SWINDON TOWN played out an encouraging goalless draw against Cardiff City this afternoon at the County Ground.

Both sides created some good chances, with Swindon's Michael Timlin and Billy Paynter hitting the woodwork, and Ross McCormack missing from a couple of yards for the visitors.

Mark Marshall forced a late fine save from Bluebirds stopper Peter Enckelman, and there were plenty of positives for boss Danny Wilson to take, after watching his side attack with real purpose in spells.

After a cautious opening spell, Town created the first opening on seven minutes.

Lescinel Jean-Francois checked inside and went on a mazy run past three challenges before playing in Billy Paynter.

The big front man touched the ball onto his left-foot and let fly with a looping effort from 20 yards which beat Cardiff keeper Peter Enckelman but struck the woodwork and went over.

Chris Burke tried to respond immediately for the visitors and wriggled free inside the box, but saw his shot deflected out for a corner by the head of Jerel Ifil.

Mark Hudson tamley headed a corner wide for Cardiff in the 22nd minute and just a minute later they should have taken the lead.

Burke's quickly-taken free-kick released Paul Parry just inside the penalty area on the right.

The forward's low ball across the face of goal beat keeper Phil Smith and Town's defence, with Ross McCormack lurking at the far post for a simple tap-in. However, the normally prolific striker somehow fluffed his lines from just a couple of yards.

With 34 minutes on the clock it was Swindon's turn to spurn a great opportunity. Darcy Blake's back-pass to Enckelman was short, allowing Michael Timlin to nip in.

The midfielder rounded Cardiff's keeper but, from a tight angle, could only roll his shot against the upright before it was scrambled to safety.

Swindon started the second half brightly and three minutes in Paynter forced Enckelman into a save at his near post, having connected with McNamee's left-wing cross.

On 52 minutes Wilson made a double substitution, introducing Gordon Greer and trialist Berlin Ndebe-Nlome at the expense of Jerel Ifil and Craig Easton. It meant Town switched to a 4-4-2 formation with the trialist partnering Paynter up top.

Ndebe-Nlome made an early impact, winning a free-kick in a dangerous area in the 60th minute. Paynter's initial set-piece was blocked but Greer laid the loose ball to Timlin 20 yards out, whose rising shot cleared Enckelman's goal.

Paynter again went close on 71 minutes, heading McNamee's chipped delivery to the far post back across the Cardiff goal but just the wrong side of the upright.

With just six minutes remaining Town substitute Mark Marshall almost broke the deadlock.

Having driven into the area down the left, the wide man struck the ball powerfully across goal on the half-volley, but Enckelman was equal to it with a fine one-handed stop.

TOWN (4-5-1): Phil Smith; Kevin Amankwaah, Jerel Ifil (Gordon Greer 52), Sean Morrison, Lescinel Jean-Francois (Callum Kennedy 75); Lloyd Macklin (Mark Marshall 71), Craig Easton (Berlin Ndebe-Nlome 52), Jonathan Douglas, Michael Timlin, Anthony McNamee (Jon-Paul McGovern 83); Billy Paynter

Subs not used: David Lucas, Nathan Thompson

CARDFIFF (4-4-2): Peter Enckelman; Aaron Morris (Kai Edwards 89), Mark Hudson, Darcy Blake, Mark Kennedy; Chris Burke (Josh Magennis 58), Adam Matthews (Adam Wildig 11), Gavin Rae, Tony Capaldi (Ibrahim Farah 72); Ross McCormack, Paul Parry

Subs not used: Reece Ottley, Luke Cummings