Swindon came into this game in the midst of a mid-season dip after losing three out of their last four. Crawley came into it in mixed form after winning all but one of their fixtures in February. Swindon took the decision of resting Massimo Luongo (who wasn't in the squad) and Louis Thompson, who was dropped to the bench. Crawley had to bring in their new loan signing, Wood, the day after he was brought in to cover for Darren Ward, who was unavailable due to being on loan from Swindon.
Swindon started slowly, inviting early pressure from Crawley and soon it was disaster. Edwards got round the back of the Swindon defence and put the ball across and a gleeful Wordsworth slotted into the net after five minutes for one-nil.
From then till half time Crawley sat on the edge of their penalty box as Swindon passed and passed without finding many chinks in the Crawley armour. Swindon's main chances came in the form of shots from the edge of the box. John Swift and Harry Toffolo struggling to get past the mass of Crawley defenders in front of them. The delivery from wide positions was few and far between and there was little movement from the strikers to try and get behind Crawley.
At half-time Harry Toffolo was brought off for Louis Thompson and Ben Gladwin was moved out wide. In the second half Swindon improved and Nathan Byrne was lively on the wing, beating numerous players on his runs and getting into good positions that Swindon were unable to take advantage of. Crawley looked more stretched and were getting tired from the constant defending. Swindon were getting more corners and more chances.
Soon enough the break through came. A storming run out of defence from Jack Stephens resulting in a ball through the middle for Andy Williams who flicked the ball beyond the keeper for one all. Swindon then struggled as Crawley pushed a few more men forward and the Swindon defence looked very shaky. Though the majority of Swindon players looked sluggish Southampton loanee Jack Stephens pushed on and looked the most likely to score in the Swindon side.
For the second time disaster reared it's ugly head for Swindon. Substitute Jermaine Hylton had his shirt pulled by the covering defender and the referee gave the free kick against him. From the resulting free kick the ball was kicked long and Gavin Tomlin out muscled Jordan Turnbull too easily and rocketed the ball above Wes Foderingham for two-one in the eighty-eighth minute.
A shell shocked Swindon then failed to create any chances and lost the game two-one.
Swindon then banned players from speaking to the press after the game and manager Mark Copper was audibly frustrated in his interview stating, 'Obviously it's frustrating because we played the whole game in their half.' Then rueing his sides start to the game, 'We gave them a dream start and something to hold onto.'
Crawley boss, Dean Saunders, praised his sides ability to stick to tactics, 'They're probably the best team in the league and we just decided to let them play in their own half. We kept them at bay.'
Swindon move further away from the top two in the division and Crawley are closing the gap to safety.
Swindon started slowly, inviting early pressure from Crawley and soon it was disaster. Edwards got round the back of the Swindon defence and put the ball across and a gleeful Wordsworth slotted into the net after five minutes for one-nil.
From then till half time Crawley sat on the edge of their penalty box as Swindon passed and passed without finding many chinks in the Crawley armour. Swindon's main chances came in the form of shots from the edge of the box. John Swift and Harry Toffolo struggling to get past the mass of Crawley defenders in front of them. The delivery from wide positions was few and far between and there was little movement from the strikers to try and get behind Crawley.
At half-time Harry Toffolo was brought off for Louis Thompson and Ben Gladwin was moved out wide. In the second half Swindon improved and Nathan Byrne was lively on the wing, beating numerous players on his runs and getting into good positions that Swindon were unable to take advantage of. Crawley looked more stretched and were getting tired from the constant defending. Swindon were getting more corners and more chances.
Soon enough the break through came. A storming run out of defence from Jack Stephens resulting in a ball through the middle for Andy Williams who flicked the ball beyond the keeper for one all. Swindon then struggled as Crawley pushed a few more men forward and the Swindon defence looked very shaky. Though the majority of Swindon players looked sluggish Southampton loanee Jack Stephens pushed on and looked the most likely to score in the Swindon side.
For the second time disaster reared it's ugly head for Swindon. Substitute Jermaine Hylton had his shirt pulled by the covering defender and the referee gave the free kick against him. From the resulting free kick the ball was kicked long and Gavin Tomlin out muscled Jordan Turnbull too easily and rocketed the ball above Wes Foderingham for two-one in the eighty-eighth minute.
A shell shocked Swindon then failed to create any chances and lost the game two-one.
Swindon then banned players from speaking to the press after the game and manager Mark Copper was audibly frustrated in his interview stating, 'Obviously it's frustrating because we played the whole game in their half.' Then rueing his sides start to the game, 'We gave them a dream start and something to hold onto.'
Crawley boss, Dean Saunders, praised his sides ability to stick to tactics, 'They're probably the best team in the league and we just decided to let them play in their own half. We kept them at bay.'
Swindon move further away from the top two in the division and Crawley are closing the gap to safety.