DAVID Farrell hopes Swindon Town U18s’ heavy defeat to Plymouth Argyle on Saturday will serve as a wake-up call ahead of this weekend’s Youth Alliance visit to Forest Green Rovers.

Off the back of an eye-catching 1-1 draw against Premier League academy outfit Bournemouth, Farrell felt rather let down on Saturday as Argyle controlled proceedings to register a comfortable 4-1 victory at Stanley Park in Chippenham.

The three-goal defeat was Town’s fourth successive league fixture that ended without a win, and they now sit just a point above seventh-placed Plymouth with eight points secured from six fixtures.

With the top six teams advancing to Merit League I in the second half of the season, Farrell will no doubt be keen to correct his side’s turbulent form in Gloucestershire this weekend.

He said: “It was a shame we went back a level after our performance at Bournemouth, which was unbelievable.

“The players probably thought it wouldn’t be as tough as Bournemouth, but it was.

“Attitudes probably weren’t spot-on, but there were a few positives to take from the game. Will King played well, among others.

“Forest Green won’t be easy on Saturday. That’s a big opportunity for us to put things right.

“Players are continually learning from their mistakes – they’re learning all the time and there will be inconsistencies.

“As long as players understand where they went wrong and put things right when possible, their development will progress.”

Forest Green also enter this weekend’s fixture off the back of a mixed bag of results.

A defeat to Oxford United and a home draw against Bristol Rovers has lost the club’s grip on top spot.

Farrell added: “Forest Green look a tidy team. They’re possession based and play out from the back.

“They’re standard in some areas, and look good in others parts of their game. Every team in the league is similar in that respect.

“So, like I’ve said before, it’s more about us and not them.”