MATCH REPORT: Swindon Town 2 - 3 West Brom U21s

SWINDON TOWN stumbled at the first attempt in their opening game of the EFL Trophy as West Bromwich Albion U21s put in an impressive display winning 2-3 at the County Ground. Total Sport Swindon’s Ryan Walker gives his match report following the action.

Goals from Tyler Smith and Paul Caddis weren’t enough for Swindon to avoid defeat in their first EFL Trophy match as superb finishes from Tyrese Dyce, Owen Windsor, and Taylor Gardner-Hickman proved the difference. 

A controlled start saw Swindon sail through the opening ten minutes relatively untested as the new-look midfield duo of debutant Matt Smith and Matty Palmer controlled the match tempo well with the former supplying dangerous forward balls to Town’s attackers. 

Ellis Iandolo created Swindon’s first chance of the game with a lofted cross to the back [post in the 5th minute finding right-back Paul Caddis only for the experienced defender to play a poor pass back across goal when a first-time shot would have been the better option. 

Swindon continued to pressure the West Brom defence as quick interlinking play from Jack Payne and Hallam Hope created openings at the back, but the Swindon players just couldn’t find the goal-scoring touch as chances went amiss. 

After struggling to get to grip with the games intensity, West Brom’s youthful outfit eventually started to show some belief with a late run from Tyrese Dyce in the 13th minute putting the winger through one-on-one with keeper Matej Kovar only for a last ditch tackle from Taylor Curran dispossessing the attacker at the last second. 

That attack appeared to instil confidence in the West Brom players as just two minutes later Dyce was again found in space on the wing. Staunch defending from Akin Odimayo however saw the Swindon defender emerge with the ball. 

Chances at both ends made for an entertaining battle in the first game of the EFL Trophy, but it was West Brom who took the lead against the run of play. 

After winning the ball in midfield, Dyce was found in acres of space on the left-wing before showing his speed to sail past Curran and unleashing a right-footed shot that flew under a diving Kovar to give the visitors the lead. 

Swindon were made to rue their early misses by clinical finishing from West Brom’s youthful strike force, but a good header from Hallam Hope moments later nearly had the game tied up but for his effort to nestle on top of the goal. 

Half chances in the latter stages of the first-half saw Pitman, Caddis, and Payne all shoot wide from good positions with Payne’s weak shot at Cann in the 45th minute registering Swindon’s first attempt on target as the whistle blew moments later to signal half-time. 

Hallam Hope signalled Swindon’s intent to get back into the match after winning a corner immediately from the restart but Swindon’s poor delivery from set-pieces continued as West Brom cleared with ease, passing through Swindon’s midfield, and finishing off a quick counter-attack with Windsor shooting past Kovar from close-range to double their advantage.

Having lost their way in the game, Wellens opted to introduce both Anthony Grant and Diallang Jaiyesimi to the match but neither could stamp their usual authority on proceedings as West Brom’s youthful setup continued to stretch Swindon. 

With little attacking threat on display, Wellens opted to bring on Tyler Smith in the 69th minute and was instantly rewarded with a goal as Swindon’s number nine headed past Cann to reduce the deficit to just one. 

Any hope of a comeback however was short lived as a brilliant volley from Taylor Gardner-Hickman from inside the Swindon box made it 1-3 West Brom. 

Swindon could have easily rested on their laurels knowing that the bigger test will come when they start their League One season at the weekend, but Wellens’ side wouldn’t rest, as the unlikeliest of scorers in the form of Paul Caddis latched onto a cross to put Swindon within one goal. 

The two sides continued to battle with both searching for that crucially needed extra goal but a mixture of good defending and poor shooting meant both keepers went relatively untested. 

Jack Payne’s powerful strike in the closing moments forced a good save from Cann but Swindon couldn’t do enough to avoid defeat in their first EFL Trophy match as West Brom secured an impressive victory.