Simon Cox scored against the Cobblers as Swindon condemned us to our first defeat in four games. Giles Coke was on the score sheet for Stuart Gray’s men but it wasn’t enough as we drop back into the bottom half of the table.
The Cobblers were without Mark Little and Colin Larkin who both hobbled out of the game against Yeovil at the weekend. Chris Doig and Ryan Gilligan stepped in to replace them. Meanwhile, Adebayo Akinfenwa was dropped to the bench in place of Leon Constantine.
Luke Guttridge had a good early chance but his run into the box was blocked by Hasney Aljofree. A few minutes later and Karl Hawley went close after a long ball up field from goalkeeper Frank Fielding. Andy Holt flicked the ball on and Hawley latched onto it to fire just over the top.
Just after the quarter hour mark, the lively Anthony McNamee crossed for Lee Peacock but the forward’s header was just too high. The Cobblers could have had a penalty at the other end when Ryan Gilligan was fouled by home keeper Peter Brezovan just inside the penalty area. But referee Andy D’Urso, referee of the controversial Forest home game last season, waved play on to the anger of Cobblers players and fans.
As the Cobblers tried to recover from that let down, McNamee hit the post at the other end as Swindon started to come more and more into the game. McNamee had another chance just a few minutes later but Frank Fielding did well to get a hand to his shot. The first half ended goalless though and the sides went in level.
Just as the second half was a few minutes old though, Swindon were in front. Billy Paynter collected the ball and drove in a shot from fifteen yards that beat Fielding well and the home side had the lead. Paynter almost got his second ten minutes later but his shot just missed the post. Lee Peacock then struck the cross bar as Swindon pushed to seal the win.
The inevitable came just a few minutes later though as Simon Cox headed home Swindon’s second of the game from close range. Stuart Gray’s response was to bring on Akinfenwa and Giles Coke for Abdul Osman and Ryan Gilligan.
Leon Constantine could have halved the deficit with fifteen minutes left but Brezovan got his legs to the ball to keep it out. Giles Coke had just missed the far post in a different attack just minutes previously and it looked certain that it wasn’t to be as the time ticked away. There was time for a Giles Coke consolation as he nodded home at the back post but it was too little too late and the Cobblers went home pointless.
With Leicester away to come on Saturday, the players will really have to lift themselves if we’re to get anywhere near the Foxes. Three wins in a row are forgotten this evening as a disappointing night in Wiltshire ends our good run of form.
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