Swindon Town

A strong West Bromwich Albion side ran out 4-1 winners at the County Ground in Town’s penultimate clash of pre-season.

James Morrison’s double was the highlight for the Baggies, while Yaser Kasim found the net for Swindon.

The visitors hit the front after just nine minutes when a corner was cleared to the edge of the area. The ball ran through to the onrushing James Morrison who thundered a shot into the back of the net via the foot of the upright.

Kevin Stewart dragged wide from the edge of the area and Nathan Byrne saw a shot blocked behind for a corner but it was Albion who would double their lead just 15 minutes into proceedings. A back-pass from Yaser Kasim was intercepted by Victor Anichebe, who took the opportunity to add a second to West Brom’s tally.

Just after the half-hour mark, Town did get a foothold in the game thanks to Kasim. Picking up possession on the edge of the box, he struck a low, raking effort beyond the grasp of Myhill and into the corner of the net to reduce the arrears.

The Iraq international would be at the heart of another move later in the half: his through-ball picked out Jon Obika’s run. The striker’s effort was blocked and, after working the ball back to Kasim, the midfielder’s shot was deflected into the arms of Myhill.

Town began the second period in a similar fashion – Kasim’s intricate, lofted through-ball picked out Obika who stretched to divert the ball goalwards. His effort struck the foot of the post but the linesman had already flagged for offside.

Kevin Stewart then spurned a fine opportunity to level matters when he managed to manufacture a shooting chance but blazed over from a good position inside the box.

Kasim also saw a free-kick fly into the Town End and a dipping thunderbolt whistle wide before being replaced.

With plenty of changes for both sides, it was the visitors who would add to their tally late on. James Morrison grabbed his second of the game, finishing off after a flowing passing move before Town’s trialist ‘keeper spilt a shot from distance into the path of Stephane Sessegnon and the Albion substitute took full advantage, tucking home from an angle.

The action wasn’t finished there as, in stoppage time, one of Town’s trialists thumped a free-kick goalwards that Myhill did well to beat out before the same trialist hit the side-netting moments later.