Swindon Town again sacrifice lead to lose to Tranmere Rovers

Swindon were ahead at the break following a cagey opening half of football, with Dan Kemp finding the back of the net after a great one-two with Remeao Hutton.

Kieron Morris levelled ten minutes into the second half after a disaster at the back for Swindon before Tom Davies turned home the winner.

A third successive defeat sees Swindon drop a place down to 13th in League Two, five points from the play-off places.

Michael Flynn was forced into a late switch as Udoka Godwin-Malife had to miss out due to food poisoning. Town went with a makeshift back three that saw Williams Kokolo and Saidou Khan drop in to play alongside Harrison Minturn. Tyrese Shade returned from illness to start and Jake Cain was fit enough for the bench.

Austin gets into position (Image: Callum Knowles)

Swindon made a shaky start and could have been the architects of their own downfall after three minutes after Minturn’s pass rolled under the foot of Murphy Mahoney. The goalkeeper had to frantically dash back to prevent the ball from dribbling embarrassingly over the line.

Tranmere came close again not long after as the ball was loose in midfield, Connor Jennings spotted Mahoney on the edge of his area and attempted a chip from 45 yards. He got it over the goalkeeper, but it drifted too far to the left and wide of the mark.

Town began the game like a side that had no clue where they had left their confidence. Rovers were standing off them playing out from the back, but simple passes were missing their targets and they were struggling to get the ball in the same postcode as the forward areas.

Kemp runs through to score (Image: Callum Knowles)

After 22 minutes of slow, passive football, Swindon got the opener the first time they managed to shift gears. Kemp ran across the field and sprayed a pass out to Hutton before continuing his run off the back of a Tranmere defender, who tried to pull at him. Hutton returned the ball to him down the side of the area and he slammed the ball beyond Luke McGee at his near post.

Swindon did not exactly use this as a platform to build from and it took them another ten minutes to conjure another chance. George McEachran won the ball high up the field and played a neat pass into Kemp. He took a touch and drove a shot low, which the ‘keeper did well to get down to and push to safety.

McEachran and Kemp combined again with a fine one-two to put the former through on McGee. He took the ball around the goalkeeper, but Lee O’Connor got back with a perfectly timed challenge to deny him a shot at the open net.

McEachran under pressure (Image: Callum Knowles)

After 40 minutes Kokolo was beaten in a physical duel by Rob Apter and he found the run of Regan Hendry outside him. His cutback was into a good area, but Liam Kinsella was there with a vital sliding challenge to get the ball clear.

The first half was played in a different galaxy to the joga bonito with which Swindon became accustomed in the summer months. Chances were few and far between at both ends, with neither side wanting to force the issue too much.

Kemp plays a pass (Image: Callum Knowles)

Early in the second half, Kemp flicked the ball around the corner to Charlie Austin. He took the ball down well and played it out to Shade, who got beyond O’Connor and played a ball across the face of goal but it never got the touch it needed.

Then after 55 minutes, Swindon gave Tranmere a pre-Christmas gift. Khan slipped on the ball just inside his own half to allow Jennings to run through on goal. He took his shot early and with power, forcing Mahoney to parry it. Minturn got his toe to the ball ahead of Saunders, but could only push it into the path of Morris to score.

A minute later Swindon could have got their noses back in front when Hutton clipped a cross into the centre, Austin headed it low, but McGee made a good save.

Swindon celebrate their opening goal (Image: Callum Knowles)

The chances were starting to flow as a minute after coming off the bench Josh Hawkes found space on the edge of the area and his low, curling effort had to be tipped around the post by Mahoney.

After 70 minutes Swindon lost their goalkeeper as Mahoney went down holding his hamstring after a cross. Lewis Ward came on for the final 20 minutes to play his first league football for the club since the play-offs two seasons ago.

A minute later Tranmere had the winning goal as a shot deflected across the face of goal to Davies at the far post to tuck beyond the scrambling Ward.

Shade runs after a loose ball (Image: Callum Knowles)

TRFC starting XI: McGee, O’Connor, Walker, Davies, Turnbull, Morris, Hendry, Jennings, Saunders, Apter, Wood.

TRFC substitutes: Murphy, Hawkes, Jolley, Taylor, Yearney, McAlear, J. Norris.

STFC starting XI: Mahoney, Hutton, McEachran, Young, Khan, Kemp, Kokolo, Kinsella, Shade, Minturn, Austin.

STFC substitutes: L. Ward, Genesini, Cain, Dworzak, McGregor, Brown, Hart.

Attendance: 5,894 (266 away).