Out of Control

By: Andrew Doherty
Date: 18/04/2025

WHILE some of the crowd engaged in the activity of providing feedback to our mercurial former manager Ian Holloway, now in charge of Swindon, the team had the job of getting those points necessary to cement our position in the play-offs and keep our season going.

The corresponding away fixture was unfortunate as we didn't play well but at the same time there was illness in the camp. It's been a strange season in this respect. We have done better than most people expected but have been vulnerable to the odd bad performance or mini-crises brought on by injuries, illness and the loss of key players at certain times. My mother's answer to this was cod liver oil. We use to visit a tiny shop on the corner of Pasture Street and Victoria Street South just up the road from the Police station and Grime Street. Sadly the shop is no longer there but I'm sure Mr Artell and his team can source some legal supplements to keep us going.

Last week's draw with Harrogate was disappointing after taking a two goal lead, and we fell into the trap again of conceding two soft goals. Swindon meanwhile showed they were capable of scoring five goals against 10 man Bradford so any thoughts of our superior league position meaning an automatic win for Town could be dispelled. This afternoon's line-up was a familiar one: Wright – Rodgers, Tharme, Warren - Svanthorsson, McEachren, Green, Khouri, Hume – Rose, Barrington. Swindon wore their customary red kit.

Swindon, playing towards the Pontoon end, kicked off. The opening period was frenetic. Town showed intent and willingness to press. On 7 minutes however an innocuous attack saw Cotterill burst forward towards Town's box. A short pass across to Smith was related to the Nicholls who from the edge of the box curled a shot into the bottom left corner. Svanthorsson stood next to Nicholls but made no challenge. Town 0, Swindon 1. The home crowd who hitherto had been making a lot of noise, went quiet. Swindon started to dominate play. Town didn't help themselves by passing around at the back, culminating in a poor Wright clearance and overturned possession. The goal seemed to have knocked Town for six. Swindon were pegging uncertain Town back. Great vision by Rose on 17 minutes when taking possession from Clarke gave Town an opportunity but Swindon's defence shrugged off Barrington with ease. Town's control was poor. Town stumbled forward and won a throw on 23 minutes which Tharme took. It was dealt with easily, and Swindon launched a quick counter, winning a corner. On 27 minutes Green burst forward before Svanthorsson took over. Barrington went backwards. Svanthorsson was unable get power on a shot from a tight angle but Town responded with Barrington and Khouri having half chances. Town had another chance after a Nicholls foul but it was wasted. As Swindon attacked Wright had a difficult clearance. Svanthorsson received the ball on the right but passed across field straight to Tschimanga on the edge of Town's box. McEachren was on hand to save the day and deny Glatzel. Swindon then won a freekick on the right. Tschimanga got a powerful header on goal which Wright was only able to push upwards, which gave Clarke the simplest job of heading in from one yard. After 31 minutes it was Town 0, Swindon 2. Smith then had a header from 6 yards which went over as Town looked lost. On 40 minutes Khouri sent Rose away, which eventually resulted in a throw. Tharme sent in a good throw but the ball bounced too high for Green to be able to hook the ball home. But Swindon looked the more threatening. On 44 minutes Svanthorsson cut out a pass after a good run from Cotterill but the ball ran too high for Smith whose curled shot went wide. Rodgers then made a poor pass as Town threatened to attack. The half ended: Town 0, Swindon 2. Town looked out of sorts and didn't deserve anything, seeming to give up after the first goal. Swindon took advantage of Town's poor performance.

A minute into the second half a pass was slipped into Tschimanga who went close as Swindon resumed their domination. The crowd had been reduced to near silence. Rose put pressure on Freckleton on 48 minutes but Swindon keeper Ripley was alert to the danger. Green then skied a cross as Town looked to build an attack. None of Town's attacks looked like producing anything. On 54 minutes Turi and Vernam replaced McEachren and Hume in a bid to bring some life to this lifeless performance. There was no immediate improvement as first Khouri and then Turi were guilty of giving the ball away. Turi received a yellow card before losing the ball again, allowing Swindon to attack and win a corner. Wright had to get down to best Tschimanga as Glatzel crossed low. On 62 minutes Ainley replaced Khouri. Wright and McJannet were almost guilty of a mix-up before good work by Rose gave Svanthorsson opportunity but Svanthorsson took the ball into a crowd of defenders and the chance was lost. Another attack followed and there was a momentary glimmer of intensity but Swindon regained possession and pressed forward. 65 minutes had passed. Smith received the ball in midfield and having pulled Town's players towards him, passed out to Glatzel who sent in another good low cross. Smith ran on but cleverly stepped over it to allow Tschimanga to pass home at the far post. Town 0, Swindon 3. Shortly after Wright struggled to deal with a Glatzel cross. Town won a free kick after a Nicholls foul on 70 minutes but Vernam's delivery as the overall performance. Turi was fouled on 73 minutes allowing a reprise. This time Vernam passed out to Svanthorsson who supplied Green but the angle was too tight and the ball hit the side netting. Burns came on for Rose on 75 minutes as all hope of a result for Town was receding. A minute later Town came close when a rocket from Vernam flew just wide after Svanthorsson teed him up. With 79 minutes gone Swindon almost made it four following a lightening breakout. Kilkenny found Glatzel who crossed. Westley got a foot on the ball which rolled inches wide. Town won a free kick but Burns's cross had no power and struck a defender. Westly had another chance, turning after receiving a pass from Glatzel. Wright was in the way and conceded a corner. As Town gave the ball away, Swindon made hay. Svanthorsson was robbed by Sobowale who advanced into Town's half, allowing Swindon to probe Town's defence. To Swindon's credit they didn't shut up shop but continued to go forward and increase their lead, while Town wandered around like lost sheep. Four minutes were added, and as everyone was waiting for the referee to put us out of our misery, Swindon advanced for the umpteenth time into Town's half. Glatzel played the ball out to Ofoborh who crossed from the right. As Tharme and Westley fell over each other the six yard box, the ball ran through to Botan Ameen who had the easy task of slotting the ball in from the far post. The final score was: Grimsby Town 0, Swindon Town 4.

Mr Artell often uses data to defend poor performances, talks about improvement and tells us that there isn't a psychological barrier at home. He sometimes questions the support given to the players. There was plenty of support at the beginning from the Town supporters of the 7,624 here today but not for the first time the players wore us down. Whichever way you look at this, Town's performance was poor. Mentally we seemed overwhelmed. Even the pitch invasion by one phone-wielding youth was lacklustre. Technically we were inferior in all aspects, as we made mistakes and Swindon carved their way through Town's defence like a knife through butter. We had no answer to Glatzel's low crosses from the right, Smith's headers or their runs up the middle. Wright flapped. The game was important but Town played without desire. The quality and interplay were dreadful. Swindon's play was fresh and their attacks were incisive. It was the exact opposite for Town - no spark, quality, no control. And whilst the season is far from over, today's loss means we are no longer in control of our destiny.

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