ANOTHER match of goalkeeping heroics wasn’t enough to save Swindon Town at the weekend as they succumbed to their latest defeat, a late Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill own-goal leaving them hanging precariously above the relegation zone on goal difference alone, writes Tom Nellist.

Will Henry stepped into the fold to be the saviour in last week’s penalty shoot-out win against arch-rivals Oxford and manager Luke Williams can be proud his number one keeper Lawrence Vigouroux was in equally fine form against Bolton.

In fact, Vigouroux’s performance was the only real aspect of the match the Town fans could sing about.

He made four stunning stops to keep Town in the game which was otherwise fraught with mistakes and ultimately the Robins were again made to pay for their lack of creativity.

In the 85th minute Josh Vela’s shot took a heavy deflection off Ottewill which no matter how good Vigouroux had been earlier on, it was impossible to keep out. Truthfully, the Trotters deserved their lead. They had put Swindon under immense pressure in both halves and while Town had their chances to score, Bolton looked the more likely to seize their chances.

Own-goals are always cruel to concede, of course, and had it not been so close to the final whistle, the end-to-end play could have seen Swindon pull one back.

The result was all but secured when Raphael Rossi-Branco saw red for a poor challenge a couple of minutes after the goal.

First team coach Ross Embleton spoke to the media after the game, saying: “I felt that we were a little bit scrappy and untidy with our possession which then never allowed us to get further up the pitch to create those opportunities and chances.

“Our early build-up play never allowed us to get key players into the opposition’s area of the pitch and, when the ball did go into the box, we lacked conviction and real belief that somebody was going to get on the end of it and score.”

Critical words perhaps but at least the Town hierarchy know the problem – a lack of finishing in front of goal.

An injury to Jon Obika kept him out of the match, and Nathan Delfouneso couldn’t find the right positions while Luke Norris is still to score since signing in the summer.

There is hope, however. Town’s development side put in a spirited performance against Peterborough United development and although ending up on the wrong side of the 5-2 scoreline, an unnamed trialist got the Robin’s goals.

Let’s hope he gets a call-up sooner rather than later.