Richie Wellens believes Swindon should have scored more against Port Vale

Posted Sunday, January 26, 2020 by PA

Swindon manager Richie Wellens felt his Sky Bet League Two leaders could have won even more emphatically after seeing off Port Vale 3-0 at the County Ground.

Striker Hallam Hope scored on his debut to add to Leon Legge’s own goal before Michael Doughty’s free-kick kept Swindon on course for the title.

Wellens said: “I don’t think we started the game particularly well but we’ve had 20 shots and eight on target to their two shots and one on target against a team that have won four and drew four of their last eight games.

“We didn’t control the game in terms of fluid football but every time we got the ball in the final third we made chances and probably could’ve scored a few more.

“After the first 15 minutes, our energy was really good. We pressed them high and when they did go long, our two centre-backs were able to dominate.”

Swindon took the lead after 41 minutes when Diallang Jaiyesimi’s shot took a deflection off Legge and flew into the back of the net when the initial effort was going wide of the far post.

In first-half stoppage time, the hosts doubled their lead and the second came in much better style than the first.

Doughty picked out Rob Hunt with a sensational through ball and Hunt cut it back across goal for Hope to slide home three days after joining from Carlisle.

Playmaker Doughty settled matters on the hour by curling in a majestic free-kick with his left foot into the right-hand side of the net.

It could have been 4-0 five minutes later, but Kaiyne Woolery was denied by the post. Vale rarely threatened but Mark Cullen shot over early in the second half.

Port Vale manager John Askey admitted his side deserved to be beaten.

He said: “I am disappointed. We deserved to lose today – I’ve not said that many times but we didn’t do the simple things well.

“We have to move the ball quickly and get them turned. It’s not going to be pretty, we never did that but they did it to us.

“You wouldn’t say they were fantastic but they got the ball forward and put us under pressure. You have to earn the right to play but we didn’t have enough runners going forward.

“Their first goal came from us playing tippy-tappy football when it should’ve been in their half of the pitch.”