BOSS: WE WERE DUFF UP FRONT
BOTH managers demanded their sides develop a ruthless streak as the festive battle of the Robins produced an instantly forgettable goalless draw at the County Ground.
Lawrence Vigouroux’s second-half save to rescue Swindon defender James Dunne from scoring an embarrassing own-goal was as close as the visitors came to snatching the points.
The first half was devoid of any real excitement and there was little to get the crowd on their feet.
Immediately after halftime Matt Taylor forced a good save out of Cheltenham goalkeeper Scott Flinders from a free-kick after Will Boyle was booked for pulling down Elijah Adebayo.
A scrappy game was epitomised by an ugly clash between Jordon Forster and Dunne, which sparked a melee and both players were booked for their troubles.
Dunne put a shot wide moments later before slicing an attempted clearance towards his own goal, which Vigouroux did well to keep out.
Cheltenham manager Michael Duff said: “I thought we were the better team.
“We dominated the first half and for all their gusto, they didn’t create a lot of clear-cut opportunities.
“We need to score in the first half. If we had scored in the first half, we would’ve gone on to score two or three today.
“We have scored 22 goals in 22 games, that’s where the problem is at the minute. But there are plenty of positives to work with.
“We got into good areas of the pitch today but lacked that final moment of quality.”
The stalemate, which will not live long in the memory, means Swindon have not beaten their West Country rivals since 2012.
Swindon manager Richie Wellens said: “I thought in parts we were good in the second half, we controlled the ball a little bit better.
“We’re a decent team, we can play with a lot of energy, we can close teams down. When we’re aggressive, we’re a good team.
“We just need to start finishing teams off, scoring twos and threes, because that’s what I want from us. It wasn’t to be today. But I don’t think that in the last 20, 30 minutes that we were in any danger of losing.
“Numerous times we got behind their back four, but just didn’t make the right decision.”
Boyle’s booking came for pulling Adebayo on the outside of the box early in the second half and Taylor forced Flinders into action from the free kick.
Just before the hour a nasty Dunne foul on Luke Varney led to Foster pushing Dunne in frustration, which prompted the melee.
Dunne tried to make amends soon after, but he could only guide a low Adebayo cross just wide.
SWINDON TOWN: Vigouroux 7, Knoyle 6, Nelson 6, Woolfenden 6, Iandolo 6, Woolery 6, Dunne 5, Taylor 7, Doughty 6 (Alzate 76, 6), Twine 6 (McGlashan 65, 7), Adebayo 7. Subs not used: McCourt, Smith, McCormick, Conroy, Pryce. CHELTENHAM TOWN: Flinders 8, Forster 5, Tozer 6, Boyle 5, Hussey 6, Addai 6 (Mooney 82) Atangana 6, Thomas 6, Clements 6, Jones 6, Varney 7 (Barnett 66, 6). Subs not used: Mullins, Lovett, Alcock, Duncan, Brennan.