HEAD COACH Mark Cooper lauded his Forest Green side and Swindon Town boss Richie Wellens insisted it was just one of those days as table-topping Town were dethroned in emphatic fashion.

Goals in each half from Matty Stevens and makeshift striker Ebou Adams saw Cooper’s side grab only their second win of the year.

Cooper had urged his side to play without pressure and they sensationally delivered to bring an end to a wretched run of six defeats in their last eight games.

Swindon can point to hitting the woodwork twice and a shot cleared off the line, but in truth Rovers were comfortable throughout, bringing an end to Town's 12 game unbeaten home run as they fell off their League Two perch.

Cooper said: “We started like a team on fire today. It was a good, committed performance and the boys carried out a magnificent game plan against the best team in the league by a long way.

“We had five players on the treatment table who would be our starting defenders, so Nathan McGinley looked like the real Nathan today, young Dokes (Udoka Godwin-Malife was a man mountain and Chris Stokes was outstanding.”

Cooper praised the impact of Adams, who capped his role as a makeshift striker with a stunning second.

Cooper added: “Ebou Adams was outstanding today and led the line well and deserved his goal, which was a magnificent header, he’s a real handful and his energy and pace was what we needed that at the top end of the pitch today.”

And the former Swindon boss took not one ounce of pleasure in beating his old side, he said: “Winning at my old club makes no difference, it’s just three points. Swindon are a tremendous team and will win the league.”

Rovers' rocky patch saw Cooper come under-fire from the boo-boys, but he felt his side answered the critics with a commited display in Wiltshire.

He added: “When everyone is having pot shots, you have to conduct yourself properly like a proper human being and you have to wait your time. No doubt about the commitment or spirit  in the changing room and that was the answer today.”

Meanwhile, Wellens reflected on Swindon’s Town defeat to  Rovers as “one of those days”.

The loss knocked Town off the top of the League Two table as Crewe Alexandra stole pole on goal difference.

Wellens said: “We started the game sloppy and went behind. But the response was very good.

“It is just one of them days that everybody has. They have two shots on target and scored both.

“It is a disappointing day but the response and work ethic was good. On most days we would score three or four goals from that. The important thing is not to be too downbeat.

“The players have been fantastic, it was September the last time we lost at home.”

Wellens felt Rovers made the most of their chances, he added: “They took their chances,they only had two efforts on target. They pressed us a little bit but we had 65 per cent possession. More shots and crosses, in every aspect we did better, apart from the main one which is to score. They have done a number on us in terms of coming away, putting in a good performance and being solid."

WATCH Mark Cooper in post-match conversation with SNJ sports editor Ash Loveridge.