Swindon entered this game full of confidence after their second away win of the season last weekend against Accrington Stanley, whilst Plymouth’s troubles continue to rumble on. However, would Swindon be able to carry on their recent fine form? Andrew Steele-Davis was at Home Park to watch the action.

For the hordes of Swindon fans that made the trip to Devon on a cold October afternoon, they witnessed a little bit of history. Paolo Di Canio named an unchanged line up for the first time this season after an impressive showing at Accrington last weekend. The bench had an attacking look to it with strikers Mehdi Kerrouche, Lukas Magera and Alan Connell among the subs, with no spare goalkeeper.

However, it was Plymouth who had the better start to the game, earning three corners within the opening ten minutes with the man mountain that is Aden Flint being forced to deal with several early crosses into the box. Curtis Nelson saw his piledriver from 20 yards blocked with the rebound falling to Robbie Williams but his rather tame shot was straight at the impressive Wes Foderingham in the Town goal.

Plymouth continued to press, showing the kind of spirit which has seen the club pull through some of its darkest days and they should have been ahead just after sixteen minutes, Nelson’s downward header from Argyle’s corner being hacked off the line by the otherwise ineffective Matt Richie.

Jake Jervis had the first real chance of the game for Town, but his header from fourteen yards sailed well wide following good work from Christian Montano and Liam Ridehalgh. Matt Ritchie then had a decent chance on 34 minutes when he leapt to meet Ridehalgh’s deep cross but his effort was straight at Jake Cole in the Plymouth goal.

Mehdi Kerrouche was introduced at half time, replacing Montano in order to add more creativity to the Town side against a stubborn Plymouth defence.

Aden Flint proved to be Town’s hero once again this season when he threw himself in front of Simon Walton’s rasping shot following a throw from Robbie Williams. This proved a wakeup call for Town who came into the game a bit more, Jervis blasting over from close range before driving a shot just wide.

Jonathan Smith nearly gave Swindon the lead, his glanced header just creeping past the post; just before Crystal Palace loanee Foderingham kept the scores level with a superb save.

Swindon finally made the breakthrough on 82 minutes, superb football from Swindon ripping Plymouth’s defence wide open and presenting Raffaele Di Vita with the chance to net what proved to be the winner for Town. De Vita has now proved himself to be one of Town’s key players this season.

Town held on to victory to record their second successive victory on the road to take them ever closer to the play-off place. Overall not a classic by anyone’s standards but Swindon got the job done and their new rugged approach on the road to grind out results is encouraging. Praise must also go to the home side who performed admirably under tough circumstances, and let’s hope there’s light at the end of the tunnel for them.

Ron’s Comment

With so many new signings made by Di Canio he was always going to chop, change and tinker his matchday squads until he found the winning formula. So it’s no surprise it took until game 14 to start with his first unchanged XI in League Two and the decision worked. 3 points added to those won at Accrington is more than I expected for these two trips and sets up the next two home games perfectly.

Perhaps it’s still to soon to say this combination will form the mainstay for the remainder of the campaign, particularly as 4 of the XI are loans, but the key personnel are clear.

What the games against Accrington and Plymouth have proved to me is the importance of replacing Phil Smith and Mattia Lanzano with a more effective and confident goalkeeper. Crystal Palace are unlikely to allow loanee Wes Foderingham to make his move permanent, so the pressure is on Paolo to find that long term goalkeeper to join us in the new year.