MATCHDAY LIVE: Swindon Town v Northampton Town

FULL-TIME: Swindon Town 5-2 Northampton Town

Yes you read that correctly!

90' There will be 3 minutes of added time.

82' Harry McKirdy nearly makes it five but Roberts gets a hand to his placed shot and touches the ball onto the post. Harry McKirdy is then announced as the man of the match.

5-2

78' Swindon Sub

Off - Reed

On - East

5-2

77' Swindon win a free kick 25 yards out as McKirdy is fouled. Reed shoots but his effort is well over the bar.

5-2

71' Tyreece Simpson how have you missed that. Ellis Iandolo works space brilliantly inside the Northampton box before passing to Simpson who shoots at an open goal but somehow hits the post and the ball bounces back out as the visitors clear.

5-2

68' Swindon sub

Off - WIlliams

On - Gladwin

5-2

67' The goal came as Reed's free-kick effort stung the palms of Liam Roberts with the ball then falling to McKirdy who needed no time to set himself as he shot back across the face of goal.

5-2

65' GOAL SWINDON

H-A-R-R-Y M-C-K-I-R-D-Y

5-2

63' Swindon win a free-kick as McKirdy is fouled on the edge of the box by Lewis.

The attendance is announced as 9071.

4-2

60' GOAL SWINDON

Tyreece Simpson with a brilliant strike beats the keeper and Swindon are running riot.

4-2

58' Swindon Sub

Off - Payne

On - Crichlow

3-2

55' GOAL SWINDON

HATTRICK HERO HARRY MCKIRDY.

3-2

51' End-to-end action as the ball comes out to McKirdy on the edge of the box before he finishes with a left-footed effort past Roberts to pull Swindon back level.

2-2

50' GOAL SWINDON

It's that man HARRY MCKIRDY!!

2-2

49' GOAL NORTHAMPTON

Swindon get forward well through Kesler-Hayden but eventually squander possession and Northampton break with Hunt following halfway inside his own half. The delivery is good and Jon Guhtire finishes with an easy shot into the roof of the net.

1-2

45' Back underway at the CG, can either side find a winning goal? 1-1

HALF-TIME: Swindon Town 1-1 Northampton Town

45' We nearly witnessed a magnificent goal as Mitch Pinnock shoots with a free kick from inside the Northampton half. Wollacott was backtracking but managed to clip the effort over the bar with the resulting corner coming to nothing.

1-1

45' There will be 3 minutes of added time.

1-1

44' Williams has gone down under a challenge from Lewis and is receiving treatment. It was a clear foul as he went in with his shoulder but the referee waved play on. Poor decision from the official.

1-1

39' Northampton nearly take the lead as Hunt gives the ball away and Paul Lewis's shot from inside the Swindon box is blocked by Iandolo.

1-1

37' GOAL NORTHAMPTON

Sam Hoskins pulls one back for the visitors with a powerful finish past Wollacott.

1-1

34' Jack Sowerby is shown a yellow card for a bad challenge on Jordan Lyden.

1-0

33' Swindon are now high on confidence as Reed shoots from range with his effort moving and eventually ending up just over the bar.

1-0

28' The goal came as Payne's initial low cross into the box was stuck amongst a crowd of players before McKirdy hit the ball on the turn and left Roberts with no chance.

1-0

27' GOAL SWINDON

Harry McKirdy slots in from close range to give Swindon the lead.

1-0

24' MckKrdy puts a delicious ball across the face of the Northampton goal with Kesler-Hayden coming in at the back post but he can't quite get there.

0-0

20' Silky play from Swindon around the edge of the box ends with McKirdy coming on to the ball and shooting first time. His shot is powerful but just wide.

0-0

17' Williams breaks on a counter-attack through the centre of midifeld but is pulled back by Shaun McWilliams who is shown a yellow card.

0-0

15' Ali Koiki is allowed to travel with the ball and wins Northampton a corner. The corner is whipped in but goes out of play and Swindon have a goal-kick.

0-0

13' Fraser Horsfall makes a brilliant tackle to disposses Tyreece Simpson as he was about to pull the trigger inside the Northampton Town box. Chances at either end so far.

0-0

11' This game has started to open up a bit with Northampton enjoying longer spells in Swindon's half. Mitch Pinnock is starting to unhinge this Swindon defence who are making problems of their own with sloppy passing. Rob Hunt gives the ball away just now on the edge of his box and Jack Sowerby has a shot on target saved.

0-0

4' Swindon have started the better of the two teams here and now have their first corner as Williams is tackled in the box. The corner is poorly worked but a ball is eventually put into the box with McKirdy making a brilliant connection on the volley but hitting it out for a throw-in.

0-0

3' Swindon break forward quickly with Kesler-Hayden playing Simpson down the right-wing. He stands his opposite man up before cutting inside and getting a shot away that is off target.

0-0

KICK-OFF: Swindon gets us underway at the County Ground for the first time in 2022.

So out come the teams and we are nearly ready to get things underway. Swindon are playing in their home colours of red and white with Northampton wearing their black and gold away kit.

Northampton Town manager Jon Brady lines his team up like this.

NORTHAMPTON TOWN XI

L Roberts

A McGowan

J Sowerby

J Guthrie

F Horsfall

S Hoskins

P Lewis

M Pinnock

A Koiki

S McWilliams

D Rose

SUBS

M Harriman

N Kabamba

D Connolly

J Flores

J Mills

J Maxted

M Dyche

Swindon Town make three changes to the side that drew 0-0 with Stevenage in midweek with Jordan Lyden making his first league start of the season.

SWINDON TOWN XI

4-3-3

J Wollacott

K Kesler-Hayden

R Hunt

A Odimayo

E Iandolo

L Reed

J Lyden

J Payne

H McKirdy

J Williams

T Simpson

SUBSTITUTIONS

R Crichlow

B Gladwin

L Ward

J Mitchell-Lawson

A Gilbert

R East

A Grant

So let's take a look at how the two teams line up coming into today's game.

Happy New Year, we trust you enjoyed the celebrations and are now ready for some high-scoring action as Swindon take on Northampton Town. The importance of today's game has gone slightly under the radar but don't let that fool you because with both teams pushing for promotion and Swindon currently just 6 points behind Northampton who occupy second spot in the league standings.

A win today for Swindon would put the Robins back in contention for the automatic promotion places. A loss and you feel that Swindon would have to settle for the playoffs.

Good afternoon and thank you for joining us inside the County Ground for full match coverage from Swindon's first game of 2022 as Northampton Town make the trip to Wiltshire.