Swindon Town

TEN-MAN Town slipped to a first defeat of the season at Crawley, going down by a single goal to nil.

Louis Thompson saw red after conceding a spot kick and Izale McLeod netted the only goal of the game to hand the home side all three points.

Mark Cooper made just one change to the starting XI. The injured Brad Smith made way for Jack Barthram on the left whilst on the bench, there was a recall for loanee Josh Lelan.

The first forty-five was dominated by the Town. The effervescent Massimo Luongo found some space as early as the 6th minute and tried to bend the ball into the far corner of the net but misjudged his effort and the ball flew wide.

Louis Thompson then tried his luck from distance but was denied by a superb flying save from Jensen, then Yaser Kasim saw his piledriver deflected wide.

Jensen was called into action again moments later, pushing away Luongo’s goal-bound header while Ben Gladwin’s poked effort was turned wide by a red shirt.

Gladwin saw another shot go over the crossbar before Wes Foderingham did well to keep out Gavin Tomlin’s low snap-shot. Tomlin would, later in the half, go into the book for simulation in the box.

Just before the break, skipper Nathan Thompson drove forward from his defensive position and, after the opportunity to shoot presented itself, the defender skewed a shot wide of goal.

Town picked up where they had left off with Smith seeing his shot blocked behind for a corner.

Just on the hour mark however, things took a turn for the worse for the visitors. Caught at the back after going up for a corner, Louis Thompson chased back with the Crawley players who were charging towards Foderingham’s goal. He was adjudged to have brought down his man and, as the last man, was shown a straight red card.

To compound matters for the Town, Izale McLeod stepped up and drilled the spot kick into the back of the net.

The visitors then set about laying siege to the home side’s goal but found Brian Jensen in inspired form. Time and time again, the stopper was on hand to keep out everything that Town could throw at him.

Before the end, the home side broke upfield again. After some last-ditch defending from the Town back-line, Edwards thumped a shot off the underside of the crossbar.