Richie Wellens staying positive as defeat knocks Swindon off top spot

Posted Sunday, March 08, 2020 by PA

Swindon manager Richie Wellens was not too disheartened despite seeing his side surrender their place at the top of League Two after losing 2-0 to Forest Green.

Goals early each half from Matthew Stevens and Ebou Adams saw Swindon slip behind Crewe on goal difference.

Wellens said: “We started the game sloppily; we went behind after five minutes but the response was very good and we should have scored two or three.

“In the first half we had a shot cleared off the line, one off the crossbar, we dominated possession.

“In the second half we started the first five minutes sloppily again but I have to give the players credit.

“They kept going, worked hard, kept trying to make chances, Jerry Yates hits the post, we create a clear-cut chance and their player jumps on Eoin Doyle’s back, it’s a clear penalty and a red card as well.

“It’s just one of those days that everybody has, they have two shots on target and score both goals.

“We should stop the cross on the first one and the second one is just too easy to run off the back of the centre-halves, we should be tighter to people.

“It’s a disappointing day but the response and the work ethic was good – on most days we score three or four goals in that game.

“They took their chances, we’ve had 65 per cent possession, more shots and more crosses. In every aspect of the game we’ve been better than them apart from the main one.”

Stevens got Mark Cooper’s side off to the perfect start when he turned in Elliot Frear’s ball to make it 1-0.

The visitors then doubled their lead five minutes into the second half as Adams nodded in Chris Stokes’ cross.

Swindon’s Yates had a shot cleared off the line by Stokes while Keshi Anderson struck the crossbar with a drive from distance in stoppage time.

Two minutes after the second goal, Yates then hit the post with an acrobatic effort after being teed up by Michael Doughty.

Boss Cooper was delighted to celebrate his return to the County Ground with a win.

Cooper said: “We started like a team on fire today. It was a good, committed performance and the boys carried out a magnificent game plan against the best team in the league by a long way.

“We had five players on the treatment table who would be our starting defenders but Nathan McGinley looked like the real Nathan today, young Udoka Godwin-Malife was a man mountain and Chris Stokes was outstanding.”

Midfielder Adams played as a makeshift striker and Cooper said: “Ebou was outstanding today and led the line well and deserved his goal, which was a magnificent header.

“He’s a real handful and his energy and pace was what we needed that at the top end of the pitch today.

“Winning at my old club makes no difference, it’s just three points. Swindon are a tremendous team and will win the league.”