ON-THE-WHISTLE MATCH REPORT: Swindon Town 0-1 Newport County

Swindon were condemned to their second defeat on the bounce as ex-Town man Ben Tozer headed in a 75th-minute corner.

A dull match was made even worse for Swindon 15 minutes from time when defender Tozer rose highest to nod in a left-sided corner. 

Swindon, who currently have seven first-team players out with injury, made two changes to the 11 that lost 3-2 at Grimsby on Tuesday as Paul Mullin and Ellis Iandolo came in for Kellan Gordon and Kaiyne Woolery, who both dropped to the bench.

Iandolo, who is traditionally a number 10, has been training as a left-back since David Flitcroft arrived at the club and Iandolo duly started on the left of the back four while Matty Taylor pushed up to centre midfield while Johnny Goddard went left.

Neither side provided a great deal of action during the first half, which did not look the case when Keshi Anderson hit a half-volley wide from just inside the box in the third minute.

Newport responded with a dipping half-volley by Joss Labadie, but fortunately for Reice Charles-Cook it went harmlessly over his bar.

Ben Tozer, who used to ply his trade at the County Ground, teseted the Swindon defence with two giant throw-ins, but Town cleared both.

County began to take control around the 25-minute mark, but the closest they came was through Labadie when he toed a right-sided cross over the bar.

Swindon's best opening of the half came after 30 minutes. Anderson played in Mullin who was in space but, after taking a touch back inside, two Newport defenders were able to cover and, in a panic, Mullin curled his effort over the bar from just inside the area.

Mullin curled a more difficult opening over the bar soon after and Taylor provided the first shot on target after 41 minutes when his shot from miles out was easily saved by Joe Day.

The second half started in identical fashion to the first in the sense that Anderson saw an early effort go wide.

Half number two was no better than the first one though. Worse, if anything, as neither Charles-Cook or Day had a significant save to make.

Swindon created a decent opening when Mullin offloaded to the on-rushing Ben Purkiss but his squared pass aimed towards Smith was cleared away from danger.

Newport were no better than Swindon, but that did not matter when Tozer connected to the corner to give the Exiles the lead in the closing stages.

Flitcroft chucked on Woolery and Gordon but the pair were unable to change Swindon's fortunes.

The visitors went close with seven minutes left, but Shawn McCoulsky sent his effort from the edge of the box just wide of the far top corner. He was subbed immediately after.

Four minutes of added-on time was signalled by the fourth official, and there was a heart-in-mouth moment for every fan in the ground as Matt Preston rattled the crossbar with a header from a Taylor corner, but Newport held on for the win.

Swindon Town: Charles-Cook, Purkiss, Lancashire, Preston, Taylor, Goddard (Woolery '76), Dunne, Mullin (Brophy '89), Anderson, Iandolo (Gordon '79), Harry Smith

Subs not used: Henry, Knoyle, Robertson, Tom Smith

Newport County: Day, Pipe, White, Bennett (Rigg '33), Demetriou, Butler, Tozer, Labadie (Evans '89), Dolan, Nouble, McCoulsky (Amond '83)

Subs not used: Bittner, Touray, Foulston,  Reynolds

Attendance: 6764

Man-of-the-match: Matt Preston 

Referee: James Linnington