Swindon 3 Town 2

Mar 5 2008 by Mel Booth, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

SUICIDAL early defending cost sloppy Town an eventful match and probably any realistic chance of rekindling their fading play-off hopes.

Even though Phil Jevons slotted a couple of fightback penalties and Swindon were reduced to nine men as Lee Peacock and Billy Paynter saw red, Andy Ritchie’s side were haunted by their horror defensive work of the first half hour.

Abysmal tackling, marking and tracking back allowed Paynter to open the scoring on just four minutes and, with 23 and 31 on the clock, Craig Easton took advantage of similarly slack covering to put Swindon in complete command.

It was defending akin to that which led to Town shipping four goals at Southend, Leeds and Walsall and was as bad – as a team – as they’ve produced all season.

The slick way with which Anthony McNamee, in particular, scythed through Town’s back line down the left brought back memories of the televised Yeovil disaster of 14 months ago, and it might have been worse had Matt Glennon not tipped over a goalbound Chris Allen crackerjack into the bargain.

Despite their misery when Swindon swept forward in threatening and rampaging style, Town still showed glimpses of quality at the other end with Andy Booth prominent in the air and on the deck.

Andy Holdsworth had a back header cleared from near the line by Hasney Aljofree and Chris Brandon fired a volley wide, but it was no surprise that Jevons and Michael Collins should finally force a breakthrough.

Collins made several encouraging breaks beyond the Swindon back line, being denied by brave keeper Phil Smith on one occasion, and when Jevons sent him in with a clever back heel on 39 minutes, there was no doubt about the trip from behind.

Referee Ray Lee – who needed a nine-steward escort from the pitch as Swindon fans vented their anger at the end – was on hand to point to the spot and Jevons coolly sent Smith the wrong way with the penalty.

At 3-1 down at the break and with Town promising more pressure after Jevons’ free-kick brought a smart save from the diving Smith, hopes of snatching something from the game were heightened when Peacock received his marching orders on 59 minutes for a late, high challenge on Malvin Kamara.

Peacock later got sympathy from the Town camp and expressed his innocence to anyone who would listen – “I was just trying to block the ball, even though there was a horrible crack” – but his departure altered the whole complexion of the match.

Town had already gone close through Frank Sinclair, who just couldn’t make enough contact with a Robbie Williams corner, while Booth and Jevons each tried their luck with headers as Swindon manager Maurice Malpas desperately fashioned a reshuffle.

It was working, too, until Paynter prevented an own goal by handling on the line – referee Lee had already blown by the time Booth followed up to score – and the striker was on his way down the tunnel when Jevons swept home his second.

A brilliant run and cross from Brandon should have earned Booth a headed goal (he was also wide moments later when the keeper was off his line) while Nathan Clarke’s downward header from another Williams corner was smothered on the line by Smith.

Booth sank to his knees in frustration as he aimed over from a Sinclair cross late on, when David Mirfin – back in the side for suspended Rob Page – was also employed up front in an effort to sneak an equaliser, and the legend’s anguish spoke volumes for Town in this performance and in the season so far.

They are 16th instead of pushing for the play-offs and only seven points off the bottom four – not good enough for a squad who are far more talented than that.

Player ratings

Matt Glennon

Stranded by his defence in the first half, he made a brilliant tip-over save from Allen to help stem the rout.

6/10.

Frank Sinclair

Was given a torrid time by speedy wingman Anthony McNamee, particularly in the shambolic first-half show.

4/10.

Robbie Williams

Like his colleagues, guilty of not picking up in the first half. His set-pieces were better, generally, than the weekend.

4/10.

Michael Collins

Did as much as anyone to try and spark Town into life with some encouraging breaks and link-up play.

6/10.

Nathan Clarke

Battled hard against the awkward Billy Paynter but his effort was against the tide in a woeful early spell.

4/10.

David Mirfin

Back for a first start in 10 matches, he was caught cold like the rest early on. Went up front in closing minutes.

4/10

Malvin Kamara

Didn’t get a lot of joy out of marker Comminges, but found more space for some crosses in the second half.

5/10.

Andy Holdsworth

Grafted after the early horror show and unlucky to see a header cleared from the line by Hasney Aljofree.

5/10.

Andy Booth

Back in the side at the expense of Luke Beckett for only his third start of 2008. Dogged and determined.

7/10.

Phil Jevons

Netted his seventh and eighth goals of the season from the penalty spot and linked well in build-up play.

5/10.

Chris Brandon

Did some useful chasing back to help the struggling defence and, later, set up some good chances.

6/10.

Town substitutions

Luke Beckett for Robbie Williams 74 mins. Subs not used: Eastwood, Skarz, Schofield, Worthington.Bookings: Booth.

Swindon Town

Smith (P), Smith (J), Peacock, Ifil, Comminges, Easton, Aljofree, Paynter, Allen, McNamee (Ashikodi 77, Roberts 90), Cox (McGovern 61). Subs not used: Zaaboub, Brezovan.Bookings: Ashikodi. Sendings-off: Peacock 59, Paynter 75.

Ref watch

BRENTWOOD whistler Ray Lee infuriated the home fans with the award of two penalties to Town and the dismissals of Peacock and Paynter, but they seemed fair enough.

Strange, with his other decisions, that Beckett should escape any punishment for a late tackle while Andy Ritchie claimed not enough time was added. Mr Lee had a nine-steward escort from the field at the end