Hatters washed away

Yuk! A very grey, wet and windy Saturday in Swindon, with the away end uncovered. The programme seller more successful in selling ponchos outside, pretty much essential if rather useless in the wind.

No Sam Parkin against his old club, and still no David Bell, the Town lining up as last Saturday:

Brill

Jackson Coyne Perry Goodall

Edwards Spring Robinson Currie

Furlong Peschisolido

Subs Talbot Hutchinson Morgan Keane McVeigh. Deano even seemed to be pleased to be sub for a change.

A steady drizzle of Town fans and a mizzle of Swindon fans, with the fantastically charismatic Mr Singh holding the whistle. Floodlights on from the start. Umbrellas, ponchos and even dustbin liners everywhere. Get the picture?

A somewhat nervy start but no particular threats from the Robins, and the Town quickly settled. How nice to hear Luton fans singing ‘shit ground no roof’ as the Eastern Atlantic gradually emptied itself all over us.

Furlong in particular was looking threatening and a handful no centre half would relish facing on a wet day.

But first corner to the Robins on 23. Robbo however firmly heading clear.

On 30 the Robins thought they had scored, a firm header from a corner, but Mr Singh disagreed, penalising some hefty shoving in the box. Cue chants of Monty Panesar from the Hatters fans.

For the rest of the half the ball was mainly in our half. And on 42 Swindon`s 3rd corner again nearly proved costly, Spring with a desperate hack off the line.

On the stroke of half time our first corner but to no avail.

So a wet and, all in all, rather pointless first half.

For the second at least the prospect of the Town attacking towards us.

It started promisingly enough, with a decent spell of Town pressure. But 10 minutes in we were 1-0 down after a simple turn in midfield and crossfield ball was returned into a yawning gap in the area where a firm header left Brill with no chance.

McVeigh replaced Pesch and within 5 minutes the equaliser, Currie teasing the Swindon right back before curling a right-foot cross over. Edwards timed his run to the near post to perfection, sending a powerful glancing header into the far corner for a great goal.

The goals certainly brought the game to life, and the warmth even lifted the rain for a spell.

Morgan and Talbot raced each other up and down the touchline – was Blackwell going to press for the win? Yes it appeared as Talbot replaced Currie, McVeigh slotting into midfield.

Talbot immediately showed why, running forcefully at defenders unsteady on a greasy surface.

The rain resumed, and the atmosphere cooled somewhat. But the Town pressed on, Furlong somehow being granted a free header from 10 yards but just missing.

The wind increased, the rain fell, and with 10 minutes left disaster as bodies slithered and fell in the Town box. Somehow the ball was poked in. 1-2.

A final gamble as Morgan replaced Furlong. The Town piled forward, and the pressure was only eased when two Robins collided and Monty stopped play.

Frantic but fruitless. The winning start ended.

Observation: playing a midfield none of whom will advance with the ball is pretty but ineffectual. And it gives no chance at all for a 5’5′ centre forward.

Scores:

Brill 7 some great saves
Jackson 6 slithered too often
Goodall 6 ditto
Coyne 7 a strong performance
Perry 6 struggled for height
Edwards 6 great goal but otherwise ineffectual
Robinson 7 worked tirelessly and passed well (can`t believe I am saying that)
Spring 5 looks good with time to play, but without it? Always looking to pass when we just wanted some directness on a wet and greasy pitch
Currie 5 just as last week pretty sluggish and ineffectual (interesting that the Swindon fans taunted him with ‘You fat bastard’) until he created a goal with a great cross. At which point Blackwell hauled him off
Furlong 6 battled and battled but once again the service was just appalling
Pesch 4 might have been playing for Derby for all the difference he made. No threat at all.

Subs

McVeigh 6 looked a class act
Talbot 7 fast direct and threatening. So why not from the start?
Morgan 6 limited time but again willing to run at defenders. It’s not rocket science Kevin, now is it?