STEVENAGE 2 SWINDON TOWN 0

TOWN FLIER

Watching Swindon’s performance against Stevenage it was difficult to believe this was a team that still had a fighting chance of figuring in the play-offs.

This was a listless disappointing display, and although Stevenage were nothing to write home about, they could at least score goals – and this failure on Town’s part has been the root of their problems this season.

Town had fallen behind just after the half hour mark when their nemesis, former Robin Alex Revell, scored with a diving header at the far post.

On the hour mark Richie Wellens tried to impart something different by making a triple substitution.

Town seemed to have a bit more spark afterwards and Kyle Knoyle pressing forward was making a difference.

There was a real Comedy of Errors during injury time. Lawrence Vigouroux had a shot blocked inside the home penalty area but he failed to scramble back in time, and Ilias Chair took advantage of the missing keeper with a superb lob from fully sixty yards.

Town’s real issues that have stared us in the face all season were there again for all to see.

Kaiyne Woolery and Keshi Anderson, looking lively and pacey yet again, just don’t have that all-important finishing edge to their games.

This display in the circumstances does make one question how much true improvement there has been in the past four months.

I think they are a much better team now, but it would be a real job convincing many people of that fact.

With still ten games to go, Swindon are seven points from the play-offs, with a game in hand – not exactly Mission Impossible.

However, with their inconsistent form and the need to get on a run of about five straight wins to make real headway, it would take a minor miracle to achieve something now.

Afterwards Swindon’s manager said: “I can’t wait until the summer to get some players in and have a proper team.”

Great motivation for the rest of the season.

In the January transfer window he acquired nine new players of his own choosing, so I wonder how many he wants?

Next Saturday Swindon are at home to Port Vale, and it will be interesting to see what sort of performance they dish up for their fans after this serious set-back.