Gav Gunning feels Swindon players showed they are a level above League Two

Posted Sunday, January 15, 2023 by PA

Swindon caretaker manager Gav Gunning believes that Charlie Austin and many of his squad showed that they are a level above League Two as the Robins put Grimsby to the sword in a 5-0 win at the County Ground.

Austin made a dream second debut for Swindon when opening the scoring midway through the first half but it was after the break that the floodgates really opened.

Marcel Lavinier doubled the lead before Jonny Williams, Ronan Darcy and Saidou Khan wrapped up a comprehensive win.

The game had been held up for 10 minutes early in the first half after referee Sam Purkiss was hit in the face by an attempted clearance from Swindon captain Angus MacDonald.

Players rushed to the assistance of the official and after treatment from the Swindon medical staff, Purkiss was taken off the field on a stretcher and replaced in the middle by fourth official Gareth Viccars.

Gunning said: “He [Austin] was good. He wasn’t world class or anything but it was a very good performance and I think he looked probably a level above this league.

“But, we had a few lads who played like they were above the level today.

“When you have a player who went and played in the Premier League and comes back down you hope he will show he is above the level and he did that for us today.

“When you have Charlie in the team, to get his full effect in the game, you want him to draw the centre halves out.

“Sometimes we lent into that, sometimes we went down the sides and even over the press when we had to and to be fair it was pretty effective.”

Austin marked his return by scoring after 25 minutes when Remeao Hutton swung in a cross and the 33-year-old got above his marker to power home a header.

Grimsby were down to 10 men after 34 minutes when Danny Amos saw red for chopping down Jacob Wakeling on the edge of the area.

Swindon had a second after 62 minutes as Hutton floated a ball to the back post for Lavinier to volleyed it in with his first touch since coming off the bench.

Rushian Hepburn-Murphy’s shot proved too hot to handle for Max Crocombe three minutes later and Williams was on hand to put home the third.

Tyrese Shade then found space and ran across the field before teeing up Darcy with a perfectly-weighted pass and the midfielder finished smartly across the goalkeeper.

Khan capped a fine individual display when he made it five late on as he slammed a shot into the roof of the net from close range.

Grimsby boss Paul Hirst said: “It was always going to be a tough game. I know we were one goal behind prior to the sending off but the dismissal was against the side you would least like to be down to 10 men against.

“It was a hard, hard afternoon. The better team won by far. You don’t like to lose any game, certainly not by that scoreline.

“I think we have to give Swindon credit but there are certain situations and goals that we have to defend better and we didn’t. But it was always going to be a tough game.

“We started quite bright and their keeper made a good save. But we have to score. It gives you something to hold onto. But we weren’t good enough on the ball.”