Mixture of goalscorers delights Wellens as Swindon put four past Cambridge

Swindon Town manager Richie Wellens highlighted the importance of more players chipping in with goals as Keshi Anderson’s Boxing Day hattrick helped Swindon to a four-nil victory over Cambridge United yesterday. Total Sport Swindon’s Ryan Walker spoke to the STFC manager following the game.

A fast-paced game saw Swindon dominate proceedings as a barrage of first-half goals put them in firm control before Anderson finalised the scoreline with his third goal in the second-half. 

Speaking following the match, Wellens praised a collective team performance as victory kept the Robins top of the League Two table. 

“We played really well in the final third and made it difficult for Cambridge,” said Wellens. 

“They left two strikers up which was a threat but I thought our two centre-backs were outstanding.

“Credit to Gabriel Zakuani, he hasn’t played as much as he would’ve liked but due to the injury of Zeki Fryers I had to put him in,” he added. 

“I thought he did really well and it was a really good team performance. 

“Ellis Iandolo stepped in last minute for Rob Hunt and he was also outstanding,” he said. 

Eoin Doyle opened the scoring just four minutes in as he converted from the penalty spot to score his 22nd goal of the season and become the first player since Leicester’s Jamie Vardy to score in eleven consecutive games in the top four divisions of English football. 

Wellens, however, admitted he was more impressed with Keshi Anderson’s hattrick and underlined the importance of more players contributing goals as Swindon strive for promotion this season. 

“We have loads of goal threats at the moment. Kaiyne Woolery scored in his last home game and has had two or three assists recently,” said Wellens. 

“Michael Doughty is a goal threat, and when Keshi is in midfield he’s a goal threat as well. 

“It’s nice to have a lot of attacking options backed up by Anthony Grant who holds it all together,” he added. 

“We should’ve seen the game out at Forest Green but against Cambridge we’ve responded really well.

“We gave the players Christmas Day off because they’ve worked so hard and every credit to the players because their performance merited them having that day off,” Wellens said. 

Prior to kick-off yesterday, Swindon Town announced that club captain Dion Conroy had signed a new contract extension keeping him at the club until the summer of 2021.

But despite being sidelined through injury this season, Wellens insisted it was the right decision to make, but insisted Conroy must return from injury stronger and fitter than ever before. 

“It’s the right thing to do in a personal way and also an emotional way, but we’re not a charity,” stated Wellens. 

“We actually feel he deserves it and his performances have merited the extension. 

“We’re going to give him every opportunity to come back and perform at the level he was or get even better,” he said. 

“The rate of improvement he was showing was very good at the time and the lad can go and play at whatever level he wants to. 

“He has a long road ahead of him and needs to come back from injury and is fitter and stronger than he’s ever been,” added Wellens. 

Swindon Town are next in action on December 29th when they travel to face Port Vale.