The third Gavin Gunning interim era got off to a winning start as two first-half goals saw them defeat Bradford City 2-0.
Charlie Austin’s early penalty got Swindon off to a great start and their new-found energy got them further rewards when Dawson Devoy turned home in first-half stoppage time.
Swindon’s performance levels remained high after the break and a few borderline decisions prevented them from extending their advantage in a badly needed win.
This was Town’s first win of 2024 and saw them keep their first clean sheet for 106 days, all the way back to another 2-0 victory over Newport County in October.
Gavin Gunning’s first line-up in interim charge saw four changes and a switch to a back four for the second time this season. Frazer Blake-Tracy and new signing Conor McCarthy formed a new-look defensive partnership and Jake Cain and Rushian Hepburn-Murphy also returned to the line-up.
Right from the off Gunning seemed to have added the energy and intent that he had been talking about in the build-up. Swindon seemed to swarm around the pitch and Paul Glatzel and Hepburn-Murphy both had early opportunities to get in behind Bradford.
Town were not standing on ceremony with passes zipping around the field and opening up space as they did. In the first ten minutes, it was all Bradford could do to keep them at bay, with Saidou Khan firing over with the first big chance to shoot.
After nine minutes Charlie Austin played a ball into the channel for Hepburn-Murphy to chase after. Cain kept up with him and was duly slipped in down the side of the box. He looked up and saw Glatzel in the middle but his cross was just behind the German youth international.
After 16 minutes, the good play had its reward. Devoy, Khan, and Hepburn-Murphy exchanged passes before Glatzel was played into the area. He did well to get between Ciaran Kelly and the ball and was brought down for a penalty. Austin stepped up and thumped the ball into the cheek of the goal for his third goal in as many matches.
Gunning had been talking about “stepping on the opposition’s throats” after taking the lead and Swindon looked to do just that. They continued to harry high up the field and Bradford looked uncomfortable with the ball around the back as three or four red shirts would always be in pursuit.
The Bantams continued to do a strong job of denying many clear opportunities on their goal as the half drew on, with Swindon just lacking that final pass. After 37 minutes Williams Kokolo galloped up the left and was picked out by Blake-Tracy, but couldn’t quite connect with Austin on the edge of the area. With Swindon’s record of holding onto leads this season, being unable to turn the strong build-up into tangible rewards felt ominous.
After 37 minutes Bradford had their first true opening as Brad Halliday made a strong run up the right and floated a cross into Andy Cook on the edge of the six-yard box. Fortunately for Town, last season’s League Two top goal scorer failed to generate much power and Jack Bycroft denied him.
There was another sighter for the visitors as Liam Ridehalgh burst out of defence and was found with a ball through space. He drilled a low cross into the near post where Clarke Oduor met it but sent it well wide.
In first-half stoppage time, Glatzel made a great run down the line and jinked his way around the defender before rolling the ball to Devoy at the back post to double Swindon’s advantage at the break and bag his first league goal in English football.
Straight after the break Hepburn-Murphy just about kept the ball in play in the corner before burning the defender. With Ashley Taylor coming across to cover, he prodded the ball across but just too far ahead of Cain.
Devoy won the ball back high up the field for Swindon and without pausing found Austin on the top of the box. As he turned, Glatzel had made a run in behind and he looked to use him but the defender was able to hit the ball against him and avert the danger.
A free kick in the corner was whipped into the near post where Austin got to the ball first and flicked it into space at the far post. Glatzel was there to finish it off but seemed to be pulled back and couldn’t reach the ball. The referee did not feel there was a foul.
Udoka Godwin-Malife steamed up the right after 71 minutes and delivered a fine cross to the far post, where Devoy was waiting and his shot was blocked by a fine intervention from Sam Stubbs.
Despite their endeavour, a third goal was not forthcoming, but so much about a fine win felt like a moribund team might just have some life.
STFC starting XI: Bycroft, Blake-Tracy, Khan, Glatzel, Hepburn-Murphy, Cain, Kokolo, Devoy, Godwin-Malife, McCarthy, Austin.
STFC substitutes: Evans, Johnson, McEachran, Dworzak, Shade, Aguiar, Minturn.
BCAFC starting XI: Walker, Halliday, Ridehalgh, Taylor, Smallwood, Cook, Gilliead, Oduor, Smith, Stubbs, Kelly.
BCAFC substitute: Doyle, Chapman, Pointon, McDonald, Young, Tomkinson, Richards.
Attendance: 7,878 (461 away).
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