Doyle nets to keep the Robins flying high
SWINDON manager Richie Wellens praised his side for coming through an aerial bombardment to beat Mansfield and cement their place at the top of the table.
On-loan Bradford striker Eoin Doyle’s 17th goal of the season proved decisive as Swindon stretched their unbeaten league run to five matches.
Wellens said: “They’re a big, physical team – they’ve got Nicky Maynard and Andy Cook up front and there was a lot of long balls into them.
“I can only remember Steven Benda making one save in that second half, Maynard missed a chance, but we also had a lot of chances.
“I’m really pleased with the last 25 minutes where we dug in and they didn’t really trouble us.
“In the first half, Mansfield wanted to play, but when they went long it caused us a problem.
“If you want to get promoted you need to have different things in your armoury. Physically we’re OK, but you need to get into the right positions. I would have liked to get one on the counter-attack, but the clean sheet was very pleasing.”
Swindon dominated proceedings in the first half, and saw Paul Caddis hit a post from the edge of the box early on.
Doyle then swept home Kaiyne Woolery’s low ball into the box after 23 minutes to put the Robins ahead.
The Stags did their utmost to hit back in the second and John Dempster will be wondering how his side didn’t leave the County Ground with at least a point.
Maynard struck the woodwork himself from a tight angle seven minutes after the restart and he shot narrowly wide on the hour, with Cook having a header saved in between the two chances.
Mansfield boss John Dempster said: “I thought the players gave everything, in particular that second half.
“We had some good opportunities there. Richie Wellens has put a good team together here and I don’t think we’re far off them, on reflection of that.
“Football is a results business, you can’t question the players’ effort, we threw everything at Swindon.
“It’s disappointing not to score a goal but the effort the players put it can’t be questioned. We wanted to come here and win.”