Swindon Town v Bristol Rovers

October 8, 2024

Bristol Rovers team badge

v

Bristol Rovers team badge

4

Swindon Town

4

Goal scorers

Glatzel (2 & 12), McGregor (30), Ameen (35)

Players

Barden, Sobowale, Ofoborh (Hall, 74), Glatzel (Obodo, 61), McGurk, Cain, Kilkenny (Mitchell, 46), Freckleton (Longelo-Mbule, 61), Mintum, McGregor (Gonzalez, 66), Ameen. Substitutes: Bycroft, Alston

0

Bristol Rovers

Goal scorers

Players

Hall, Sousa, Moore, Thomas, Garrett, Taylor (Wilson, 64), Hutchinson, McCormick, O'Donkor (Omochere, 39), (Anthony, 79), Bilongo, Shaw. Substitutes: Griffiths, Savage, Bilongo, Edwards Booked: Hutchinson, McCormick

Key moments

THE GAME

The second of Rovers’ group games in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy can best be described as a disaster; Swindon were four goals ahead at the interval and although Rovers managed to stem the flow of goals after the break the damage had already been done.

Manager Matt Taylor made nine changes to his starting XI but still fielded a side capable, at least on paper, of playing out a competitive fixture against their League Two opponents.

The home side were ahead inside two minutes when Sean McGurk played in Paul Glatzel who beat Matt Hall at his near post with a looping shot.

Glatzel scored his, and Swindon’s, second goal 10 minutes later when he met Jake Cain’s cross into the box and beat Hall with a tremendous first time volley.

There was little respite for Rovers, though Gatlin O’Donkor did test home goalkeeper Daniel Barden with a low shot that was saved comfortably by the shot stopper. Luke McCormick shot wide of the target and a weak effort from Isaac Hutchinson was easily dealt with by Barden.

The third Swindon goal duly arrived on the half hour mark, scored by Joel McGregor with a half volley from the edge of the area and, to rub salt into their wounds, Rovers conceded again before the half time break through Botan Ameen, who headed home from a McGurk corner to complete a miserable half for Taylor’s side.

The second half proved to be damage limitation exercise as far as Rovers were concerned and while they showed few signs of any reaction to their first half mauling. McCormick, Kofi Shaw and Hutchinson all hit shots wide of goal, but goalkeeper Barden was never really troubled.

Kofi Shaw & Gatlin O’Donkor

Swindon, with the luxury of a four goal lead, seldom threatened a fifth goal and comfortably saw the game out to record their first win in this season’s competition.

THEY SAID WHAT?

‘I think it’s probably the most embarrassed I’ve been of a team in that first half. Just the way we went about our work wasn’t to the desired level, the acceptable level, a professional level.

‘There was a little bit more clarity to those watching that this squad probably isn’t quite where people think it is and the players aren’t quite where we need them to be. Collectively, tonight we were second best. Not many of those players tonight said pick me for the next league game and I think that’s a fair assessment.

‘Let’s be honest, we can’t just carry people through seasons. Some are in a lucky position to train with us, let alone be with this football club. It’s got to mean more to them than it did tonight.’ (Rovers manager Matt Taylor)

‘It’s hard to put into words, but I was captain tonight and I’m speaking on behalf of everyone and the main word I’m going to use is embarrassment. I think every one of us, myself included, have got to hold themselves accountable for what’s happened here tonight.

‘The minute we step on to the pitch we need to be better and be more professional and I just think from the first minute tonight each and every one of us can say that we are embarrassed about tonight’s performance for sure.

Taylor Moore

‘I think the shock of losing 4-0 here tonight against a Swindon side that caused us some issues though I don’t think they were any better than we were. The main thing that I can say from us as a team tonight is that there was a complete lack of heart from us.’ (Rovers defender Taylor Moore)

‘There were a lot of plusses for us tonight; keeping a clean sheet, getting minutes into players who needed them, the return of players from injury and getting minutes into their legs and debuts, which was really important for our Academy.

‘I hope I don’t come across as boring, but I never get too high and never get too low. I don’t mean to offend anyone as when we lose a game or win a game I get as passionate as the next guy.

‘But tonight I was pleased that the result was reflective of the performance because I don’t believe that we have always got that this year when we have played well.

