MATCH REPORT: Swindon Town 0-1 Crawley Town

SWINDON TOWN failed to earn their first home win of 2019 as Crawley Town caused an upset at the County Ground scoring the only goal of the game. Total Sport Swindon’s Ryan Walker gives his match report following the action.

Filipe Morais 45th minute strike proved to be the difference as Crawley Town secured their first win in four games earning a well-deserved victory against an underperforming Swindon Town. 

Naming an unchanged starting XI from last weeks away win over Tranmere, Swindon started against Crawley with the same high pressing intensity as the visitors weren’t allowed to settle on the ball.

Keshi Anderson earned Swindon their first chance of the game in the 3rd minute, winning a free-kick on the edge of Crawley’s penalty area, but Michael Doughty failed to clear the wall with his effort. 

Looking for a victory that would close the gap to the playoffs, Swindon continued to dominate in the opening twenty minutes, but clear-cut chances were few and far between.  

With Crawley manager Gabrielle Cioffi setting his side up to play counter-attacking football, the away side were compact in their defending as they continuously got numbers behind the ball to stifle Swindon’s attacks. 

A combination of creativity and pace looked to be the necessary requirements for Town to unlock Crawley’s backline, and Anderson began to emerge as the main threat for the Robins as the clock ticked on. 

Picking up the ball just inside his own half in the 21st minute, Anderson played a quick one-two with Doughty before being brought down central of goal on the edge of the Crawley penalty area. 

Jak McCourt looked set to have opened the scoring as his shot from the dead ball opportunity bent low around Crawley’s four-man wall only for it to bounce off the post and out for a goal kick.

Racing immediately down the other end with Town caught sleeping in midfield, Filipe Morais burst through on Swindon’s goal as Woolfenden got back just in time to block the Portuguese’ shot on goal. 

Continuously giving the ball away saw Swindon become their own worst enemy and on the stroke of half-time Crawley took the lead. 

Winning their second corner in the space of two minutes, the ball came into Town’s box as Morais fired his shot on target that Vigouroux palmed away as it bounced of Broadbent then Woolfenden and finally into the back of the net. 

Despite having dominated the majority of the first half, Swindon could only blame themselves for not taking their chances as Crawley went in at half-time surprisingly in front.

Play resumed following the interval but Swindon seemed to have been shaken by the visitors opening goal. 

Luke Gamblin dispossessed McCourt in the 52nd on the edge of the Town box only for the midfielder to scramble the ball clear just in time, whilst poor passing from Canice Carroll saw the Swindon faithful make their feelings heard.

Deciding that he had seen enough, Richie Wellens made his first change in the 55th minute as Scott Twine replaced Michael Doughty but the change had little effect.

Wet and windy conditions saw Town struggle to deal with the pace of the ball as Crawley were happy to sit back and defend as Swindon’s attackers rarely failed to threaten the goal of Morris.

Kaiyne Woolery provided Swindon with their best chance of the game in the 65th minute after racing onto a Richards’s header before unleashing a left-footed shot from six yards out that was blocked well by McNerney. 

Unable to capitalise on their biggest chance of the game, Swindon resorted to long ball tactics that were easily deal with by the opposition. Danny Rose and Ben House were introduced to the fray to make their home debuts as Swindon chased an equaliser but neither could inspire a comeback. 

Late opportunities from the hosts saw House drive a shot on goal following a Swindon corner in the 81st minute that was deflected out of play before Scott Twine tried to curl an effort into the far post after skipping in from the left-hand side just minutes later. 

A dramatic finale saw Swindon win an 88th minute penalty but Anderson’s poor spot-kick was easily saved as Morris guessed the right direction to give Crawley their first away win since September.