Swindon Town comfortably beaten at home to Barrow AFC

Following a first half that was predominantly played at walking pace, Barrow had the lead after Kian Spence stroked home from a free kick. Swindon were never able to put anything together in attack.

Sam Foley and James Chester both headed home after the break as Swindon continued to not be able to put anything together at either end of the field.

This is back-to-back defeats for Swindon and the second time they have failed to score on their own patch this term, slipping down to 12th in the table in the process.

Michael Flynn made one change from the side that was roundly beaten by AFC Wimbledon last weekend. Charlie Austin came back into the starting 11 for the first time since the trip to Harrogate as Frazer Blake-Tracy missed out through injury, Tyrese Shade also missed out on a place in the squad due to injury.

Minturn in possession (Image: Callum Knowles)

For the first time this season, Swindon started with a back four as Flynn looked to find answers to the side’s defensive woes, as well as being hampered by injuries to eight first-team players.

After a week which saw a lot of controversy around the club, there was a very strange atmosphere inside the County Ground as the game got underway. The home fans were silent to a man, almost awaiting something to go wrong so the chorus of boos could begin.

They did not have to wait long for the first near calamity as Udoka Godwin-Malife struggled to deal with a high ball and it bounced under his foot. The ricochet went into the path of Dom Telford and from the edge of the area he fizzed a shot just wide of the far post.

Austin chasing after a ball in behind (Image: Callum Knowles)

The Bluebirds continued their early pressure as Austin had to be on hand to head a dangerous free kick behind for a corner. From that set piece the ball dropped for David Worrall and only a big deflection carried his shot wide.

Swindon were flat as a month-old coke in the opening exchanges. Their passes were rarely finding their intended target and several attempted Hollywood passes were not coming off. This enabled Barrow to keep their shape and find avenues to counterattack.

The hosts’ first real chance came when Dan Kemp won a free-kick 30 yards from goal and opted to take it himself. His whipped effort clipped off the top of the wall, wrongfooting the goalkeeper and just dropping over the bar.

Kemp appealing to the referee (Image: Callum Knowles)

As the half wore on, Barrow were happy to sit in their defensive shape and watch Swindon pass slowly in front of them. Town had very little tempo to their play, every pass was laboured, and they were getting no joy whatsoever.

Barrow punished them after 34 minutes when a free kick by the corner flag was played low by Worrall into Kian Spence on the penalty spot and he stroked the ball first-time into the bottom corner of the net.

Kemp was still the only player in red able to find another gear, he did a body feint on the edge of the area to get away from a defender and looked to shoot with his right foot, but it was deflected off a defender just wide of the target.

Barrow celebrate their opener (Image: Andy Crook)

The second half did not provide the instant lift Flynn might have been hoping to provide with his team talk. The play was equally sluggish and seemed to lack a coherent plan to break Barrow down.

George McEachran produced the first sign of life from either side after the break when he put a cross into the box from deep after 54 minutes. Austin stole a march on his defender and got his head to the ball, only to be denied by the outstretched Farman.

Barrow then went up the other end and killed off any hope of a comeback as a cross from the right found its way to Foley at the back post. He rose above two defenders and nodded the ball back across goal and into the net.

Khan challenges for a header (Image: Andy Crook)

Kemp was again looking to ignite something within Swindon and he found space on the left and put a cross into space behind the Barrow back line, but it was just too far ahead of Austin’s outstretched leg.

Very bad became even worse after 74 minutes when from yet another free-kick there was a marking mishap from Swindon that saw Chester given all the space he wanted to head home the third.

For the second consecutive week, Town looked devoid of energy, ideas, and desire and were ruthlessly punished by a side far better organised and willing to pounce on moments of sloppy defending. Swindon provided those to Barrow on a silver platter and they headed back to Cumbria very satisfied with a fairly light afternoon’s work.

Young dribbles with the ball (Image: Andy Crook)

STFC starting XI: Mahoney, Hutton, McEachran, Young, Khan, Kemp, Kokolo, Godwin-Malife, Kinsella, Minturn, Austin.

STFC substitutes: L. Ward, Genesini, Dworzak, Fox, Obodo, Alston, Hutt.

BAFC starting XI: Farman, Ray, Canavan, Worrall, Spence, Newby, White, Foley, Chester, Telford, Acquah.

BAFC substitutes: Lillis, Campbell, Garner, Gotts, Feely, Whitfield.

Attendance: 7,463 (133 away).