MATCH REPORT: Swindon Town 0-0 Port Vale

The 50th anniversary of Swindon Town’s League Cup triumph over Arsenal in 1969 ought to have inspired Town’s players to bounce back to winning ways against a Port Vale side teetering on the edge of relegation. However, a difficult afternoon for Richie Wellens’ side saw the Robins stutter to a lacklustre draw with chances few and far between. Total Sport Swindon’s Ryan Walker gives his match report.

Windy conditions made it hard for either side to get a foothold on the game in the opening moments as both sets of players failed to adapt to the stormy weather inside the County Ground.

Theo Robinson’s half-strength 7th-minute volley was the only notable chance in the early exchanges as Swindon and Port Vale entertained a scrappy and arduous opening passage of play, with the latter unable to retain possession on the rare occasion they had the ball.

Fresh off the back of a mid-week defeat against Stevenage, Richie Wellens made four changes as he sought to extend Swindon’s unbeaten home run to four games. But despite enjoying the majority of possession, his side struggled to make inroads against The Valiants defence. 

Sloppiness in midfield saw Kyle Bennett and Canice Carroll too often dispossessed, whilst Keshi Anderson, operating as Swindon’s playmaker, lacked the passing accuracy needed to create openings in the final third. 

Quick successive corners in the 35th minute should’ve at least tested Vale’s goalkeeper Scott Brown, but disappointing set-piece deliveries from the hosts alleviated any pressure that was originally created. 

Over-hit pass after over-hit pass meant there was little to get the crowd off their seats as Bennett’s 30-yard strike on the stroke of half-time was met with sarcastic enthusiasm from the home crowd, summarising what was a painstakingly difficult first half of football from both sides.  

Play resumed and with the wind behind them Vale looked to dominate proceedings, however, it was Swindon who looked the most threatening. 

Robinson was played through on goal after bringing down Conroy’s perfectly weighted long ball only for his shot to go wide, whilst Kaiyne Woolery looked to open the scoring after skipping past Nathan Smith before blasting his effort into the side-netting.

For all of Swindon’s dominance, Vale were poor. A 75th-minute corner that Town had to scramble clear was the away sides only notable chance as striker Ricky Miller looked a shadow of the player who scored twice in his last outing. 

Playing into the wind seemed to play into Swindon’s favour with the attacking trio of Anderson, Robinson, and Woolery looking the likeliest of scorers as balls down the wings created openings in behind. 

Numerous balls into the Port Vale box presented Town with their best opportunities of securing three points but Vale’s centre-back partnership of Joyce and Legge stayed firm to clear the danger well. 

Late substitutions saw Marc Richards and Jak McCourt introduced into the fray but half-cut chances for either side saw Swindon and Port Vale battle to a goalless draw that fans will be quick to forget.