MATCH REPORT: Swindon Town 0-3 Accrington Stanley

John Sheridan’s first home match in charge of Swindon Town was one the new manager will be hoping to forget quickly as Swindon produced a dismal performance losing three-nil against an impressive Accrington Stanley. Total Sport Swindon’a Ryan Walker gives his match report from the County Ground.

Swindon have always endured good fortunes against Accrington, losing just once in the fixtures history prior to tonight. But a trio of first-half goals including a Joe Fryer own goal and good finishes from Colby Bishop and Dion Charles saw Swindon suffer their third home loss of the season. 

Swindon goalkeeper Joe Fryer got his side off to the worst possible start inside the opening ten minutes,  after a calamitous keeper error saw the 25-year-old slip on a back-pass from Odimayo as the ball trickled past him into the net. 

After impressing after replacing Matej Kovar in the team,  this was a moment to forget for the Swindon shot-stopper.

Seeking for an instant reply, Jonny Smith almost grabbed an equaliser for Swindon in the 9th minute after being played through by Arsenal loanee Matt Smith, but he was unable to take the chance in front of goal. 

An energetic and youthful side, Accrington pressed with intent and although Swindon’s midfield duo of Anthony Grant and Matt Smith managed to get on the ball, this high press often saw them either dispossessed or misplacing rushed passes.

Winning four of their last five league fixtures, Accrington arrived at SN1 with a concrete game-plan in place. Manager John Coleman had instilled an attacking style consisting of high pressing and players wanting to dribble with the ball. Whereas Swindon looked like a ship lost at sea without its captain.

Jonathan Grounds brought down Jonny Russell on the edge of the box in the 19th with Butcher’s set-piece effort testing the hands of Fryer, with the goalkeeper again called into action just a minute later, saving comfortably from Dion Charles. 

Accrington continued to create openings in Swindon’s defence and a moment later doubled their lead as poor defending saw Colby Bishop pounce on a bouncing ball inside the Town box, looping a header over Fryer and in off the bar to score his first league goal of the season. 

Swindon’s defence should’ve easily dealt with the ball but slow to react allowed Bishop to get a solid header as he put his effort into the ground and over Fryer. Swindon looked short of ideas and low on confidence, whilst Accrington looked dangerous every time they went forward.

Deciding he had seen enough, Sheridan looked to his bench to provide a response as Mathieu Baudry replaced Rob Hunt in the 36th minute. And just a minute later Accrington had their third goal. 

Carving Swindon’s defence wide open, Joey Pritchard and Dion Charles found themselves in a two-on-one with Fryer with the former passing back across goal as Charles was left to tap into an empty net. 

Swindon were hopeless and with Matt Smith the only exception, every player was well below the required standard. As heads dropped you half expected to see a white flag rising from the dugout as Sheridan & Co tried to work out where things had gone so wrong. 

The half-time whistle blew moments later with Accrington deservedly in front.

Play resumed and Swindon had chances to get back into the game but in typical fashion of this season just couldn’t finish their opportunities. 

Paul Caddis found Hallam Hope with a floating effort towards the back-post in the 51st minute, but the striker couldn’t get his shot on target as his effort drifted across the face of goal. 

Whilst minutes later Akin Odimayo put the ball on a plate for Pitman only for the attacker to blast his shot high into the stands. 

Despite being comfortably in front, Accrington remained hungry to add to their tally, with some outstanding goalkeeping from Fryer the difference. 

After a difficult first-half Fryer stood tall to deny Jonny Russell in a one-on-one situation before producing consecutive saves in the 67th and 70th minute, palming efforts from Charles and Russell round the post. 

The match progressed with speculative efforts from both sets of players but neither could do much to influence the final scoreline.

In truth this game was over at half-time. Swindon could’ve and more importantly should’ve taken their chances, but all credit must go to an Accrington side who stuck to their game-plan and outplayed Swindon at their own stomping ground.  

This Swindon side is unrecognisable to the team that lifted the League Two championship just months ago. They are a team that is lacking both an identity and at this moment in time more worryingly lack passion for the shirt. 

Swindon stay above the relegation zone by a solitary point but things must start improving soon if they are to have any chance of staying up this season.