MATCH REPORT: Swindon (0) Stevenage (1)

An early onslaught from Stevenage proved to be enough for a 1-0 victory to put a dent in Swindon’s recent upsurge. Total Sport’s Joe Acklam reports from the County Ground.

The Boro started very quickly and put Swindon under severe pressure in the first half which eventually told when Jamie Reid gave them the lead.

Town came back stronger after the break and forced Timothee Lo-Tutala into multiple good saves to deny them, but they were unable to find a breakthrough.

Defeat ends Swindon’s three-match unbeaten run, but they remain 10th in the table and ahead of Grimsby Town on goal difference.

Jody Morris made two switches from Swindon’s convincing victory against AFC Wimbledon as Rushian Hepburn-Murphy recovered from tonsilitis to return to the starting 11 alongside Tyrese Shade in place of Jacob Wakeling and the injured Jonny Williams.

The visitors started very quickly, with Jordan Roberts and Reid both having early chances which were snuffed out by Tom Brewitt.

Brewitt then brought Reid down on the edge of the area, setting up a free kick which was tapped to one side to let Roberts try and blast the ball at goal, but it whizzed over the top of the bar.

The aerial onslaught continued as Kane Smith nipped in down the right and clipped a ball to the back post, where Roberts was lurking, and he headed the ball just wide of the near post.

Swindon had their first real chance as Luke Jephcott received the ball in the area and tried to set up George McEachran, but his pass had too much on it and the midfielder had to play it on to Hepburn-Murphy, whose shot on the turn went over the top.

Stevenage eventually took the lead after 25 minutes when Tom Clayton’s clearance came out to Max Clark, he slipped in Alex Gilbey, who cut the ball back to Jamie Reid to fire home the opener from six yards out.

With five minutes left in the half Marcel Lavinier drove forwards and was allowed space so cut inside and had a shot from 25 yards, which was spilled by Timothee Lo-Tutala, but he was able to recover before Shade could follow in.

In first half stoppage time Hepburn-Murphy countered quickly and ran the length of the field before sliding the ball into McEachran on the edge of the box, he looked to side foot the ball into the corner, but Lo-Tutala was equal to it.

Within a minute of the restart Hepburn-Murphy was causing problems again as a quick one-two with Jephcott gave him space, he cut inside Carl Piergianni and took a shot, but Lo-Tutala got down well to make the save.

As Swindon searched for an equaliser, Remeao Hutton’s looping cross was dropped by Lo-Tutala to the feet of Hepburn-Murphy, he looked to tap it into the gaping goal, but was brought down from behind. The referee waved away vociferous claims for a penalty.

Straight after coming on, Charlie Austin was picked out with a pinpoint cross from Hutton, but he got his angles wrong and headed wide of the mark.

Assistant Head Coach Ed Brand was sent off after the final whistle for going up to the referee and presumably disagreeing about his decisions relating to various Swindon penalty shouts.