Swindon 2 - 0 Barnsley - Robins back up to second

Posted Sunday, February 08, 2015 by PA

Goals from Raphael Rossi-Branco and Ben Gladwin secured Swindon a comfortable 2-0 win against Barnsley that moved them just one point off the top of the table.

Despite Andy Williams missing from the spot in the first half, the Robins moved back up to second with a third straight home win.

Rossi-Branco opened the scoring after 14 minutes when Chelsea loanee John Swift jinked his way into the box and laid off Branco, who slammed his shot past Ross Turnbull.

Barnsley midfielder Paul Digby chopped down the lively Swift for a penalty after 38 minutes but Turnbull saved Williams' tame spot-kick.

Former Swindon boss Danny Wilson had little to cheer about on his return to the County Ground with Milan Lalkovic going closest for the Tykes in the first half.

Wilson made a double substitution at the break and Conor Hourihane made an immediate impact, finding Manchester United loanee Ben Pearson who dragged his effort wide.

Then Robins goalkeeper Wes Foderingham gifted Hourihane possession in the 78th minute but Rossi-Branco came to his team-mate's rescue.

From the resulting corner Foderingham made amends for his error when he denied Peter Ramage with a point-blank save.

Both Williams and returning Australian midfielder Massimo Luongo went close for Mark Cooper's men in the second-half before Gladwin sealed the points five minutes from time by squeezing a shot under Turnbull from the edge of the area.