THERE’S being thrown in at the deep end on your debut – and then there’s being asked to make your debut by starting in a cup final at Wembley just three days after signing on loan for your new club.

The record books will show that’s exactly what Jay McEveley had to do on his first Swindon appearance.

The 27-year-old arrived from Championship side Barnsley as the emergency loan window slammed shut last week and earned a surprise start at left-back for Sunday’s Trophy final .

The former Blackburn Rovers man had tasted success in his one previous outing at Wembley, as part of the Derby County side that won promotion to the Premiership with a 1-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion in the 2007 Championship play-off final.

But despite there being no joy this time around, McEveley says that his Swindon debut was one he won’t forget in a hurry.

“It’s a bit of a strange one but it’s nice to get that debut and I won’t forget it – thanks to the gaffer for putting me in,” said the full-back.

“It was such a high when I found out I’d be starting in the hotel before the game and hopefully once I get to know the team a bit better, I can start to perform and help the side.”

McEveley thought that his new side failed to match their performance from the first 45 minutes after the break.

“I thought that in the first half, we controlled the game and played very well but we should have capitalised on one of the chances we created,” he said.

“I know that the team like to play football and I’ve heard that they’ve dominated games this season but the way that it was happening that much was surprising really.

“It probably would have been a different game if we’d come out ahead in the second half. They just set up banks and made it difficult to break them down.

“The (own) goal killed us. It really deflated us and we’ve got to learn to deal with second halves like that where teams are going to hit you on the counter-attack.

“But you live and learn, sit back and try to carry on.”