David Flitcroft buoyed by Swindon belief in comeback win over Crewe

Posted Sunday, January 28, 2018 by PA

Swindon manager David Flitcroft praised his players’ fighting spirit after the Robins came from behind to beat Crewe 4-3 in a thrilling game at the County Ground.

Braces from Marc Richards and substitute Timi Elsnik inspired Swindon to their third successive home league win and moved them just outside the play-offs on goal difference.

“At 3-2 you could feel the momentum shift, the players started believing, the fans were outstanding and made it a real atmosphere in the ground,” said Flitcroft.

“They were driving us on and it was a real spirited fightback.

“You can’t win anything as an individual, everything achieved is as one.

“I am chuffed with the supporters and certainly chuffed with the players.”

The Swindon boss brought off Kaiyne Woolery just before half-time and made his final two changes during the interval. Afterwards, he admitted that something needed to be done.

“You only have 90 minutes to affect change, sometimes you have to be decisive,” he said.

“Sometimes us managers get it wrong, sometimes we get it right.

“After the changes there was a real purpose and the second-half performance was a real front-foot performance.”

Swindon went ahead when Ellis Iandolo’s low cross fell to Richards in the box and the former Northampton striker cooly fired home from 12 yards.

Crewe equalised when the hosts failed to clear their lines and Callum Ainley hit a low volley across goal into the far corner.

The visitors then took the lead before half-time when Ainley glanced Charlie Kirk’s pinpoint cross into the bottom right corner for his fifth goal of the season.

David Artell’s men extended their advantage early in the second half when Reice Charles-Cook parried Jordan Bowery’s initial shot and Ryan Wintle ran in to tap the ball into the net from close range.

Swindon had a lifeline with 25 minutes to go when Elsnik curled a shot into the top left corner from the edge of the box, before the Derby loanee equalised with a composed low shot into the bottom left corner.

The visitors were reduced to 10 men after Zoumana Bakayogo received a second yellow card and with just minutes remaining Matt Taylor’s low cross was poked home by Richards at the front post to win it for the home side.

“We were 3-1 up away from home,” said Crewe boss Artell. “We needed to keep the ball, keep our shape and be determined to see the game out. We weren’t. We’re our own worst enemy at the moment.

“We made Swindon look good today. We made some poor decisions to help them get back into the game.

“Some of the players panic after minor things. These minor things turn into catastrophic events for them. They need to be more composed after they make a mistake.

“We changed the system after 10 minutes and were the better side for long periods of the game. We created chances and scored goals, but the final 20 minutes was a different kettle of fish.

“We are scoring goals and when you do that you always have a chance. But we need to be more resolute at the back. We needed to be professional and see the game out, but we didn’t.”