MATCH REPORT: Swindon Town 0-2 Sunderland AFC

SWINDON TOWN suffered their third straight league defeat as Sunderland AFC won two-nil at the County Ground to extend their unbeaten start to the League One season. Total Sport Swindon’s Ryan Walker gives his match report from the County Ground.

A first half-goal from Charlie Wyke combined with Chris Maguire’s second-half penalty to give Sunderland a two-goal victory at SN1 as Swindon were denied an obvious penalty that would’ve seen them get back into the match.

Playing in a new 5-3-2 formation, Swindon looked to be stuck in panic mode during the early opening stages as two Sunderland crosses in the first five minutes tested Swindon’s defence from set-pieces.

But after riding the initial wave of attack, the hosts began to find their feet, demonstrating their attacking flair and testing Sunderlands defence with encouraging wide play as crosses were put into the box. 

Diallang Jaiyesimi threatened to win Town their first shot on goal in the 7th minute after dribbling past three Sunderland players, before being closed down and eventually dispossessed. But it was a positive attacking play from Richie Wellens’ side, as Swindon refused to stay defensive against one of the leagues most dangerous outfits. 

After breaking Swindon hearts wearing Oxford colours in the past, Chris Maguire nearly inflicted more misery on Town after finding himself one-on-one with Kovar as the keeper passed straight to the striker. Fortunately, however, he was saved embarrassment as Dion Donohue took Maguire wide and Jack Payne got back well to clear the eventual cross. 

Time ticking by, Swindon continued to grow into the game, with their neat one-two passing in the middle of the field stretching Sunderland. But unfortunately, it was a similar story of dominant possession producing next-to-zero attacking threat as Tyler Smith was isolated upfront and rarely able to get a touch of the ball. 

Dion Donohue picked up the games first yellow card after hacking down Maguire just inside Swindon’s half in the 17th minute, with Grant Leadbitter spotting Kovar off his line, shooting from 40-yards out and nearly opening the scoring as the Swindon shot-stopper was caught scrambling back to tip the ball behind for a corner. 

Minutes later, Akin Odimayo was presented with a great chance to give Swindon a shock lead as the defender rose highest inside Sunderland’s 12-yard-box to connect with Payne’s set-piece cross to the back post in the 25th minute. But failing to time his jump right was caught off balance and failed to get any real power or accuracy behind his header. 

Swindon’s midfield press of Smith and Grant was effective at stopping Sunderland from playing through the middle, and despite Town’s defensive blushes of late, they looked relatively comfortable against an opposition that is unbeaten this season. 

However, against one of the leagues best opposition you can’t turn off for a moment, and unfortunately, Swindon’s defence did as a lapse in concentration saw them immediately punished with Lynden Gooch’ cross from a dead-ball situation catching the Town defence unawares leaving the alert Charlie Wyke to smash the ball past Kovar from close-range and giving Sunderland the lead.

Max Power nearly doubled the visitors lead in the 45th minute, but he arrived a second too late and couldn’t get the required touch on Scowen’s cross as Swindon remained resolute to avoid going further behind.

Having failed to register a single shot on target in the first half, Wellens opted for double attacking changes at the start of the second, bringing on both Jonny Smith and Jordan Stevens in place of Rob Hunt and Jaiyesimi. 

And the attacking reinforcements looked to have rendered reward for Swindon just five minutes later as Payne nutmegged O’Nien inside the Sunderland area with the defender sticking out his leg and bringing down Payne for what looked like a concrete penalty. But the linesman failed to raise his flag and play carried on. 

Moments later, the referee was faced with a similar decision to make as Jonathan Grounds slid in on Maguire inside Swindon’s box, with the official this time awarding the penalty. Maguire converted from the spot and Sunderland were given a two-goal lead.

Hallam Hope came on to replace Tyler Smith a second later, but with no fans inside the stadium, it was hard for Swindon to get going again. 

Credit for trying, the Robins continued to search for a way back into the match, but despite their best efforts, they failed to test Sunderlands keeper.

Grounds had a chance to reduce the deficit and make amends in the 61st minute, creating space inside the box to get a free header on goal from a Payne cross, but the defender lacked accuracy and put his effort wide.

Swindon were relentless in their attack until the final whistle, but Sunderland’s well-structured defence were resolute and offered little chance to Swindon’s attackers who just never got going in the game. 

Matt Smith and Jonathan Grounds picked up questionable yellow cards in the latter stages of the game, and Jack Payne won Swindon their first shot on target in stoppage time that was saved well by Burge. 

This was always going to be one of Swindon’s toughest games of the season but Sunderland simply had too much for the League Two champions as Swindon stuttered and fell to their second home defeat of the season.