MATCH REPORT: SWINDON TOWN 0-0 OLDHAM ATHLETIC

SWINDON TOWN entertained their first goalless draw of the season as Oldham Athletic held on to take a league point away from The County Ground. TotalSport Swindon’s Ryan Walker gives his match report following the action.

Town started the match with the same intent that saw them earn a victory away against Yeovil in their last outing. Elijah Adebayo went close in the 2nd minute dragging his shot just wide of the goal, whilst Steven Alzate’s low cross along the mouth of Oldham’s goal was left untouched just moments later with Adebayo left stretching. 

A bright start from the hosts saw Oldham left struggling to find a foothold in the match as the Wiltshire side dominated in possession. 

Wave after wave of attack for Town saw the hosts playing attractive football that was well received from the home fans. Toumani Diagouraga finally looking match fit controlled the game from midfield, continuously snuffing out any threat Oldham posed whilst frequently kick-starting attacks. 

Fluid attacking football continued from Phil Brown’s side and Town were nearly rewarded with the game’s opening goal in the 29th minute. Adebayo broke from his own half, worked his way into Oldham’s box with some lovely footwork before pulling his shot just wide of the post.

However, for all of Town’s brilliance in the first half, Oldham were terrible. It was clear to see how much they were missing the presence of Sam Surridge in attack who has scored six goals this season as manager Frankie Bunn saw his side limited to chances with his team’s best efforts coming from dead ball situations.

Ishmael Miller was left frustrated in attack and was too often left isolated in the Swindon half. Town’s centre-back partnership of Lancashire and Nelson easily dealt with the presence of the Oldham striker, as the visitors remained stifled of opportunities.

Oldham eager to test Swindon’s defence pushed forward down the flanks searching for chances but as crosses came in, Luke McCormick, starting his fifth consecutive match, remained untested easily collecting aerial balls into his area. Their best effort coming from an acrobatic effort from Branger-Engone in the 39th minute, which sailed high over the bar. 

The closing moments of the first half went past uneventfully as Swindon were left frustrated having dominated the match but with nothing to show for their efforts.

Swindon Town resumed play after the interval, but it was Oldham who threatened most in the opening moments of the half. 

Miller firing his effort on target in the 49th minute producing a save from McCormick, before again stinging the palms of the Town keeper with a powered shot from a tight angle just minutes later. 

Early chances for the travelling side appeared to have injected energy back into Swindon as Town started to pile on the pressure once again. Steven Alzate, fresh off of scoring in his last match, looked full of confidence as the playmaker searched to unlock the opposition defence. 

Attacks kept coming from the hosts, with Alzate looking the dangerman for Town as he started Swindon’s best attempt of the game in the 69th minute. 

Running forward from his own half, Alzate turned two opposition defenders before playing a lovely ball into Dunne, who passed to Anderson but the wingers shot was deflected out for a corner.

Substitutions for both sides opened the match up as the teams pushed on for an opening goal. Jermaine McGlashan added fresh pace to the Town attack, whilst Jose Baxter provided a new threat for Lancashire and Nelson to deal with. 

With the match entering its closing moments, long ball route one football from Oldham failed to test Swindon, whilst at the other end of the pitch Town continued to press down on goal but lacked quality in the final third. 

Three minutes of added time followed the ninety minutes and Oldham should have won the match in the 93rd minute. 

Swindon throwing everything forward in attack were caught out on the counter-attack as Christopher Missilou collected a loose ball to press down through on goal only for the Latics attacker to be tripped by Matty Taylor who was shown red by referee Craig Hicks. 

A mass brawl between all players ensued and the whistle was blown minutes later. Swindon was the better side throughout but a goalless draw was the end result at The County Ground.