Richie Wellens far from satisfied as Swindon move top of League Two

Posted Sunday, November 17, 2019 by PA

Despite his Swindon side hitting the top of Sky Bet League Two thanks to a 3-2 victory at Salford, there were mixed feelings from Swindon boss Richie Wellens after the game.

On-loan Bradford striker Eoin Doyle scored a brace and Jerry Yates was also on target as Swindon fired themselves to the top of the fourth tier thanks to a fourth-consecutive victory, while Adam Rooney netted a double in reply either end of the match.

Wellens said: “I’m not satisfied yet, far from it. If teams around us win their games in hand on us, we won’t be top of the table.

“It’s a good result here of course, this is not an easy place to come to and the home fans are right on top of you.

“Their first goal was never a penalty too – that was a joke and it put us on the back foot.

“We looked a threat pretty much throughout, though. We produced some crisp moves and we were looking good at times.

“We were a bit too deep and it was like Land of the Giants. We knew before the game what was going to be coming, but our centre-halves dealt with the aerial threat really well.

“When we went 3-1 up we weren’t good enough, though. At that late stage of the game we should be seeing games out comfortably, but today we didn’t look solid towards the end and that could have cost us.

“It could cost us as we move further into the season.”

Wellens went on to salute Bradford loanee Doyle, who now has 16 goals for the campaign and leads the League Two chart.

The 31-year-old’s future will soon come sharply into focus as the transfer window approaches.

Wellens added: “People keep talking and talking about what’s going to happen with Eoin, but until January there’s nothing we can really say.

“Both clubs and Eoin will just have to get in with it until January.”

Salford struck early from the penalty spot through Rooney who also completed the scoring with a second spot-kick five minutes into second-half stoppage-time.

Salford boss Graham Alexander was downhearted but not deflated after his side fell to just a second loss in nine games in all competitions.

He saluted the opposition on what turned out to be Swindon’s day.

“We’ll have to take this defeat on the chin,” said Alexander. “I don’t think anyone could really begrudge Swindon the victory today.

“In the first half we were fine, there was nothing in the game at all. It was two good teams going at each other.

“We were a bit more tentative in the second half, though, and Swindon gained some crucial momentum. They got their goals at exactly the right time.

“We put in plenty of hard work, but it just wasn’t enough today. The work ethic is there and I can’t fault that from the players, but we just lacked that quality you need at this level.

“We didn’t really get going enough when we were 3-1 down, and we’ve paid the price in the end.”