SWINDON TOWN 0

WOKING 1

SWINDON'S topsy-turvy performances continued on Sunday in the FA Cup second-round, writes Peter Mitchell.

Although a possible upset was always on the “Cards”, you would have thought that after the excellent display on Tuesday, and the incentive of a big draw in the next round, Swindon would have pulled through.

Not the case. Swindon reverted to another laboured performance against the National South leaders and managed only a miserly eight shots, against just two by the visitors. However, Woking’s one shot on target was enough to seal the win and, not for the first time, a former Town player, ex-trainee Jake Hyde, delivered the killer blow. Once again having over 60% possession proved to be meaningless.

The question most Swindon supporters will be asking is “why did the manager make four changes from the winning team of five days earlier ?”. A team that had looked so well balanced and dangerous. I doubt that the changes were forced upon him by reason of injuries as the four being replaced were all warming the bench. Certainly, in the eyes of many, the progress that Richie Wellens made in the previous week, and his credibility, has taken a hard knock with this showing. He said afterwards that he was “pretty angry” with the result. I should think that was nothing compared to the reaction of Chairman Lee Power, who must have been incandescent !

The potential extra revenue lost by Swindon’s inability to reach the third round for yet another year would have been significant – the last time they did manage it was way back in 2012 under Paolo Di Canio.

So, as they say, all we have left now is to concentrate on the league and, in another home game on Saturday, Town come up against fourth place Newport County, who are also the fourth highest scorers in League Two. Another interesting game awaits and a tough test for our defence.