Swindon Town 0 Charlton Athletic 3 - No Defence

First of all, apologise for the late report. I have been laid down low with man-flu for the last 24 hours and so would like to thank a nameless colleague for his input …

Once the team sheets were handed out in the Press Box several of us picked up on the extremely youthful nature of the Swindon team and, as Danny Wilson stated afterwards, that “soft underbelly was exposed”.

Charlton took only 13 minutes to crack the inexperienced defence.

My clippings from this morning's copy of The Sun (The first is from an early edition and the second from the London Edition)

The Sun’s football website: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football

Three Town defenders homed in on a cross and Paul Benson brushed them all aside to prod the ball out to former Swindon loanee Johnnie Jackson on the left side of the area and the former Spurs trainee blasted in his 3rd of the season from 12 yards.

Charlie Austin found himself outwitted on three occasions by Addicks keeper Rob Elliot in the first half, but in the second half Charlton stepped things up a gear.

In the 51st minute winger Matt Fry sent over a deep cross from the left and striker Joe Anyinsah nodded in unchallenged from about four yards out on the far post.

Striker Benson deservedly got onto the scoresheet himself in the 74th minutes as Charlton wrapped things up and Swindon fan started praying for the final whistle.

This time Scott Wagstaff crossed the ball, but again Swindon were all at sea as Benson nodded in from about six yards.

It was perfect revenge form last season’s play-off defeat at the hand of the Wiltshire outfit and Addicks chief Phil Parkinson was quietly pleased with his team and said: “It was a professional performance, though we had to rely on keeper Rob Elliot for a couple of crucial saves in the first half. I hope that the Brighton defeat was the turning point but we've got to keep it going.

We were very clinical. We played some good football against a very good Swindon team, so I'm pleased with the lads. This is a difficult place to come, so to get a good win is very satisfying."

Wilson said: "I had a frank discussion with the players. We have not dealt with their strikers and even though we've had chances, overall you've seen a team who haven't helped each other out.

There were countless little exchanges we lost, our decision making was poor, players didn't want to get into good positions and we played like a team who are low on confidence. We have to regroup and I hope that we can bounce back."