Swindon Town v Bolton Wanderers

The time old cliché of it doesn’t matter how you score a goal never chimed truer at The County Ground as Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill’s late own-goal earned Wanderers all three points against Swindon Town.

It appeared that it was going to be another frustrating day for Phil Parkinson’s men who dominated the entire contest and created a plethora of gilt-edged chances.

James Henry should have a hat-trick in the first-half while Zach Clough would have found himself on the scoresheet on any other day.

But Wanderers’ second-half substitutions provided the impetus which led to the winning goal and a return to winning ways. 

Wanderers made two changes from their last Sky Bet League One encounter last weekend with Lawrie Wilson and Tom Thorpe replacing the injured Dean Moxey and Liam Trotter, who started from the bench.

The hosts had the game’s first effort on target in the arly stages when Mark Howard made a comfortable save, diving to his right, to keep out Yasser Kasim’s well-struck free-kick.

Thorpe sat in front of Wanderers' centre back pairing of Beevers and Wheater giving the visitors a different shape than they had employed in recent matches.

Henry should have put his side in front after stealing possession in the final third. Although he was under pressure from a multitude of back-tracking Robins, he skewed his left-footer wide.

The wideman was central to Wanderers’ attacking endeavour during the earlier phases of the game.

Madine found himself in referee Swarbrick’s notebook in rather harsh circumstances. The big frontman appeared to have won a tough aerial battle with Nathan Thompson with a fair challenge but the Swindon defender ended up in a heap on the floor. The booking left everyone in the crowd bemused.

Thorpe was unlucky to see his dipping volley just sail over the bar after Swindon struggled to clear their lines from a corner.

Wanderers looked the classier of the two sides when they had the ball and it only seemed to be a matter of time before they broke the deadlock.

Henry looked to be on course to put Wanderers in front when he sprung the offside trap after some smart play in midfield. Even though the imposing figure of Vigouroux took a stumble, he managed to somehow get one of his legs in the way of Henry’s shot to thwart Phil Parkinson’s men.

The on-loan Wolves man went close once again moments later with a header that went over the bar.

Wanderers did everything but score as the half drew to a close but they created enough chances to suggest that the second-half would be more bountiful.

Wanderers started the second period with plenty of verve and Zach Clough zipped along the left channel to put in a tasty looking ball towards the far post. Nobody managed to get on the tantalising effort but it epitomised the visitors’ superiority – albeit marked by profligacy - in the game so far.

Spearing saw a powerful low drive from the edge of the box deflect for a corner and Wanderers were really cracking up the pressure on Swindon.

Henry wasn’t going to get the opportunity to atone for his misses with Sammy Ameobi replacing him on the hour mark.

Clough tested Vigouroux with a well-placed free kick after Madine was fouled just on the edge of the box.

It was unfathomable how Wanderers hadn’t yet opened the scoring. They dominated the entirety of play and created several gilt-edged chances.

Their luck almost changed when Ameobi cleverly found Clough, who found Vigouroux in fine form with a smart save from close range.

The Swindon keeper was getting better as the game wore on and he was in the thick of it by keeping out substitute Proctor from close range.

Vigouroux made another blinding save to keep out sub Anderson but the goal came in ironic circumstances when Vela’s follow-up was deflected by Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill beyond the seemingly invincible Vigouroux.

The hosts’ miserable day was further compounded when Raphael Branco was shown a straight red for an elbow on Wilson.