Monday 19 November 2012

Swindon Town 4 Yeovil Town 1

Darren Ward's crisp finish reminded Paolo Di Canio of former England striker Gary Lineker.

But it was Ward's marshalling of the Swindon defence that really caught the eye - despite manager Di Canio's tongue in cheek comparison to the Match of the Day and potato snack front man.

Former Millwall central defender Ward, 34, poached a 43rd minute third goal from two yards as the Robins moved to third in the table and sees the County Ground as the base for a promotion push.  


Midfielder Simon Ferry sent over a deep cross from the left and Devera's header was parried by keeper Marek Stech into the path of Darren Ward who tapped in his first goal this term and said :

"The lads have been working really hard and personally I have been working as hard as I ever have in my career. The target is to make this place a fortress and we have everything we need to make that happen."


James Collins's brace kept Paolo Di Canio's Swindon in the promotion hunt.

Former Shrewsbury hit man Collins took his tally to eight for the season and scored his first in the 28th minute.

Central defender Joe Devera crossed the ball from the left and Collins judged his run perfectly to tap in from two yards.

But Collins had to wait until the 94th minute for his second.

New Charlton loan signing Danny Hollands pumped a long ball forward and Collins collected it one the left before cutting in and curling home his shot from just inside the area.

Former Yeovil striker Andy Williams had opened with his fourth of the campaign in the 24th minute.

Williams flicked the ball past Byron Webster on half way and then outpaced the central defender before drilling his shot home from sixteen yards.

Yeovil hit back four minutes before the break when striker James Hayter nodded in substitute Keanu Marsh-Brown's right wing cross off the underside of the bar for his sixth league goal.

The goal sparked protests from the Swindon players who felt the ball had not crossed the line, but the home side's two goal margin was restored two minutes later.

Collins, 21, revealed:

"The gaffer told us after the game that if we keep going with the spirit we have and our determination and quality, we're definitely contenders to be there at the end of the season."

But Di Canio still felt his team could have done more and said:

"I should be happy with four goals and three points from a good home win but I am not completely satisfied. We dominated everything and put them into trouble but we have to learn to kill off opponents.We still have to become more greedy and nasty. We have to do a better job of killing the game off earlier when we are in control. But it was a very good win and I'm very happy and very pleased."


Striker James Hayter headed a goal back for Yeovil four minutes before the break, but manager Gary Johnson admitted:

"Some of our players go missing when we go to the bigger places, but we cannot change anything until January. We will get there in the end.They had more experience than us, but we have to start learning fast."

My piece from this morning's paper ...
and from Sunday's edition


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