ROBINS HIT BY SAMMIE SLAMMER
COLCHESTER boss John McGreal predicted that his team were visiting out-ofform Swindon at the ideal time.
His prophecy rang resoundingly true as Sammie Szmodics struck at the County Ground to condemn David Flitcroft’s side to a fifth straight defeat in all competitions while keeping the U’s firmly in the play-off picture.
With the scores level at 2-2, Szmodics fired in with 12 minutes to go to seal Colchester’s third win in four games.
“I said to them before the match and even afterwards that it’s a good time to come and play Swindon, who are a big club in our league, because they’ll definitely bounce back to form,” said McGreal.
“Of late they’ve had a bit of a blip and we’ve had our one at the beginning of the season.
“We’ve taken nine points out of 12 against Lincoln, Notts County, Exeter and now Swindon, and it’s a great return.
“It was disappointing that we conceded from a couple of setpieces and I didn’t see them scoring from outfield play.
“But when they scored, we seemed to show a composure and an age really, with a lot of young boys out there who kept possession in tight areas.
“At times it was enjoyable watching play because there were some outstanding performances out there.”
Flitcroft was similarly miffed to see his team struggle to deal with dead-ball situations but his frustration was altogether more chastening as Swindon’s bleak midwinter continues.
“Over the last ten days, we have gone through being resilient and not conceding from set-pieces,” said Flitcroft.
“We go one goal to the good and right before half-time, to give the goal away is criminal after what we have talked about.
“There has been an inquest and it is now about challenging us to turn this around.”
With 36 minutes on the clock, Kaiyne Woolery thumped home after the Colchester defence failed to deal with a Matt Taylor free-kick but on the stroke of half-time, the Swindon defence flapped at a corner and defender Frankie Kent slammed a bouncing ball into the net. On 63 minutes, Lawrence Vigouroux couldn’t keep out Mikael Mandron’s header from a Kyel Reid set-piece delivery but, after an inswinging Taylor corner was bundled away, Derby loanee Kellan Gordon, who had been gifted space on the dge of the box, drilled in a low effort through a forest of bodies. But a moment of real quality settled matters, with Drey Wright picking out Szmodics, who shifted to the right to give both Olly Lancashire and Matt Preston the slip before angling a low effort in off the upright.