Phil Brown calls for a cutting edge from Swindon
Posted Sunday, October 07, 2018 by PA
Phil Brown wants his Swindon side to find their clinical edge after they had to fight back to earn a point against Northampton.
The Robins fell behind to a goal from John-Joe O’Toole before Matt Taylor rescued his side with a perfectly placed free-kick.
Brown watched his Swindon outfit miss a number of glaring opportunities in the first half and stressed the importance of taking the lead.
He said: “I thought the first goal was going to be important today.
“I think if we got it against a newly-managed team, they might go back to their old ways, but when they got it I thought they’ve got something to hold onto here.
“I thought the response to them scoring was outstanding.
“The two best chances of the game fell to James Dunne and Marc Richards and the keeper’s pulled of two brave saves, but six-yard box chances should be in the back of the net.
“When they scored I thought the response from the players is what I want from minute one.”
Swindon’s James Dunne squandered a great chance to break the deadlock in the seventh minute when he failed to find the back of the net from close range.
And Northampton goalkeeper David Cornell was called upon again to keep his side in it when he saved from Marc Richards.
This inspired the visitors and they had a brief spell on top which saw them come close to taking the lead through Sam Hoskins.
Hoskins managed to break free from the defence before he rifled his shot at Luke McCormick’s goal which the goalkeeper parried on to the post.
Northampton eventually went ahead in the 58th minute after O’Toole volleyed home from Hoskins’ centre.
However, Swindon got the wind in their sails and started to take charge of the game in the hope of grinding out a result.
And they were rewarded midway through the second half when Taylor curled his free-kick into the top corner from 25 yards out.
Northampton manager Keith Curle has been in the role less than a week and has already found signs of promise in his side.
Curle said: “It’s a point earned. It’s only five or six days in but I said to the players after the game we are enjoying working with them.
“That’s down to their attention to detail. Their willingness to accept the challenges that we are putting front of them and the general mood.
“Two games undefeated, it is pleasing.
“As we evolve as a team we will get better with the ball – some of our decision-making and final delivery will improve.
“But as far as the competitive edge that we are looking for, today ticked all the boxes.”
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