Southend inflicted a narrow defeat on Town who conceded another early goal in a disappointing performance writes
Once again Town conceded an early goal for the second game in succession when Adam Barrett headed home after 70 seconds from a free-kick awarded for a late challenge by Jamie Cureton on the right side of midfield.
The Robins appeared shell-shocked and struggled to string any sort of passing moves together and there was little encouragement from Town's lowest crowd so far this season of 4785.
Rory Fallon wasted an opportunity when he headed wide from close range after 8 minutes from a free-kick taken by Gareth Whalley. Two minutes later Stefani Miglioranzi elected to pass the ball when a shot on goal appeared a better option. Shortly afterwards Andy Gurney did well to ghost his way into the Southend area and get on the end of a cross by Pook but he headed narrowly over.
Tom Heaton did well to clear a sliced clearance by Jack Smith which lurched ominously towards the Town net after 15 minutes. Moments later Town were awarded a free-kick some twenty five yards from goal for pushing and although Gurney's shot beat the wall, it lacked power and was easily caught by keeper Darryl Flahavan.
On 18 minutes Heaton did well to parry a goalbound shot from Goater but Patrick Collins played safe and headed the ball out for a corner but when the ball was crossed Mitchell Cole sent a rasping shot narrowly across goal which went inches wide of the far post.
Michael Pook wasted a superb opportunity for Town after some fine approach work by Jack Smith but Pook elected to send in a sidefooted shot when under no pressure and the ball flew harmlessly over the crossbar midway through the half and the Town midfielder was clearly disappointed with himself.
Town were lacking any fluency and were being embarrassed by the Shrimpers who looked far more comfortable on the ball and Jack Smith did well to block a goalbound shot by Shaun 'The Goat' Goater and moments later Mark Gower headed narrowly wide when it looked easier to hit the target.
Luke Guttridge became the first player to be cautioned for a late challenge on former colleague Nicolau in the 28th minute and the resulting free-kick was taken short to Gurney but his shot struck a defender and Flahavan was able to catch easily.
Gurney gave away a free-kick when he clumsily barged over Andy Edwards in the 31st minute and Heaton did well to fist away the shot but the ball flew to Gower although his first time shot went high and wide.
At last Town started playing with some cohesion and earned a corner taken by Nicolau but when the ball reached Whalley his first time volley was cleanly caught by the keeper.
Andy Gurney was cautioned in the 36th minute for a wild lunge on Edwards and when the free-kick was swung in Adam Barrett's shot struck a defender and out for another corner to the visitors and that was eventually cleared by Smith.
Jamie Cureton's desperate effort to break his goal drought saw the Town forward wriggle his way past a couple of defenders before firing in a wayward shot which almost struck the corner flag with five minutes of the half remaining. Moments later Shaun Goater sent in a shot from a narrow angle which went marginally wide of the upright.
Rory Fallon went on a one-man attacking mission for Town when he sprinted down the right wing and beat a couple of defenders before firing in a weak shot which was easily saved by Flahavan.
The game fizzled out into a drab affair as half time approached and it was obvious that something needed to change if Town were going to retrieve the situation after a poor first half.
Half Time:
Tony Thorpe and Ricky Shakes replaced Cureton and Whalley at half time as Town looked to get back in the match although it was Southend who continued on the offensive as they won a couple of free-kicks for niggly fouls.
Town skipper Gurney did well to head the ball away from under his own crossbar as the visitors threatened and the resulting corner was cleared.
Goalscorer Barrett was cautioned following a foul from behind on Fallon in the 56th minute and Town's first serious attack of the half saw a header by Shakes which looped up for Flahavan to catch.
Shortly afterwards Town had their first corner of the half but that was easily cleared although there were growing signs of the home team's increased effort with the ball spending more time in Southend's half.
Tony Thorpe was featuring heavily in Town's attacking play as he put the visitors defence under pressure without getting any clear attacks on goal.
Southend almost went further ahead when Cole's wicked cross from the left wing evaded the on-rushing Goater and the ball flew out for a throw-in to Town.
The visitors made their first substitution in the 65th minute when Wayne Gray replaced James Lawson. Six minutes later Nicolau's afternoon against his former employers ended when he was replaced Christian Roberts who took up a position on the left side of midfield.
Rory Fallon glanced a header just wide of the upright when he met a free-kick taken by Gurney after Fallon had been bundled over from behind with fifteen minutes of the half remaining.
Town had loud shouts for a penalty turned down when the ball appeared to strike Barrett in the area under no pressure from a Town player but referee M Fletcher indicated that the ball had struck Barrett on the chest.
In the 81st minute Tony Thorpe set up a good chance for Pook on the edge of the box but the Town midfielder was cynically scythed down by Guttridge who had already been cautioned. Christian Roberts took the resulting free-kick but his shot struck the wall and although the ball looped back to Shakes, his lob forward was cleared by the defence.
Guttridge was replaced shortly afterwards by Mark Bentley and he took his place in the visitors attack as they had a corner which was cleared by Shakes.
Jerel Ifil conceded a free-kick in the 86th minute by the left hand corner flag although the decision looked harsh because Ifil appeared to play the ball cleanly. The ball was crossed by Kevin Maher into the Town area where substitute Wayne Gray headed the ball downwards past Heaton to put the visitors further ahead and some of the Town faithful decided that would be the end of their attendance and began to leave.
However Andy King's men pulled a goal back immediately after a foul by Che Wilson who was cautioned for a foul on Shakes. The ball was played forward and reached Collins deep in the Southend area and he sent a low ball across the area where it was touched home by Rory Fallon for his third goal of the season.
Fallon could have equalised for Town but his header in the three minutes of added time went wide of the post and keeper Flahavan was cautioned for time wasting shortly afterwards as he delayed taking the resulting goal kick.
Jack Smith was cautioned on the stroke of full time for a foul on the touchline but the referee blew the final whistle shortly afterwards to signal the end of an disappointing overall performance by Town.
Full Time:
Swindon Town: Tom Heaton, Jack Smith, Jerel Ifil, Patrick Collins, Andy Gurney, Nicky Nicolau(Christian Roberts 71), Gareth Whalley( Ricky Shakes 45), Stefani Miglioranzi, Michael Pook, Rory Fallon, Jamie Cureton(Tony Thorpe 45)
Substitutes: Matthew Bulman,Steve Jenkins
Southend United: Darryl Flahavan, Che Wilson, Lewis Hunt, Adam Barrett, Mark Gower, Kevin Maher, Shaun Goater(Spencer Prior 90), Mitchell Cole, Andy Edwards, Luke Guttridge(Mark Bentley 84), James Lawson(Wayne Gray 66)
Substitutes: Bart Griemink, Jay Smith
Attendance: 4785
