SWINDON Town secured their first win in five as a 3-0 victory at home to Charlton Athletic lifted them out of the relegation zone in style.

Sean Murray’s deflected shot put the hosts in front just before the break before Lloyd Jones and John Goddard secured Town their first three points since Rochdale in October.

Swindon made three changes to the side that drew with Eastleigh in the FA Cup as they had to adapt without skipper Nathan Thompson.

Conor Thomas returned to the starting XI, in midfield, and Darnell Furlong returned at right back having served his one-match suspension.

Goddard also earned a starting spot as Nathan Delfouneso and Bradley Barry both dropped to the bench.

Swindon enjoyed a lot of the ball in the early stages and when Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill passed Chris Solly down the left flank, his cross was headed just over the corner of Declan Rudd’s goal.

Lloyd Jones had the next chance for the hosts as the ball dropped to the defender at the back post from a 21st minute corner but his shot on the half volley was blocked by Solly.

In the 33rd minute Murray forced a first save from Charlton stopper Declan Rudd, after Goddard brushed aside Andrew Crofts before rolling the ball to his midfield partner on the edge of the box.

However, Murray did not make clean contact with the ball and it was a comfortable save for Charlton’s number one.

Luke Norris, leading the line by himself after getting his first goal in mid-week, then stung the palms of Rudd with an effort from just inside the box in the 35th minute.

At the other end, Charlton were struggling to break Swindon down and their biggest threat was coming from central defender Patrick Bauer at set pieces.

It was the home side who got the break through moments before the break under fortunate circumstances.

With the referee playing advantage when Doughty was brought down driving forward, the ball landed at the feet of Goddard, who played it with the outside of his boot to Murray.

Murray appeared to have scuffed his effort but it took a wicked deflection off the heel of Fox and trickled past a hapless Rudd.

Swindon picked up where he left off in the first half after the break as it took just six minutes to double their lead.

Goddard’s corner was delivered in from the right and Doughty scooped low to flick the ball on at the front post and Jones was on hand to fire home at the back post.

There were ironic cheers from the travelling support when Ajose, who had been absent most of the game, worked space in the box before getting off a tame shot, Charlton’s first on target.

Norris was handed a golden opportunity to add to his tally just after the hour mark when Furlong delivered a peach of a ball in behind the Charlton defence but the Swindon striker missed the ball completely as he took aim inside the box.

In the 75th minute, Vigouroux, who had been a spectator for much of the afternoon, had to be alert as Charlton played a ball to the back post.

Lee Novak was on hand to guide the ball back across the six-yard-box and with Johnny Jackson waiting to pounce, Vigouroux got a hand to it.

Delfouneso was introduced for the latter stages, replacing Norris, who picked up a knock, and had an immediate impact as he played in Yaser Kasim.

The Iraqi international was thwarted in the box by the on-rushing Rudd, before the rebound was well blocked by Jason Pearce as Doughty took aim.

Swindon’s third came five minutes from the end when Kasim was again involved, getting the ball out quickly to Goddard in acres of space.

The former Woking man was composed in front of goal and did Rudd with the eyes to find the back of the net and wrap up a convincing win.