MATCH REPORT: Swindon Town 0-2 Plymouth Argyle

Plymouth Argyle inflicted a third-straight home defeat on John Sheridan’s Swindon Town as the Robins failed to impress in a one-sided match at the County Ground. Total Sport Swindon’s Ryan Walker gives his match report following the action.

Picture Credit: Swindon Town FC

Plymouth Argyle secured a well-deserved victory at SN1 as goals from Panutche Camara and Ryan Hardie saw Ryan Lowe’s side climb higher up the League One table.

Early chances for both sides in the first ten minutes set the precedent for much of the first-half as Swindon debutant Tyrese Omotoye forced a save from Plymouth keeper Cooper in the opening minute, with Jerome Opoku’s header being cleared off the line by Matty Palmer at the other end. 

Plymouth started to showcase their attacking capabilities that has seen them rise to 14th in the league standings, with good play around the edge of the Swindon box in the 9th minute producing a curling shot from Argyle Captain Joe Edwards that went narrowly over the bar of Mark Travers.

An attacking game began to develop at the County Ground with good build-up play from both sides creating openings and a series of corners that the two defences dealt with relatively well. 

Ryan Lowe’s side enjoyed large spells of possession down the right-wing as Opoku looked to get the better of full-back Dominic Thompson, however Swindon’s defensive resolve dealt with the pressure and managing to frustrate Plymouth’s speedy attackers.

In contrast, Swindon sought to play on the counter-attack with Scott Twine and Diallang Jaiyesimi looking to feed balls into Norwich loanee Omotoye, but lacked the quality required in the final third to pose any significant danger to the Plymouth goal. 

The away side continued to grow in confidence throughout thew match as Hardie wasted half-decent chances in front of goal, running the ball out for a goal-kick in the 23rd minute after being played through on goal. 

Chances continued to come for the visitors as Swindon started to drop-off deep inside their own half with Connor Grant’s cross being brought down by Panutche Camara to shoot low past a diving Travers to give Plymouth the lead in the 35th minute. Blame will be pointed at Thompson for failing to close his man down, but the ball into the box should’ve been dealt with with ease.

Swindon attempted to get back into the game but were starved of the ball as an impressive opposition dominated possession in the closing stages of the half, leaving the pitch with their narrow lead in tact.

Judged to have seen enough from his side’s first-half performance, Swindon manager John Sheridan hooked duo Scott Twine and Hallam Hope at the interval, replacing them with defender Taylor Curran and playmaker Matt Smith. 

Swindon resumed play looking the more dangerous of the two sides with Matt Smith a nuisance in midfield turning over possession and looking to get Town on the front-foot. Plymouth remained organised and well-structuring as they limited Swindon to speculative efforts from outside the box. 

Thompson’s free-kick from the edge of the Argyle box in the 52nd minute presented Sheridan’s Robins with a chance to test the keeper but his shot was wild and sent high into the Town End.

Camara looked set to double his goal tally after creating space for himself inside the Town box in the 55th minute but last-ditch defending from Thompson blocked the wingers shot to deny Plymouth the chance of doubling their lead.

Jaiyesimi threatened to claw Swindon back into the match as his brilliant dribble saw him skip past two of Argyle’s defenders before unleashing a powerful strike on target that required a diving save from Cooper. 

Town wasted their corner and in a flash Opoku had Plymouth on the counter-attack driving at Swindon’s defence and playing Hardie through on goal as the number nine slotted comfortably past Travers to double Plymouth’s advantage. 

Danny Mayor looked to have got his side a third goal just minutes later after a well-worked team move saw the ball in the back of the net only for Swindon to be let off the hook by the offside flag. 

Swindon tried in vain to rescue something from this match and avoid a third straight home defeat, but could do little to influence the scoreline as Plymouth showed their class to close out thegame and take all three points in a well-deserved victory.