Richie Wellens applauds Swindon’s determination to get the win at Cambridge

Posted Sunday, September 22, 2019 by PA

Swindon boss Richie Wellens praised his side for the way they saw out their 1-0 win at Cambridge.

Jerry Yates tapped in the winner for the Robins after 27 minutes and Luke McCormick only had one big save to make as Wellens’ side secured a deserved victory.

Swindon are still unbeaten on their travels in League Two and responded well to a 3-0 home defeat against Colchester on Tuesday.

They remain fourth but are now only two points off the top of the table.

“In the first half we had really good controlled possession, moved the ball about well. We were probably a seven out of 10, we were decent, we controlled the majority of the game,” Wellens said.

“Then we just gave the ball away at stupid times in the second half. We had loads of opportunities to counter attack and if we made the right decisions we could have got the second. If you keep giving the ball away then they’re going to come into it.

“They’re on a good run, play with two strikers, they’re brave, so they’re ambitious. The quality got us in front and the fighting spirit and the determination to put our bodies on the line has seen us through. That’s what pleases me the most about it.

“If you have knee-jerk reactions in football you never gain the trust of players. Before today we’ve played four and won three. I’m going to stick with them.”

After away wins against Crewe and Mansfield, in which time Cambridge scored seven times, boss Colin Calderwood wondered if his side’s exertions had caught up with them.

“The second half was better, but in the first half we never gave ourselves a chance to get any foundation because we turned the ball over so quick,” he said.

“We went for passes in areas we knew they were strong and that never gave us any life to breathe into the game.

“Most of our work was done defensively. We came up against a smooth-operating team who really tested us and pushed us at the back and, without creating too many chances, have really threatened and made us work.

“Overall, the week and the energy expended has probably not allowed us to force the game even more in the second half in the way we would like.

“I’ve got to give credit to the players, they’ve had a great week. They were absolutely done, you could see that, so there are absolutely no complaints.

“If there was any energy left in any of them then we could moan a little bit. They’ve given their all and that’s given us some sort of chance, but not enough to win the game.”