‘Disgusted’ Phil Brown apologises to Swindon fans after defeat at Newport

Posted Sunday, April 15, 2018 by PA

Phil Brown slammed his Swindon side for a lack of commitment after the 10-man Robins were beaten 2-1 by Newport at Rodney Parade.

Brown watched on as the visitors produced a woeful first-half display and turned around 2-0 down following efforts from Padraig Amond and Ben Tozer.

Substitute Paul Mullin got a goal back for Swindon, but two second-half yellow cards for Rollin Menayese ended any hopes of an away comeback.

Swindon remain three points off the League Two play-off spots and Brown said: “I was disgusted with our performance in the first half and I went over to our fans at the end of the game to apologise to every single one of them.

“We seem to have a problem against physical sides, as soon as we come up against them we show no strength of character as a collective.

“Ability can get you a long way in football, but attitude and desire takes you further and I’ve had the players in the changing room for 45 minutes to tell them that. It could have been three hours.”

Menayese picked up his first booking for a clumsy foul and was then given his marching orders for clashing with Matty Dolan inside the Swindon box.

Brown added: “I don’t think the second challenge is a bookable offence, it beggars belief some of the decisions at times.

“We can blame individuals, but we didn’t work hard enough and we weren’t up to the challenge.”

Amond opened the scoring in stunning fashion, controlling a long ball from captain David Pipe in the box and then lifting a superb volley into the top corner.

Tozer then made it 2-0 by flicking Ben White’s cross into the back of the net with a delicate header.

Swindon made two changes for the start of the second half and both substitutes made an immediate impact.

Mullin worked Joe Day and Donal McDermott saw a 25-yard effort rebound off the crossbar before he laid on a cross which Mullin headed home.

But that was as good as it got for the Robins as Menayese saw red and Tozer hit the post from 45 yards with Swindon goalkeeper Stuart Moore at the other end of the field in search of an equaliser.

This was Newport’s first home win since January and manager Mike Flynn said: “I thought we were absolutely superb in the first half. The players were back to what we do well.

“They did everything we asked of them and it should have been a couple more at half-time.

“I know they had 10 men for half an hour but even when they had 11 we were the better side by far and on the whole it was a very good performance.

“It was a very important win for a great group of players who have given their all this season for this football club.”