Town blow automatic hopes

A 92nd minute Luke Butterfield equaliser put the kiss of death on Swindon’s automatic aspirations on Saturday 18 April, as Swindon drew with Accrington.

The visitors took the lead after just 20 seconds, but Town did well to rally as they scored twice within two first half minutes. After opting to sit back, they were deservedly caught out late on.

After defeat at Colchester put a huge dent in Swindon’s road towards promotion, Ian Holloway shuffled his pack with five changes. The likes of Joe Snowdon, Ollie Clarke, and Tom Wilson-Brown returned from injury to the XI. The Robins reverted to a back three with a combined age of 63.

Swindon’s last win at The County Ground against Accrington came all the way back on the final day of the 2017/18 season. Stanley sat comfortably in midtable despite having just one win in 12 to their name. Paddy Madden, who netted a hat-trick in the reverse fixture, was named on the bench.

It was the nightmare of all starts for Swindon as Isaac Sinclair put the visitors in the lead after just 20 seconds. From point blank range, Sinclair converted a shot which Connor Ripley had parried from Josh Woods.

Normal service was resumed when Ollie Palmer restored parity in the eighteenth minute with a back post header teed up by Jake Batty.

Swindon were back on top just 2 minutes later when the league’s leading marksman Aaron Drinan extended his tally. Junior Hoilett’s through ball released Ollie Palmer who saw a 1v1 saved only for Drinan to follow his effort up.

On the stroke of half time Accrington keeper Ollie Wright did well to stand firm and deny Aaron Drinan’s low effort at full pelt. But it was an encouraging half for Town in which they looked much brighter especially after a shocking start.

Swindon required just one more goal to kill the game, but the second half followed a tentative pattern. Accrington with little to play for, played with freedom, Swindon played within themselves.

In the 77th minute Joe Snowdon clipped the crossbar with a curling effort from the edge of the box. In the 85th minute Swindon had another golden opportunity to wrap up proceedings when Fletcher Holman struck the goalkeeper with a 1v1.

Town would go onto regret their actions as Accrington punished them. Connor Ripley’s save from an arrowed Shaun Whalley strike went only as far as Luke Butterfield who fired home.