‘SAME AGAIN’ IS MESSAGE FROM GARNER
SWINDON Town head coach Ben Garner says his team will be coming to Vale Park with the same approach that helped them win 13 league games on the road this season.
Vale entertain the Robins on Thursday in the play-off semifinal second leg when they will be looking to overturn Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at the County Ground. Former Vale forward Harry Mckirdy scored twice but James Wilson’s goal seven minutes from time left the tie in the balance.
Garner said: “We won the game which is great and we’re going to do the same on Thursday to try to win the second leg as well. There will be no change to our approach in terms of how we’ve approached every away game this season.”
The head coach also praised Mckirdy who has netted 23 goals this season. He glanced home a header for Swindon’s first on Sunday then volleyed in the second after Jack Payne’s initial effort had been saved by Aidan Stone.
Garner added: “It is the second time this season Harry has done that (score with a glancing header), actually. It is a great ball in and he timed his movement and a little flicked header, so really pleased with that because we work hard on set-pieces.
“It was a great second goal as well. I thought it was a brilliant move, really decisive, their keeper makes a great save from Payney and it was a really good finish from Harry because it wasn’t easy, it was up and he got his knee up over the ball and controlled it beautifully in the corner. Really, really good finish.” Garner felt referee Ross Joyce could have done better, saying: “There were five fouls in the first two minutes and I felt he (the referee) should have clamped down and, if you set the tone, boom it allows the game to flow and I don’t think that happened. “But we then got better control and I didn’t see them scoring, if anything I thought we’d go on and get a third, but we’re delighted with the win.
“I thought we defended ever so well from open play and setpieces. I thought both centrebacks were brilliant and you know you’ve got to stand up to the direct balls, the second balls and I thought we restricted them in the second half. “Second half, I just felt we could have been a little bit better.”