Goals from Shaun Goater and Mark Kennedy kept Manchester City in the running
for an automatic promotion place and left Swindon four points adrift at the foot
of the First Division table.
Goater opened the scoring shortly before the interval with his 27th strike of
the season after a dire first half.
The Bermuda striker headed in at the far post following a pin-point Paul
Dickov cross after 43 minutes.
Goater had been clean through on the Swindon goal just two minutes earlier
after he chased down former Wimbledon defender Alan Reeves and nicked the ball
from under the nose of the centre-back.
It was the first opening of the match but Goater's chip could not find a way
over to sprawling hands of Frank Talia.
Swindon goalkeeper Talia managed to tip the ball around his left-hand post for
a corner, the first real action of the first period.
Republic of Ireland international Kennedy ensured that the visitors came away
from the County Ground with all three points as he netted after 57 minutes.
The former Liverpool winger finished off a flowing move involving recalled
striker Dickov and midfielder Jeff Whitley.
Former Arsenal striker Dickov received the ball midway inside the Swindon
half, shrugged off a challenge and slotted the ball through to Whitley, who
found Kennedy unmarked at the far post.
Kennedy wasted no time in crashing the ball into the roof of the Swindon goal
in front of the delighted Manchester City fans.
The match was delayed by 15 minutes after a tailback on the M4 that was as
congested as the first-half play.
But the game came to life in the second half with Dickov and Kennedy the
instigators of an impressive City display.
Dickov could have extended the lead after 64 minutes but his 25-yard volley
was brilliantly saved by former Blackburn goalkeeper Talia, who tipped the ball
away from the top corner.
It was not the only save by the Australian, who also prevented a goal from
recent City signing Spencer Prior.
The former Derby defender nearly scored in only his second match since leaving
Pride Park but his header from Kennedy's corner was cleared to safety following
Talia's acrobatics.
Teams:
Swindon: Talia, Robinson, Reeves, Leitch, Gray (Griffin 68),
Collins, Hall (Cowe 46), Meaker, Grazioli, Willis, A. Williams.
Subs Not Used: Mildenhall, Smith, Davis.
Booked: Davis.
Man City: Weaver, Edghill, Tiatto, Jobson, Prior,
Grant (Bishop 48), J. Whitley, Pollock, Kennedy, Dickov,
Goater (Wiekens 84).
Subs Not Used: Wright, Horlock, Wright-Phillips.
Booked: J. Whitley, Kennedy, Tiatto.
Goals: Goater 43, Kennedy 57.
Att: 12,397
Ref: S Bennett (Orpington).
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