Carroll praises teammates as Swindon put three past Colchester

CANICE CARROLL was full of his praise for his fellow teammates as Swindon Town beat Colchester United three-nil at the County Ground earlier today to move to within four points of the playoff positions. Total Sport Swindon’s Ryan Walker caught up with the Swindon goalscorer following the match.

Impressive performances this season saw Colchester arrive at the County Ground occupying the playoff spots with the Essex based side positioned seven points above Swindon in the league standings prior to kick-off. 

Speaking after Swindon’s impressive performance, Canice Carroll highlighted how a strong defensive showing built a platform for success against today’s opposition.

“We had a good defensive shape, which is something we spoke about before the game as we knew they’d try and play balls through us,” said Carroll.

“They’re a good side, move the ball well but it just goes to show that we have a chance and can kick on playing against teams like that [Colchester] who are currently in the playoffs.

“We weren’t at our best passing wise and moving the ball but we got three points and sometimes you have to do that in these types of games,” he added.

“Credit to the back four they were good against a good side. [Frank] Nouble up top is a big lad and a handful and so is the number nineteen who played in the number ten role but our back four was good. 

“Me and Jak [McCourt] swapped, he went to four and I went to eight and the gaffer got it right today,” said Carroll.

Scoring his first goal for the club with a 39th-minute half-volley effort saw Carroll put Swindon in the lead on the stroke of half-time. And when asked for his reaction on scoring, the 20-year-old admitted it was a strange feeling to get his first goal for the club.

“I got on won the second balls and ran beyond Theo [Robinson] because as much as he can chase all day he does get tired and needs a help from us,” said Carroll.

“Dunney [James Dunne] was brilliant winning second balls as he always is and it was weird to score.

“I scored and I started laughing because in the week I remember saying I’m not a goalscorer,” he joked.

“It just happened and it felt like it was taking a year for the ball to sit down and let me shoot.

“It was a good performance from the boys,” added Carroll.

A three-nil victory over Colchester saw Swindon record their best home win of the season. But despite this, Carroll admitted that Swindon had to grind out the win adding that a similar performance is needed away against Carlisle United in Swindon’s next game. 

“I thought we did grind it out at times,” stated Carroll.

“We did show our quality getting forward, winning the ball back and playing counter-attacking football but we agreed we weren’t at our best.

“When you’re winning games not at your best and with these types of performances then it’s a massive positive to take.

“We’re not feeling any pressure it’s more knowing we have a chance now to get there [into the playoffs],” he added 

“If we don’t do it then we’ll obviously be disappointed but we’re taking everyday as it comes and today we had a great performance.

“We can’t go to Carlisle next week and put in anything less that what we did today with work rates.

“We’re just going to see how we go and if we can close the gap [to the playoffs] then we have a chance,” he said. 

Victory over Colchester today ensured Swindon kept their promotion hopes alive as the Robins now move into 10th position of the League Two table just four points outside the playoff spots and with a game still in hand on those above. And Carroll believes that momentum is with Swindon as the season edges nearer towards its end.

“For me, I came in January and we weren’t a million miles off,” said Carroll.

“It goes to show in our recent results with just one loss in seven or eight but we are taking every game as it comes.

“We’re going to go to Carlisle and put in a good shift to see what we can do,” he said.

“I haven’t seen Carlisle’s pitch but if it’s not as good as the pitch that we play on at the County Ground then we’re going to just have to do what we did at Macclesfield and grind out a win.

“With the quality, we have in the forwards we are always going to make chances and it’s a massive game,” added Carroll.