5 things we learnt: Swindon Town (0) v (2) Exeter City

SWINDON TOWN fail to kick-start a promotion charge after succumbing to a two-nil home defeat against Exeter City yesterday. Total Sport Swindon's Ryan Walker gives his analysis on 'five things we learnt' following the performance.

The current crop of players just aren’t good enough

Richie Wellens said following defeat against Exeter that his players aren’t good enough to fight for promotion, and on analysis of recent performances it’s hard to disagree with the manager. Swindon started the season dreaming of the playoffs, now it looks set that the Robins will end the season mid-table. 

Outclassed in every area of the pitch against Exeter highlighted the extent of Town’s problems. A severe lack of goals has been a big reason for Town’s performances and no striker within the side seems to be able to consistently find the net for Swindon, whilst a lack of experience in central midfield has caused Town to be overrun too often in games this season. The January transfer window is now open and Wellens must be allowed money to reshape his team. 

Doughty is offering very little

At the beginning of the season, the signing of Michael Doughty appeared to have been a masterstroke by the then Swindon manager Phil Brown. However, recent poor performances have led to some questioning the role that Doughty plays within the side. 

Doughty clearly possesses the quality to play higher than the level of League Two football, but he is failing to drive this Swindon side forward and appears disinterested when playing in a Town shirt. 

Last scoring in Town’s 2-1 win over Newport in December, Doughty represents a frustrated figure on pitch and too frequently spends time with his arms in the air shouting at others instead of focusing on his own job. Wellens said in his interview following the match that “some players think they’re better than they are,” perhaps a dig aimed at Doughty.

Experience in the team is needed

A youthful Swindon Town side full of players bursting with potential has taken to the pitch multiple times this season. However, the problem with young players is that they often don’t live up to their potential and yesterday was a perfect example of this.

Yesterday’s starting squad featured just three players above the age of 25, and speaking after the game Wellens highlighted a lack of experience within the squad as a big problem. 

After going a goal down the Town players dropped their heads and lacked the players needed to take the game by the scruff of its neck and get them back into the match. Players with more match minutes under their belts are needed and Wellens will look to bring sign experienced players this transfer window. 

Quality of balls into the box is poor

For all of Swindon’s attempted tiki-taka football that the team tries to play, one of the teams biggest problems is that balls into the box whether from set-pieces or open play is too frequently shockingly poor.

Against Exeter, Swindon’s full-backs did well to consistently overlap on the wing and find space but their final ball into the box was easy to read and often easily collected by the goalkeeper. 

Swindon had nine corners yesterday and it’s difficult to think of one where the keeper was put under pressure. Swindon has the height in their side to threaten in the box but the quality into the area must improve.

A quality winger must be signed

Starvation of goals this season has identified the need for Swindon Town to sign a proven goalscorer this transfer window. But yesterday’s lacklustre performance against a strong Exeter side showcased the need for Swindon to recruit quality wingers.

With Jermaine McGlashan the only recognised natural winger within the side, Swindon too often really on attacking full-backs to provide width making it easy for the opposition to counter-attack when the full-backs are caught out of position.

Wingers provide a substantial goal threat and it’s difficult to think of a side other than Swindon that lack players in this position. A formation change would be needed to accommodate two wingers but this a requirement of any title-chasing side.