Garner concerned for players welfare against Oldham

Ben Garner felt his Swindon players were put in danger with the physical tactics employed by Oldham in their 1-0 home victory. Total Sport Swindon's Joe Acklam spoke to the Town boss following the win.

Swindon struggled to find fluency against an Oldham side who were happy to try and disrupt their flow with strong tackles, shown by the nine Latics players who received yellow cards, as well as Jordan Clark being sent off in second half stoppage time for a second yellow.

Dion Conroy managed to nick all three points at the death for the Robins when he headed home Ellis Iandolo’s free-kick with almost the last kick of the game.

But, Garner felt that his Swindon side were the targets of aggressive tactics from Oldham, in a deliberate ploy to stop Town playing.

He said: “It was an overly physical game in my opinion and we were fortunate not to come away with another injury.

“The one on Jayden [Mitchell-Lawson], that he gets a yellow for, alright he has got the ball, why is he following through with his other leg and trying to injure a player? I just don’t get it.

“There was one in the second half from Whelan on Jack Payne. Fortunately, Payne got out of the way, he got the ball but he came flying through with his other leg.

“I just don’t understand why there’s a place for that in the game. There was no need for it, they were organised in their shape and doing well, making it hard for us.

“I was worried at times about the welfare of our players.”

The Swindon boss did feel that his side were good value for their victory and is encouraged by his team’s knack for winning games late on this season.

He said: “We were the team pushing and trying to force it and I thought their keeper was excellent second half.

“It was just a case of whether we could beat him. But it showed great character to keep going, to keep pushing.

“We kept trying to play and I know we only scored late on but we thoroughly deserved the three points.

“I think it’s the sign of a good team when you can win late on and we have done that a number of times this season.

“I remember the great Manchester United teams, the number of times they scored in injury time because they kept going and kept believing.”