‘That was good because Rovers were very strong and had a lot of very good players out and Matt Taylor’s record as a head coach is outstanding. Going into the game, trust me, Bristol Rovers was not a game that I was looking forward to, given we were low on numbers, so to get that win is very pleasing.’ (Swindon manager Mark Kennedy)

Stats

Man of the match

Very difficult to choose one as everyone was so poor, but if pushed I'll go for Kofi Shaw

Referee

Sam Mulhall

Attendance

1306

Away fans

Stats

Man of the match

Very difficult to choose one as everyone was so poor, but if pushed I'll go for Kofi Shaw

Referee

Sam Mulhall

Attendance

1306

Away fans

Key moments

THE GAME

The second of Rovers’ group games in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy can best be described as a disaster; Swindon were four goals ahead at the interval and although Rovers managed to stem the flow of goals after the break the damage had already been done.

Manager Matt Taylor made nine changes to his starting XI but still fielded a side capable, at least on paper, of playing out a competitive fixture against their League Two opponents.

The home side were ahead inside two minutes when Sean McGurk played in Paul Glatzel who beat Matt Hall at his near post with a looping shot.

Glatzel scored his, and Swindon’s, second goal 10 minutes later when he met Jake Cain’s cross into the box and beat Hall with a tremendous first time volley.

There was little respite for Rovers, though Gatlin O’Donkor did test home goalkeeper Daniel Barden with a low shot that was saved comfortably by the shot stopper. Luke McCormick shot wide of the target and a weak effort from Isaac Hutchinson was easily dealt with by Barden.

The third Swindon goal duly arrived on the half hour mark, scored by Joel McGregor with a half volley from the edge of the area and, to rub salt into their wounds, Rovers conceded again before the half time break through Botan Ameen, who headed home from a McGurk corner to complete a miserable half for Taylor’s side.

The second half proved to be damage limitation exercise as far as Rovers were concerned and while they showed few signs of any reaction to their first half mauling. McCormick, Kofi Shaw and Hutchinson all hit shots wide of goal, but goalkeeper Barden was never really troubled.

Kofi Shaw & Gatlin O’Donkor

Swindon, with the luxury of a four goal lead, seldom threatened a fifth goal and comfortably saw the game out to record their first win in this season’s competition.

THEY SAID WHAT?

‘I think it’s probably the most embarrassed I’ve been of a team in that first half. Just the way we went about our work wasn’t to the desired level, the acceptable level, a professional level.

‘There was a little bit more clarity to those watching that this squad probably isn’t quite where people think it is and the players aren’t quite where we need them to be. Collectively, tonight we were second best. Not many of those players tonight said pick me for the next league game and I think that’s a fair assessment.

‘Let’s be honest, we can’t just carry people through seasons. Some are in a lucky position to train with us, let alone be with this football club. It’s got to mean more to them than it did tonight.’ (Rovers manager Matt Taylor)

‘It’s hard to put into words, but I was captain tonight and I’m speaking on behalf of everyone and the main word I’m going to use is embarrassment. I think every one of us, myself included, have got to hold themselves accountable for what’s happened here tonight.

‘The minute we step on to the pitch we need to be better and be more professional and I just think from the first minute tonight each and every one of us can say that we are embarrassed about tonight’s performance for sure.

Taylor Moore

‘I think the shock of losing 4-0 here tonight against a Swindon side that caused us some issues though I don’t think they were any better than we were. The main thing that I can say from us as a team tonight is that there was a complete lack of heart from us.’ (Rovers defender Taylor Moore)

‘There were a lot of plusses for us tonight; keeping a clean sheet, getting minutes into players who needed them, the return of players from injury and getting minutes into their legs and debuts, which was really important for our Academy.

‘I hope I don’t come across as boring, but I never get too high and never get too low. I don’t mean to offend anyone as when we lose a game or win a game I get as passionate as the next guy.

‘But tonight I was pleased that the result was reflective of the performance because I don’t believe that we have always got that this year when we have played well.

‘That was good because Rovers were very strong and had a lot of very good players out and Matt Taylor’s record as a head coach is outstanding. Going into the game, trust me, Bristol Rovers was not a game that I was looking forward to, given we were low on numbers, so to get that win is very pleasing.’ (Swindon manager Mark Kennedy)

Match commentary

A FEW FACTS

  • No sign of former Rovers captain Ollie Clarke in the Swindon squad
  • Former Rovers defender Marcus Bignot is currently Swindon’s Assistant Head Coach and was in their dugout
  • Swindon’s biggest win against Rovers since Boxing Day 1913
  • Two Swindon Academy players, Joel McGregor and Botan Ameen scored their first senior goals
  • Taylor Moore skippered Rovers for the first time
  • Rovers are now bottom of their Bristol Street Motors Group with one point
  • On the bench for Rovers were Academy players  Max Edwards, Taelan Savage and Kian Hill