MATCH REPORT: SWINDON TOWN 0-1 FOREST GREEN ROVERS

SWINDON TOWN was eliminated from the Carabao Cup at the first hurdle as Forest Green Rovers secured a one-nil away victory at the County Ground. TotalSport Swindon’s Ryan Walker gives his match report following a disappointing night for STFC.

Tahvon Campbell’s 59th-minute goal was enough to take Forest Green Rovers through to the second round of the Carabao Cup as Swindon Town failed to capitalise on some golden opportunities in what was a feisty affair between the two local clubs.

Aiming for their first League Cup victory since 2014, beating Luton 2-1 away, Swindon Town were on top from the kick-off as Michael Doughty shot wide from inside the box just two minutes in, as Elijah Adebayo saw his shot whisper past the post just moments later. 

A great start from Town saw the Robins dominate in possession as Forest Green struggled to keep the ball with a high Swindon press causing problems for the visitors. 

Michael Doughty’s influence continued to grow on the game as he linked up well with Adebayo and Anderson to create quick attacks with balls in behind regularly catching the opposition defence unaware. 

However, it would be an unlikely effort from Martin Smith that would present Swindon with their best chance of the half as the 22-year-old nearly made himself an instant Swindon legend when a shot from his own half in the thirteenth minute had Montgomery scrambling back to his own goal before the shot bounced off the post. 

Forest Green clearly struggling with the pace of the game, failed to get a foothold in the match with their only chance of the half coming from a Tahvon Campbell header. Who after finding himself unmarked in the box could only put his chance wide. 

A one-sided opening half saw Swindon Town play some brilliant football, but the score would remain goalless at half-time as the hosts spurned missed opportunities.  

Swindon would start the second half in the same vein as the first, and after Kyle Knoyle won a free-kick on the edge of Rovers’ box, Matty Taylor’s effort forced an impressive save form Montgomery at his near post. 

The hosts continued to attack with Doughty leading the charge forward, however it would be the hosts who would take a surprising lead in the 59th minute. 

Tahvon Campbell found himself unmarked in the Swindon box as a simple through ball caught Town’s defence sleeping, with the forward curling his shot round Vigouroux into the bottom right of the goal.   

The goal gave Forest Green Rovers the confidence to push on, and as the visitors pushed on, Swindon started to fade. Sloppy passing led to Swindon causing themselves more problems and the visitors would have been further in front but for some last-ditch defending from Town. 

Matty Taylor’s wayward effort from outside the box in the 73rd minute summed up Swindon’s frustration as Phil Brown’s team got edged ever closer to first-round elimination. 

With time running out and Swindon looking for a late equaliser, Phil Brown made a double-substitution with just ten minutes remaining but the visitor's staunch defence remained unfazed. 

Having taken an early lead, Mark Cooper’s team stepped off the attack and resorted to clearing their lines at every opportunity as Swindon continued to force a breakthrough. 

Five minutes added time had the fans on their feet and a late penalty call for a suspected foul on Jermaine McGlashan caused an uproar in the crowd as referee David Webb waived away for play on. 

Forest Green would see out the match to claim their first victory in this year’s Carabao Cup, but it is another disappointment for Swindon Town as the Robins see their cup run ended short.