MATCH REPORT: Swindon (0) Barrow AFC (0)

Swindon Town are now without a win in their last nine matches, after being held to a goalless draw at home against play-off chasing Barrow AFC. Total Sport’s Joe Acklam reports from the County Ground.

Swindon dominated possession in the opening period and had their chances to score, but ultimately failed to make Paul Farman work in the Barrow goal.

Both teams had efforts cleared off the line during a livelier second half, but neither managed to find a breakthrough.

An improved performances does end Swindon’s streak of four straight defeats, but they are now without a win in any of their last nine matches.

Jody Morris opted to make three changes to the side that lost at Tranmere Rovers on Easter Monday as Charlie Austin came back into the side alongside Remeao Hutton and Tom Clayton in place of Tyrese Shade, Marcel Lavinier, and Joe Tomlinson.

Swindon were looking to build their way into the game and after 12 minutes worked a fine move as George McEachran slid a superb pass into Jonny Williams as he raced forward from midfield, he cut the ball back to Charlie Austin, who couldn’t sort his feet out and the chance was gone.

Saidou Khan almost gifted Barrow the opener as he miscued a clearance as his shanked a clearance into the path of Ben Whitfield, but his effort was a bit weak and allowed Sol Brynn to make the save.

Another pass from McEachran put Town away, this time Jacob Wakeling made the run-in behind Barrow, and he cut the ball back to Austin but once again his touch let him down and the attack fizzled out.

Elliot Newby nicked the ball off Wakeling and charged forwards and found Whitfield, he drove through the half before beating Tom Brewitt, but he never caught hold of his shot and it rolled along the ground, allowing Brynn to make a comfortable stop.

A minute later Jonny Williams drove through the middle of the Bluebirds’ defence, but waited too long to get his shot away and was eventually forced to settle for a corner when his shot from a tight angle deflected off a defender.

Town’s best chance came with six minutes remaining in the half when Austin found space in the corner of the box and tried to curl a ball towards the back post, but it was just too far ahead of Williams and didn’t quite find the net either.

Early in the second half Town were denied what looked to be a certain penalty when Remeao Hutton slid a pass behind Patrick Brough which Rushian Hepburn-Murphy charged onto and was chopped down by the defender in the area, but the referee gave nothing.

Swindon had Tom Clayton to thank for staying level after 65 minutes as Sam Foley got up highest from a corner and headed beyond Brynn, but the defender got back and hooked it off the line.

Hepburn-Murphy won a free-kick at the other end which Hutton drilled low across goal and Niall Canavan shinned it towards his own goal, but Paul Farman bailed him out with a save.

Swindon could have won it in stoppage time as Hepburn-Murphy cut inside from the left and unleashed a powerful shot with his right foot, but straight at Farman.