ON-THE-WHISTLE MATCH REPORT: Swindon Town 0-0 AFC Wimbledon

Swindon Town had to settle for a 0-0 draw at home to AFC Wimbledon in what was a drab affair at the County Ground.

The first half passed with little excitement and only a smattering of efforts at goal, with the main talking point of the 45 minutes being that Tom Soares was only given a yellow card for booting Johnny Goddard in the face during a challenge for a high ball.

Swindon Town fans were metaphorically baying for blood, screaming at the referee to show Soares the red, but Goddard had to focus on actual blood, and had to head down the tunnell to be bandaged up before returning to the action.

Neither side merited breaking the deadlock during the opening period, but Swindon managed to at least trouble stand-in goalkeeper Joe McDonnell in the Wimbledon goal.

Conor Thomas was the first to have a go, but he sliced wide after Jon Obika's cut-back from the right and, not long after, Obika had a go himself, but his shot from the edge of the box was straight at McDonnell.

Fresh from being bandaged, Goddard came close with a rifled shot from distance, but McDonnell was equal to it, as he finger-tipped the effort past the post, and the corner did not trouble him.

The second half was no better. Worse, if anything.

Nicky Ajose sent a poor, curled free-kick over the bar but that really was it for a Swindon side that no doubt tried, but just could not produce anything of note against a stubborn Wimbledon back-line.

Ex-Swindon midfielder Jake Reeves sent a volley over the bar from range and Tyrone Barnett had a shot deflected wide, but neither side deserved three points.

With less than 15 minute to go, Bradley Barry hit a powerful effort from a way out just over but Swindon had to settle for a draw, again, as time continues to run out for the Robins.

Wimbledon could have snatched it as the clock ticked over the 90-minute mark when Jake Reeves raced clean through on goal, but Lawrence Vigouroux made his one and only save of the match to save the draw for Swindon.

Swindon Town: Vigouroux, Barry, Conroy, Branco, Dabo, Ince, Colkett (Norris '73) Thomas, Goddard (Gladwin '58), Obika, Ajose

Subs not used: Henry, Ormonde-Ottewill, Brophy, Rodgers, Starkey

AFC Wimbledon: McDonnell, Meades, Bulman, Robinson, Francomb, Reeves, Soares (Parrett '80), Kelly, Barnett (Barcham '80), Charles, Taylor

Subs not used: Nightingale, Oakley, Fitzpatrick, Egan, Bursik

Referee: Michael Salisbury

Attendance: 7,716 (869 away)

Man-of-the-Match: Rohan Ince