PLAYER RATINGS: Swindon (5) Grimsby Town (0)

Swindon Town produced their best home performance of the season as they ran riot in a 5-0 win against Grimsby Town. Total Sport’s Joe Acklam reviews the players individual performances.

Ratings scale: 10- won the game on their own, 9- unplayable, 8- outstanding, 7- very good, 6- good, 5- solid, 4- disappointing, 3- awful, 2- woeful, 1- frequent major errors

GK: Sol Brynn - 7

Despite what the scoreline ended up looking like, at half-time this was definitely a contest and Brynn was called into action on multiple occasions. Also, a big part in the change in performance was that Swindon mixed up how they looked to play and Brynn picked when to go long and short at the perfect times.

RB: Remeao Hutton - 8

I think the biggest beneficiary of the arrival of Charlie Austin has got to be Hutton. All of a sudden his crosses don’t have to be inch perfect to find someone as he can trust the 33-year-old to be in the middle. The immediate result was two fine assists from out wide.

CB: Ciaran Brennan - 7

I think not having to play short every time suited Brennan as he became much calmer in his play. But defensively he was superb and his block at the end of the first half to keep the game at 1-0 might just have been the turning point in the game.

CB: Angus MacDonald - 6

He made a few strong defensive interventions, but he seems to give away as much as he gets back. His decision making saw Swindon concede multiple chances and his passing is still way too inconsistent.

LB: Frazer Blake-Tracy - 6

A solid rather than spectacular performance from Blake-Tracy. Defensively he gave nothing away and this platform allowed the players in front of him to do what they wanted to.

CM: Ellis Iandolo - 6

A fairly solid performance from Iandolo before he was forced off with an injury. I feel his presence allowed Saidou Khan to perform like he did and his energy in a midfield two is very useful, but he had no major impact in and of himself.

CM: Saidou Khan - 8

Watching back the extended highlights, the thing you notice most is that Khan and Rushian Hepburn-Murphy were involved in everything Swindon did. The part of his performance I liked the most was that he made no silly errors in his own half which have plagued his performances this season. He seemed a lot happier in a double pivot, knowing there was a safety blanket of having someone else alongside him in midfield.

RW: Jacob Wakeling - 7

Probably the least effective of the forward players, but that bar was set rather high yesterday. His running off the ball was great and drew the defenders further back to give the others room to play in. Then when the ball did come through to him he got Danny Amos sent off.

CAM: Rushian Hepburn-Murphy - 9

He didn’t get his goal, but that cannot be far off. He was everywhere and his dovetailing with Austin looked like they had played together their entire lives. In and out of possession he was tireless, constantly driving Swindon forwards with his dribbling and off-the-ball runs. He was just spectacular.

LW: Jonny Williams - 8

Another performance out of the top drawer. He played two very different roles in each half and executed them both to perfection. He thrived with someone like Austin to play off and the space Wakeling and Hepburn-Murphy created. Then the poacher instincts which have served him so well this season kicked in again to get his goal.

ST: Charlie Austin - 8

Any fears about how he might fit in were immediately allayed. He allowed the defenders to play longer when they needed to and he almost always won the ball and got the ball to his teammates. His goal was everything Swindon have needed all season, but his movement to let the ball run to Lavinier for the second might be even better. 

Subs

Marcel Lavinier - 7

Another spectacular goal for the former-Tottenham man. Him being so comfortable on the ball is so useful as he can be used in so many ways. He is dangerous staying wide and when he comes into midfield areas. Lavinier must be a nightmare to keep track of as a defender.

Ronan Darcy - 6

He took his goal very well to put some gloss on the scoreline, but at that point the game was over and there was not much to impact.

Tyrese Shade - 6

His assist was everything that is good about Shade. He dropped deep to find space, drove forward and laid off the perfect pass for Darcy.  Very similar to the move which ended in his goal at Northampton.

Luke Jephcott - N/A

Abu Kanu - N/A