Wanderers, in the starting line-up and Embleton was pleased to see them get a run out.

“I think it’s important that they got minutes,” he added.

“Will Henry gets another experience of playing in a fixture against senior players.

“I was really impressed today with Jake Evans. Jake’s is in a situation where he sees himself as a midfield player but, because of the players already in the squad, today’s seen him play at right back, which he has done on a number of occasions; he made his debut there.

“He has shown real maturity in that position and has given everybody a different angle that we can now look at him in.”