MATCH REPORT: Swindon Town 2-1 Hull City

SWINDON TOWN stopped the rot as they ran out 2-1 winners against high-flyers Hull City courtesy of goals from Paul Caddis and Joel Grant, after Keane Lewis-Potter put the visitors ahead. Total Sport Swindon’s Rajan Hothi gives his report from SN1.

No Richie Wellens meant that the duo of Tommy Wright and Noel Hunt were placed in charge, and they made three changes from the loss at Northampton Town. Dion Donohue, Tyler Smith and Joel Grant came into the side as Town looked to put an end to their poor run of form in League One.

Hull came into the clash full of confidence, sitting second in the League One table and able to boast one of the most potent attacks in the division. The Tigers ran out 3-1 winners away at Bristol Rovers during mid-week. 

An injury to Tyler Smith in the warm-up allowed Hallam Hope to take his place, as the former Carlisle forward looked to stake a claim for a regular place in the first team. 

The first chance of the game fell to the visitors as poor defending allowed a ball to go to the back post, but thankfully for Town, Mallik Wilks could not convert. 

Swindon went close to opening the scoring just after the ten-minute mark. A good move saw Jack Payne deliver an inciting cross, but Joel Grant saw his close-range effort saved.

Just a minute later, Hull threatened to take the lead, but Greg Docherty’s strike whistled past Matej Kovar’s left-hand post.
 
The visitors took the lead after a quarter of an hour, courtesy of a fantastic solo effort from Keane Lewis-Potter. The youngster was allowed time and space, as he capped off a great run with a composed finish past Kovar to put the Tigers ahead. 

Docherty almost doubled Hull’s advantage, after a long-ball over the top had Swindon’s defence exposed, but Kovar made a smart save at his near post to prevent a second. 

The chances kept coming for Grant McCann’s side as Lewis Potter curled a free-kick wide, but Town equalised against the run of play after the half hour mark.

A smart corner from Jonny Smith saw Paul Caddis with plenty of time in the Hull box to deliver a fierce strike past Matt Ingram to restore parity for the hosts.

Town almost went ahead soon after. Hull failed to clear their lines from a free-kick, and a looping effort from Jonny Smith went over the bar as Swindon started to find their feet

Smith, who was threatening out wide, put in an inviting cross which was almost turned into his own net by Jordy De Wiss, who took the ball away from the oncoming Hope in the process, as Hull looked rattled. 

Swindon went close to going into the half-time interval ahead as the dangerous Smith did well to work an opening on the right, but saw his curling effort parried away by Ingram. 

Town started the second-half brightly and had a penalty appeal turned down as Joel Grant went down, while Wilks fired over for Hull at the other end.

Swindon took the lead seven minutes into the second-half thanks to some fantastic work by Hope. The 26-year-old did brilliantly to send Joel Grant through on goal, and the summer recruit kept his cool to put Town ahead for the first time in the game.

Town had a great chance to extend their lead, as Jonny Smith picked out Payne in the box, but the latter could not sort his feet out with Joel Grant lurking unmarked at the far post.

Grant McCann’s side thought they had equalised with 20 minutes left, as Wilks headed home from a free-kick, but the offside flag saved the hosts from surrendering their lead. 

Hull piled on the pressure in the last 15 minutes, but could not find a breakthrough, with smart game-management from Swindon helping Town see out their first win since Burton at home.