KEITH Curle felt his Latics side showed Swindon Town too much respect in suffering a 3-1 defeat at Boundary Park.

The Robins arrived with the joint best away record in League Two, having won five and drawn two of their seven games on the road, facing a Latics side with the worst home record in the division.

And Curle said Swindon's superior form seemed to affect his side.

"I think we showed them too much respect and we didn't get close to them on the pitch," said the head coach, who was without 10 players due to injury and illness.

"We had to change the shape to get close to people. Then we looked more competitive and more combative.

"It's frustrating because when we got close to them and were prepared to get a yard closer to them we caused them problems."

Harrison McGahey went close for Latics but again they were left to ruse a missed opportunity as they trailed in the 32nd minute when Harry McKirdy got on the end of Ellis Iandolo's cross and volleyed past Jayson Leutwiler.

Curle moved Hallam Hope back up front at the start of the second half, ,and he had more of an impact there than at right wing back after switching with Davis Keillor-Dunn. But it wasn't until Tyreece Simpson doubled Swindon's advantage that Latics responded.

Benny Couto's corner was headed home by Carl Piergianni at the far left post, and with six minutes of injury time indicated there were hopes of a comeback.

But Latics left themselves exposed defensively as they pushed for the equaliser and Simpson wrapped up the win for Swindon in stoppage time.

"We forced a goal and needed to get another one but then we leave the back door open and from a throw-in midway inside their half ends up with the ball in the back of our net. Far too simple," said Curle.

"Within those goals there are elements of us not defending our goal well enough, or the opportunity to put the ball into the box well enough.

"It was too easy."