DOYLE DOUBLE HAS ROBINS FLYING HIGH
Hard work is paying off, admits Wellens
RICHIE Wellens denied Swindon were on easy street after a brace from in-form Eoin Doyle helped send the Robins soaring to second.
Keshi Anderson was also on target after Swindon claimed a third straight win to stay in touch with early-season pacesetters Exeter City.
But despite the comfortable scoreline, manager Richie Wellens said: “It’s definitely not easy, we put a lot of hard work in to what we’re trying to do. Another team has come and changed their shape against us.
“I honestly think that if teams come here and play two centre-backs against Doyle and Jerry Yates then they’re going to have a lot of problems.
“The first 15 minutes was total domination, but they were in good shape and hard to break down but, once we started to mix our game up, then I thought we started to create more.
“The first goal was a brilliant goal because it was something we highlighted we could do against them.”
Macclesfield’s plan to frustrate the free-scoring hosts worked for the first 37 minutes of the game, before Anderson came up with the crucial breakthrough goal.
Doyle’s initial shot saved by Macclesfield keeper Owen Evans, but the rebounded landed at the feet of Anderson in acres of space and he was never going to miss.
Swindon had breathing room on the stroke of half-time when Doyle doubled their advantage.
The Irishman slotted into the back of the net from inside the box after being teed up by Rob Hunt.
The same duo combined again for the third goal, with Doyle finishing into the roof of the goal to put the cherry on the cake. The in-form Doyle has now scored an impressive seven goals in just seven league starts since joining Swindon on loan from Bradford City, who must be wondering what they are missing.
Swindon could easily have won by a more convincing margin, with both Doyle and Anderson having additional opportunities to add to their respective goal tallies.
Five minutes into the second half, Doyle had a shot palmed away by Evans and Anderson should have put Swindon 3-0 up, before Doyle eventually did as.
On the hour Anderson somehow contrived to miss a shot from pointblank range.
Evans did well to make a save, but Anderson, who has improved under Wellens, but has had criticism of his lack of cutting edge in-front of goal, showed signs of still being a work in progress with a miss he may rue. The visitors hardly threatened Luke McCormick, with their best chance being a Corey O’Keefe volley which went well wide.
Pre-season relegation favourites Macclesfield are, so far, performing above expectations, despite Sol Campbell’s early resignation from his post.
But even recent Campbell replacement Daryl McMahon conceded Swindon were just too good against the Silkmen.
McMahon said: “It was men against boys. Swindon are a side I expect to be in the top three at the end of the season, and we
need to learn quickly. We are young, but you can’t use that as an excuse. We need to learn on the job. The second goal was a killer and they’re a top side – they are top goalscorers in their division. They’re a very good side. We need to make that progress a bit quicker – we are trying to raise the bar.
“Our final decision is lacking a bit, maybe we were a little bit like a rabbit in the headlights. The start we have made is promising, but people have got a little bit carried away. It’s important that people understand that with the age of the group that there are going to be ups and downs.”