BAPTISM OF FIRE FOR WELLENS...
NEW SWINDON boss Richie Wellens believes his side’s humbling home defeat to Carlisle United in his first game in charge highlighted a lot of problems at the club.
A brace from Regan Slater, as well as a strike each from Ashley Nadesan and Jamie Devitt secured the comfortable win for the Cumbrians from just five shots on target and six in total over the entire 90 minutes.
It was a baptism of fire for Wellens, who had to deal with unsavoury chants from the home supporters, aimed at both his team and club chairman Lee Power.
“I knew it was a tough challenge. You never really get a job and the situation is all rosy, which obviously highlighted a lot of things that aren’t right at the moment,” Wellens said post-match.
“There was a lot of good things in the first 35 minutes, but we can’t have a real good period then have a dodgy period and concede, we’ll be working hard to rectify it.”
Swindon were also dealt the blow of losing midfielder James Dunne after just half an hour, as he was withdrawn for Martin Smith due to an undisclosed family concern.
Wellens continued: “I think the biggest thing for me is [James] Dunne going off, it killed us, He had that energy, he started positively, it just sucked a bit of life out of us.”
Despite a bright opening half from the hosts, Nadesan gave Carlisle the lead four minutes from half-time with a lovely finish into the far corner following a cutback by Jack Sowerby.
United started the second period just as they ended the first, as Slater doubled t he Cumbrians’ lead immediately after the restart with a powerful effort. It was 3-0 by the 55th minute, after Devitt curled in a wonderful freekick past Lawrence Vigouroux in the Swindon goal, who was just a bystander as the ball flew past him and into the top corner.
Slater made it four in the 67th minute with another Carlisle piledriver, as he let fly from the edge of the box and Vigouroux did move, but grasped nothing but air as the ball whizzed past him again.
Carlisle boss John Sheridan, who Wellens worked with at then-League One Oldham Athletic was delighted with the impressive nature of the four strikes, praising the clinical edge his side showed.
“It was a very good result to get four goals and not concede,” he said.
“There were four really, really good goals. I said after Tuesday we needed to be more clinical and we have created chances and taken them.
“Regan is a very good player. He’s only 19, he’s only about five two or three, but the way he plays you would think he’s six foot two.
“He’s got the willingness to do the ugly things, but those two goals were magnificent.
“He should be getting forward more because he has a good engine on him.”