Swindon Town

IT was Bristol City who took the spoils against Town on derby day, running out 3-0 winners at Ashton Gate.

Mark Cooper made two changes to the side that had lost at home to MK Dons the Saturday before. There were recalls for Andy Williams and Yaser Kasim with the suspended Nathan Thompson missing out altogether. John Swift dropped to the substitutes’ bench.

After trading early shots from distance, Frank Fielding was in fine form to keep out Williams and Ben Gladwin. From a resultant corner, he was also on hand to keep out Michael Smith, throwing himself to his right to push away the striker’s goal-bound effort.

Kasim also went for goal from distance, lashing a free-kick narrowly over the crossbar from all of 35 yards.

Ben Gladwin then tried his luck once more, cutting in off the left flank before unleashing a shot that was again kept out by the impressive Fielding.

Then, with ten minutes to go before the break, the hosts made the breakthrough. Rapha Branco conceded possession on the right flank and City’s Joe Bryan snaffled up the opportunity to play in Kieran Agard. The striker’s deft, left-footed finish beat Foderingham and nestled in the far corner of the net.

Just before the half time interval, Gladwin struck the woodwork with another pile-driver. Drifting in off the left, he cracked an effort goalwards that was touched on by Andy Williams, who was running across the line of the shot. The deflection carried the ball on where it was halted by a loud smack of the woodwork before the hosts cleared their lines.

Town began the second half brightly with Luongo and Williams both registering shots on goal. Michael Smith then headed wide after being picked out by Williams before flicking Byrne’s cross across goal and wide.

With ten minutes to go, Joe Bryan doubled the home side’s lead. From a position on the left-hand edge of the box, he curled a shot beyond the grasp of Foderingham and into the top corner.

Aaron Wilbraham added a third for the hosts two minutes from time. A simple ball across the face of the box landed perfectly for the striker who made no mistake from close range.

As time ebbed away, substitute Jon Obika hit the post and Nathan Byrne curled an effort wide.