Match report: Swindon Town 0-0 AFC Wimbledon

A goalless stalemate at The County Ground forced Swindon to go 5 games winless and 3 games without a goal.

On an icy cold day in North Wiltshire neither Swindon or AFC Wimbledon did much to heat up the contest, instead they played out a drab draw resulting in a frosty reception from the Swindon faithful.

Following a dismal defeat to lowly Crawley, last time out, Scott Lindsey made 4 changes. It saw Swindon return to a favourable 4 at the back system. One of those 4 changes saw Jonny Williams return after his World Cup adventure. Swindon's visitors, AFC Wimbledon, arrived at the County Ground in a rich vein of form. On a 7 league game unbeaten record The Dons had shot up the table with manager Johnnie Jackson nominated for manager of the month.

The contest got underway with Swindon taking 7 minutes to win the first corner of the afternoon. However it would be former Swindon man Josh Davison who had the first opportunity of the game. On 11 minutes The Dons number 9 had time to chop on to his left foot and fire an effort at goal which Sol Brynn reacted quickly to. Three minutes later Brynn was called into action again. The Town number one sent his clearance straight to Ethan Chislet who attempted to volly it past Brynn but instead saw his effort swallowed up by the Swindon keeper.

The next stages of the game saw both sides have forays into enemy territory without troubling the goalkeeper. It took until past the half hour mark for a highlight to write home about. After Louis Reed lost possession Ethan Chislet broke down the right flank. With two AFC Wimbledon men to aim for The South African failed to find either of them leaving the opportunity gone begging. Prior to the interval Jonny Williams came close to finding the opening goal only for his long range effort to drift wide of the target. It meant that both sides went in for their half time cup's of tea level pegging.

The second half followed an identical pattern to the first. For all of Swindon's possession they failed to capitalise on good shooting opportunities. On 60 minutes Jonny Williams expertly controlled a long ball, then turned and had a goal bound effort blocked. Six minutes later Nik Tzanev stood tall to deny a powerful Tyrese Shade drive. It would be the first and last time of the afternoon that The Dons keeper would earn his money.

In the closing stages of the meeting neither side came close to finding an elusive winner. Josh Davison had a tame looping header comfortably claimed by Brynn. And then the recently introduced Rushian Hepburn-Murphy saw his close range header fly over the crossbar. Despite a late penalty claim for what appeared to be a foul on Morgan Roberts the game finished level. 

Swindon certainly appeared brighter in possession than in previous games. In addition they seemed stronger at the back with the fabulously versatile Frazer Blake-Tracey shining as a centre half. However once again the team lacked a spark with the opposition keeper having another easy afternoon. Perhaps patience is now wearing thin with Scott Lindsey. A win next weekend at high flying Barrow would certainly help his cause.