MATCH REPORT: Swindon (0) Stockport County (1)

Swindon Town conceded late to undo their spirited defensive display having played with ten-men for 89 minutes in a 1-0 defeat against Stockport County. Total Sport’s Joe Acklam reports on the League Two clash.

Jacob Wakeling was sent off within a minute for a foul in the box, but Paddy Madden’s poorly struck penalty meant that Swindon went into the break all square.

Swindon had held firm for much of the second half, but Ryan Croasdale finished a quick counterattack to give Stockport the points.

Results elsewhere mean that Swindon remain in 11th place in League Two but are now ten points behind Bradford City at the bottom of the play-off places.

Jody Morris made three changes to the team which had drawn at Rochdale last weekend, with Saidou Khan, Frazer Blake-Tracy, and Joe Tomlinson all restored into the line-up after absences as Tom Clayton, Ronan Darcy, and Marcel Lavinier all made way.

It was almost the worst possible start for Swindon as Wakeling was sent off after 45 seconds for running into the back of Kyle Knoyle in the box, but Madden’s penalty was tame and Sol Brynn got down to save it.

Rushian Hepburn-Murphy played a nice one-two a minute later and charged into the box and went down under pressure from behind, but the referee gave a free-kick to Stockport and booked him for diving.

After ten minutes Akil Wright came forward from the back for Stockport and his cross picked out Kyle Wootton, his header had Brynn flying through the air, but it went just over the top.

Swindon coped with the aftermath of the red card well and limited County to very little, after 29 minutes Ryan Rydel played a low ball across the face of goal, Swindon half cleared to the edge of the area where Madden flicked the ball over his head and took a shot, but it went straight at Brynn.

With half-time looming Tom Brewitt read the play well to cut out an attack, played a one-two with George McEachran and set Remeao Hutton in down the right, he looked to find Hepburn-Murphy in the middle, but Wright came across to clear the ball in.

Hepburn-Murphy won possession back in his own half and then played an eye of the needle pass through for Charlie Austin, but Town’s number 11 did not quite have the legs to get on the end of it.

Stockport were still struggling to find a way through early in the second half and Rydel decided to try his luck from distance, his effort had real venom behind it, but Brynn got his body behind the ball and made a very good catch.

As Town began to tire, Stockport took hold of the match and had a few shots go narrowly wide, closest of which was Chris Hussey as he whistled an effort just beyond the upright from 25 yards.

With ten minutes remaining, Swindon were caught up the field and a swift counterattack ended with Croasdale running onto a fine cross and dispatching beyond Brynn.