COOPER RAP FOR ROBINS

SWIFT STEALS THE SHOW

17th- minute header from Harry Toffolo’s sweetly-delivered free-kick, but the lead lasted just three minutes.

Swindon’s desire to play out from the back proved their undoing, as skipper Nathan Thompson was caught in possession by Armand Gnanduillet and the ball was worked out to Sam Clucas who cut in from the right to curl a leftfoot shot past Wes Foderingham.

Cushion

The Robins restored the lead through a fine individual goal from impressive on-loan Chelsea midfielder Swift, who collected a loose ball after Michael Smith missed his kick and although surrounded by three defenders, coolly pivoted away from goal to work himself shooting space to finish from eight yards.

Chesterfield thought they had levelled when Jimmy Ryan’s thumping volley crashed down off the underside of the bar, but the referee’s assistant ruled the ball did not cross the line.

Swift played a key role as Swindon stretched their lead two minutes into the second half with a brilliant pass which sent Williams through to finish clinically.

Cooper added: “We needed the cushion of the third goal and it came at just the right time. This a young group of players but they keep passing tests.

“Nobody expected us to be where we are, so all credit to the players.”

Chesterfield manager Paul Cook admitted his side paid the price for bad defending, saying: “We conceded poor goals. The referee helped them with one or two decisions.

“We acquitted ourselves well in the second half, but the game was gone by then. We gave it a go and were beaten by a good side.”